Physician Assistants -– Employment opportunities are expected to be excellent for physician assistants, particularly in areas or settings that have difficulty
attracting physicians, such as rural and inner city clinics. Physician assistants (PA's) provide health care services with supervision by physicians. They
should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. PA's are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic,
and preventive health care services under the direction of a physician. Working as members of the health care team, they take medical histories, examine
patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, and make diagnoses. Almost all States require that new PA's complete an accredited, formal
education program. In 1997, there were 96 such educational programs for physician assistants; 53 of these programs offered a baccalaureate degree or a
degree option. The rest offered either a certificate, an associate degree, or a master's degree. Most PA graduates have at least a bachelor's degree.
