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Both PAs (who are sometimes called physician associates) and MDs work with patients and use clinical skills to treat sickness and injuries. But there are some key differences between the roles, particularly in education, salary, and lifestyle.
The primary differences between a physician assistant (PA) and a physician (MD or DO) are: Education length and type; Clinical rotations; Scope of practice; Specialties; Certifications; Salary; Work/life balance; Physician Assistants (PAs) and doctors both follow career paths involving hands-on patient care.
Although they’re both highly collaborative roles with considerable overlap in their duties, they’re incredibly distinct. So, what’s the difference between them? How do you become one, and which is better? If you’re switching from MD to PA and back again, we’ll walk you through how to choose between PA and MD.
Physician assistants are trained in the medical model, but it is—intentionally—greatly abbreviated. It covers basic sciences, pharmacology, clinical medicine and behavioral sciences, but the number of hours of didactic training is about half of that in medical school.
The biggest difference between what a doctor can do versus what a PA can do is that doctors can practice medicine independently, while a PA cannot. In other words, a doctor can see and treat patients by themselves, but a PA is required to have a supervising physician.
Understanding the similarities and differences between these roles is crucial for appreciating their contributions to healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. In this article, we will compare PA versus MD, including their education, scope of practice, salary, lifestyle and more.
However, before making your decision, you should compare and contrast the programs and practices of an MD vs a PA. To do so, start by considering the key differences between the professions while also evaluating your own personal goals and desires.