There are no laws in the US that dictate that a physician assistant must be certified.
To become certified as a physician assistant, you must attend and graduate from accredited or industry-approved physician assistant classes and pass an exam. Physician assistant certification offers those in the field more opportunities for advancement, increased job security, and increased credibility with patients, colleagues, and employers. Certification can also result in better wages.
A certified physician assistant often has to attend continuing education classes to remain certified.
Physician assistant certification is not generally required by law, but most employers that offer physician assistant jobs prefer to hire a certified physician assistant. In some places, you must have a physician assistant certification to perform certain job functions, such as drawing blood. Healthcare certification is often a matter of public record, so employers can easily screen job applicants to determine if they are certified.
A physician assistant certificate may be required to have a job that requires blood draws.
Physician assistant certification classes can be found at career schools, online, and at local colleges. In most cases, it takes eight to nine months to complete the program. Those who wish to become certified health professionals in a specific area will need additional training. They may be required to attend classes for a year or two. Additionally, a certified physician assistant must attend continuing education classes to maintain and renew certification.
Some employers hire medical assistants and then pay for their training and certification.
Some employers hire physician assistants and then pay for physician assistant training so you can earn your physician assistant certificate. You will attend physician assistant classes after hours. While you probably won’t get paid for your time in class, most employers pay for tuition, books, and exam fees. Since you will be attending classes part-time, it may take longer to complete the training.
The Physician Assistant exam is typically computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions. There may be approximately 200 questions on the test. You will be given a specific time to complete the test, and often you will be able to find out if you have passed immediately after the exam. Certificates typically take eight to nine weeks to issue.
Since the field of medicine is constantly changing, most candidates will not be able to take the certification exam if they have not graduated from a training course in the last three to five years. In such cases, you will need to attend classes again in order to take the exam. Also, many places do not allow anyone who has been convicted of a crime to take the test. Special circumstances may be considered for these candidates, who must contact the certification board to request an exception.