1. PA vs. MD
10 October 2016

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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:
% acceptance: <10%
Program duration: 4 years
Residency: 3-8 years
Time in classroom: 2 years
Time in clinic: 2 years

5. 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.

6. The Application Process
GRE
2-3 letters of recommendation
No research required
HCE: recommended 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

7. 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

8. $$$$ 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.