How harder is getting into medical school compared to being accepted to a physician assistant program?

I have many questions about the Physician Assistant Career?

• I am a high school senior and plan on attending a four year school. Becoming a physician assistant seems like a good job fit for me but while researching this occupation I have many unanswered questions.  -Can I continue any further education beyond four years online or must I attend another school? -What is the difference between a PA and a PAC? -May I shadow or even intern for a PA this summer or must I be in college or a college graduate to do this?  -What major and what courses would you suggest I take while in my four year school? -I want to work with families, do I choose to focus on that in my training or must I study all aspects of medicine such as ER, surgery, etc.  -Could you tell me information about what education is needed after college and what that entails?  -What are the requirements to be accepted to a PA school or online program? Responses to any of these questions are much appreciated :)

• Answer:

  1. PA programs are either masters level (after a pre med like bachelors degree) or a bachelors PA program (which are fewer and fewer). You must attend a school with a dedicated program. Getting your bachelors on line will be impossible totally as the PA program requires science with lab classes. 2. "C" means you have passed the national NCCPA exam as well as the every 5 years recert exam & are certified. PA means you graduated from a PA program and may or may not be licensed. 3.You will get far more out of shadowing if you wait until you are further along in coursework. But you can volunteer in a hospital. If someone will let you shadow now, go for it. 4. Pre-med science curricula works, but you can look at any PA program for their requirements. Some may require health care experience so you will nedd to become something else first. 5. All PAs are trained as generalists; you will study all of medicine. It all interconnects anyway. 6. look at the aapa.org web site; your state's PA acdemy web site and look at the web sites of a few schools. 7. There are no online programs.