Thanks to a steady growth in the need for medical services, doctors in the state of Florida find themselves relying more and more on physician assistants to meet the needs of patients. A physician assistant is a certified professional who can help doctors to diagnose and treat patients. While an assistant is not a fully certified doctor, they do offer basic treatment services that allow doctors to see more patients.
Educational And Licensing Requirements
There are several accredited Florida universities that offer physician assistant degrees. The degrees are extremely comprehensive and require a significant amount of hands-on learning to go along with other forms of training. The coursework required to qualify for licensing usually takes between 27 to 36 months. A physician assistant is expected to take courses in:
- Medical ethics
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy
- Diagnosis procedures
- Behavioral science
- Medical research
- Preventative medicine
You can also seek out specialized assistant courses that deal in such specialties as:
- Pediatrics
- Gynecology
- Emergency procedures
- Pain management
After obtaining your pysician assistant degree, you must then go through the licensing requirements for the Florida Department of Health. This process requires several hours of hands-on training, more course study, and passing several examinations.
Employment Opportunities
As the population in the state of Florida continues to grow, the outlook for employment as a physician assistant is excellent. Throughout the United States, the expected growth in the field is expected to be slightly greater than 40 percent. The state of Florida has an older population than much of the United States and that means that the employment outlook in Florida may be even greater.
A physician assistant can find work in:
- Hospital emergency rooms
- Urgent care facilities
- Clinics
- Private doctors’ offices
- Specialty practices
A physician assistant is an important part of any medical practice. When a doctor is overwhelmed by the needs of his patients, an assistant can help to get patients the basic care they need until the doctor is able to step in and take over. It is a growing field that offers plenty of opportunity.
