What is a Physician Associate?
PAs are bridging gaps and providing healthcare in Aotearoa.
PAs (physician associates) are clinicians who practice medicine in collaboration with their supervising physician. The PA’s scope of practice varies depending on where they practise and the scope of their supervising doctor(s). Doctors do not need to be on-site while PAs are seeing patients. Collaboration or supervision can occur by electronic means or by phone contact when necessary.
The PA profession was specifically created to improve and expand access to healthcare. In the mid-1960s, U.S. physicians and educators recognized there was a shortage of primary care physicians. To help remedy this, Duke University Medical Center put together the first class of PAs in 1965, and since that time PAs have been integral to the American healthcare system. Many countries have followed suit, including Canada and the U.K.
While currently trained abroad to work in every specialty and setting, currently in New Zealand PAs are primarily utilized in the primary, urgent, and emergency care setting. We are optimistic, however, about expanding into specialities in the coming years.
Learn more here.
What training and education do Physician Associates have?
In the United States, becoming a Physician Associate involves a rigorous pathway that blends academic coursework, healthcare experience, and clinical training.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical pathway, including pre-education requirements and the structure of an average training program.
Pre-PA School
Pre/Post Graduates studies & Prerequisites
Before applying to a Masters PA program, candidates must meet these common requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree (any major, though science/health-related degrees are preferred for strong candidates)
- Must include prerequisite courses, typically:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (I & II)
- Biology
- General & Organic Chemistry with lab
- Microbiology
- Psychology
- Statistics
Healthcare Experience
- 1,000–3,000 hours of direct patient care experience (varies by program)
- Examples: EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, nurse, scribe, CNA, or phlebotomist
Testing – GRE (Graduate Record Examination) – required by many, though not all, PA programs
CASPA Application – Centralized application service for PA programs
PA School
PA education is modeled after the medical school, and for many programs the medical and PA students share many of the same classes.
Highly competitive with acceptance rates often <20%. Programs are Master’s level and fully accredited.
Phase 1: Didactic Year (First 12 Months)
Classroom-based learning with some practical labs:
- Anatomy (often cadaver-based)
- Physiology
- Pathophysiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Physical Diagnosis
- Medical Ethics
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Behavioural Medicine
- Procedural Skills Lab
Phase 2: Clinical Rotations (12–18 Months)
Supervised practice across various medical specialties:
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Women’s Health
- Psychiatry
- Electives (e.g., dermatology, cardiology, orthopaedics)
Final Requirements
- Capstone Project or master’s thesis
- PANCE Exam (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, 300 multiple-choice questions, divided into five 60-question blocks A qualified candidate has 5 hours to complete the exam at a proctored testing facility).
After graduation
Certification & Licensure
After successfully passing PANCE the PA is certified (PA-C). They must maintain certification by
- Earning at least 100 hours of CME (Continuing Medical Education) every two years + additional state-specific requirements
- Recertification examination every 10 years.
Apply and maintain state license.
Typical timeline
to become a Physician Associate
Step | Duration |
Bachelor’s degree | 4 years |
Healthcare experience | 1-3 years (can overlap) |
PA Program | 2-3 years |
Total Time to Practice | 7-9 years |
Interested?
Get in touch today
If you meet the qualifications to work in New Zealand and are excited about the opportunity to relocate, or are interested in hiring a PA, we’d love to hear from you! Let’s schedule a commitment-free video chat to discuss the process and answer any questions you may have.
admin@pajobsnz.co.nz
Phone
+64 21 456 634
