How Does PA Education Compare?

How Does PA Education Compare?
PA Education, Training & Experience vs. MDs/NPs   

In the intricate web of healthcare, the roles of various medical professionals interweave to provide comprehensive patient care. PAs, Physicians and NPs play a vital part in delivering quality healthcare services, but they differ in their training, responsibilities, and scope of practice.

• PA students undergo 2,000 clinical training hrs compared to 2,700 hrs for MDs and 500 hrs for NPs.
• PAs complete 110 credit hours, MDs complete 150 credit hours, and NPs credit hours range from 36 to 52.
• Average salary for PAs is $119,000, MDs receive $339,000 on average and NP salary average is $118,000

PAs are trained in a wide range of medical disciplines, providing them with a strong foundation in medical knowledge and practical skills. Physicians specialize in one field and become experts in that single field. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) pick a field of focus and expand their skill set within that focus. While nurses may not have the extensive medical training that doctors and PAs undergo, they bring a unique perspective to patient care. Let's delve into the distinct characteristics and training of each profession to help us understand the best way to collaborate, ensuring the well-being of patients.

MAPA has pursued improving access to care for Michigan residents by breaking down barriers that prevent PAs from practicing to the extent of our education, training and experience. It is frustrating to hear a legislator, recruiter, hospital administrator and even Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lump PAs and NPs together under the title of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) or even worse, Mid-Level Providers. For those PAs and PA students reading this article, you defied the odds and were accepted into a program. PA and physician acceptance rates are similar at 7% and 6.5% respectively.

Help educate those who make decisions based on the belief that NP and PA training is similar. At MAPAs Capitol Summit, PAs handed out this matrix to the legislators we met with. This chart is available on MAPA’s website and we encourage you to do the same.  We know the difference and it’s time others knew as well!

CLICK HERE to see the whole matrix and share this PA/MD/NP Comparison with your colleagues.