how to become a pa
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Become a PA in Canada
Physician Assistants (PAs) are highly skilled health care professionals educated in the medical model who practice medicine. PAs can work in any clinic setting to extend physician services, complement existing services and aid in improving patient access to health care. (CMA Toolkit) Learn more →
How to become a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant
7 Steps to Become a Physician Assistant in Canada
Step 1: Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
All Canadian PA Programs require you to be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada before you can consider applying.
Do not proceed forward if you do not meet this qualification.
If you are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident of Canada, you can move on to Step 2.
Step 2: Fulfill PA Admission Requirements
Check the admission requirements for the program and ensure you take the appropriate courses (if applicable), have the health care experience hours (not all PA programs require hands on patient experience to apply), and achieve the minimum GPA to get in.
All PA programs in Canada currently require you to complete 2-4 years of undergraduate study (at the university level) in order to apply. The number of years or coursework completed depends on schools.
Like many professional health care programs (i.e. physiotherapy, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, OT, etc.),getting into PA school is competitive. Make sure to also take steps to strengthen your PA admissions application.
No. Currently you need 2-4 years of undergraduate study/university level coursework to apply to PA school. Each PA program is different when it comes to requirements.
Learn more about this step:
Step 3: Apply to a PA Program, and get into PA School!
Submit all the appropriate paperwork (GPA transcripts, supplementary applications, proof of English speaking competency level if applicable). For specific requirements & deadlines please see websites above.
If successful for the first stage of admissions, you'll get invited for the interview process. PA programs in Canada use the Multi-Mini Interview (MMI). Successful candidates are contacted shortly after with invitations to join the PA program.
Step 4: Complete a Physician Assistant program at an accredited Canadian PA school
PAs are educated on the same medical model that physicians undergo during their training within a physician directed and patient-centered healthcare team.
First year, is considered didactic year:
- involves intensive coursework in medical foundations across all body systems/areas of medicine (anatomy & physiology, cardiology, respirology, hematology, GI, oncology, infectious disease, etc.)
- learning clinical skills (history taking, performing physical exams, interpreting lab results, reading x-rays & imaging)
- communications skills (preventative health counselling, motivational interviewing, etc.),
- and medical and professional ethics.
Second year, is clinical year, also known as "clerkship". This compromises of clinical rotations across different areas and specialties of medicine: core rotations in placements like family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, internal medicine – although this varies from school to school. Evaluations for each rotation (lasting 4-12 weeks) completed by your clinical preceptor (a PA or physician) and you may have to complete a written test.
After completion of study, PAs go directly into practice. Additional learning takes place on the job, and scope of practice grows as PA builds competencies.
Regardless of your educational background or medical experience, you cannot skip any part of PA school.
Current PA students break down what PA school is like in 1st and 2nd year of PA School:
Step 5: Become a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA)
American trained Physician Assistants who graduated from an Accredited Program (ARC-PA) and are certified by NCCPA (have their PA-C designation) are qualified to write the PA exam.
You must join CAPA first as a regular member.
Then you can apply to write the examination.
Once you pass, and receive your CCPA Number, include this registration number on your resume.
Keep in mind, PAs are not yet practicing in all provinces and territories across Canada. There are also differences between provinces with how PAs are integrated and paid. See What is a PA? page for more information about where and how PAs practice.
The job market and salary in Canada for PAs also differ from the United States.
Regardless of what previous medical experience you've had in the past, you CANNOT skip any aspect of PA education.
Canadian PA programs do not take into consideration any USMLE scores, nor is it a requirement to become a PA.
Step 6: Apply for a PA Job, Get the Job, then Practice
Learn more about PA Jobs in Canada:
Step 7: Maintain your PA Certification with CPD/CME hours
Final Notes
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how to become a pa
Source: https://canadianpa.ca/becomeapa/
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