Physician's Assistant Job Requirements

• A physician's assistant helps to diagnose problems and prescribe treatment. Terry J Alcorn/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Patients are often seen by a physician's assistant instead of a doctor in some areas, including hospitals. Physician's assistants perform a wide variety of tasks to help people regain their health. They also must meet educational and certification guidelines to do their jobs, all of which are regulated by law.

Patient Treatment

• Physician's assistants put casts on injured patients. heart cast image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com

  Physician's assistants, under a doctor's supervision, perform routine examinations, record a patient's medical history and help to diagnose health issues. They sometimes also do minor treatment, including putting on a cast, putting on a splint or putting stitches in a wound. They also interpret the results of X-rays and blood work. Their duties are established according to the attending doctor and state law.

Work Schedule

• The physician's assistant's schedule depends primarily on the area and the type of clinic where he works. If you work in the hospital, you will have a more varied schedule. This might include working overnight, on weekends or during early morning hours. Often, you also have to be on call in case of an emergency. If you work in a clinic, you will work approximately 40 hours during the week. This is more common in rural clinics that have set hours.

Training

• The educational background for this job requires training in either a two- or four-year program. Physician's assistants take courses in family medicine, surgery, prenatal care and emergency medicine. After graduation, they must take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination to become eligible to practice. They must attend 100 hours of continuing education within two years to keep their certification up to date. The certification test must be retaken every six years.