PA vs. MD 10 October 2016

What are they? Physician Assistant: Physician: Physician Assistant Certified (PA-C) Not an Independent Practitioner Able to assist in surgeries Prescribe Medications in most states Diagnose, treat, order and interpret tests, conduct physical exams Physician: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Independent Practitioner Perform surgeries independently Prescribe Medications Diagnose, treat, order and interpret tests, conduct physical exams

The Work Life Physician Assistant Physician Average Salary: $100,000 Average: 40 hours per week Work nights, weekends, holidays Physician Average Salary: $200,000+ Average: 50 hours per week Work nights, weekends, holidays

The School Life ~150 PA schools Avg. class capacity: 30-40 % acceptance: <10% Program duration: 2-3 years Residency: optional 1-2 years Time in classroom: 1000 hours Time in Clinic: 2000 hours ~150 MD schools, ~40 DO schools Avg. class capacity: 150-200 % acceptance: <10% Program duration: 4 years Residency: 3-8 years Time in classroom: 2 years Time in clinic: 2 years

The School Life Avg. cumulative GPA: 3.30 Avg. science GPA: 3.5 Required classes: anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, statistics, psychology Class requirements fluctuate Avg. cumulative GPA: 3.6 Avg. science GPA: 3.5 Required classes: biology, chemistry, physics, math, English composition Class requirements are fairly similar across all MD schools.

The Application Process GRE 2-3 letters of recommendation No research required HCE: recommended 1000+ hrs (some schools require 300+ hrs) Medical scribe usually does not count MCAT 2-3 letters of recommendation Research almost always required HCE: recommended No criteria on HCE

The Tests!! GRE Analytical Writing, Problem Solving, Quantitative Comparison, Mathematics, Geometry, Reading Comprehension Includes vocabulary, Essay/SAs, MCAT Biology, Biochemistry, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Verbal Reasoning

$$$$ Tuition cost: Avg. debt: $90,000 Tuition cost: $65,000 in-state $76,000 out-of-state Avg. debt: $90,000 **Not ALL students will acquire debt, and it might very well vary. Tuition cost: $30,000 in-state $60,000 out-of-state Avg. debt: $150,000 **Not ALL students will acquire debt, and it might very well vary.