A career as a physician assistant is one of the fastest growing medical careers.  A Physician assistant (PAs) are able practice medicine and prescribe medicine under the care and supervision of physicians. Physician assistants are not medical assistants, as medical assistants handle clinical and clerical work. 

Physician assistants are trained to provide therapeutic, conduct exams, diagnostics such as diagnose conditions, assist in surgery, prescribe medications, and preventive healthcare services that are assigned by physicians.  However, during this current healthcare climate, it has been found that physician assistants do more work than physicians of at least 80 percent.  Physician assistants’ training is much shorter than physicians; normally their training is for two to three years in graduate school. 

They do not have to attend medical school, do internships, and have plenty of freedom to transition to different specialties to another.  With such a major doctor shortage there is a high demand for physician assistants who are certified and can practice medicine. 

Physician assistants earn a median salary of $86,200 with eight years in the field.   Physical Assistants earn a salary of $75, 600-$103,000 per year for PAs with more than eight years of experience. 

The work environment is in a comfortable and well-lit environment; however those who work in surgery stand for longer periods of time.  In general the job requires lots of walking around the work environment.

There is only one national professional society to represent all PAs (Physician Assistants) called the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).  It was founded in 1968 and they are represented in all medicine areas with 57 chartered chapters in all 50 states including the District of Columbia, and Guam. 

Reference: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm