How do you like your job as a physician assistant?

Is being a Physician's Assistant a good job?

• How long does it take to become a physician's assistant (PA) and is it a well paying job? Does it give you time to be with your family?

• Answer:

  Well it takes about 2 years on average(Add about 3months for a masters program) I personally consider it a very well paying job(I am making right at 90k right out of school), and if you pick the right field you can have plenty of time with your family. I would also not pay too much attention to what you hear from RN's or nurse practioner's.....its kind of the Big Brother and little Brother thing...we usually don't get along. But to be honest a lot more M.D.'s prefer physician assistants to NP's because our training if FAR superior to that of an NP. A lot of NP's don't know how to suture, I&D abcesses, and other minor procedures(they are really good at basic things such as pelvics and pap smears) One last thing to note....I know nurses that go back to school to become P.A.'s and not NP's due to the higher pay and better training. I would honestly say that if you stay in certain states(in the South) your job security is better as a NP...(not by much ,and this is because NP's are soo much cheaper to acquire than a PA.) I know some NP's in the town making 53,000 while the PA's were making 80k+ but the doc's couldn't afford them(Anyway they are both now making 100K in different areas...)