What's the Difference Between a PA and an NP?
Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced care practitioners (ACPs) trained to perform physical exams, diagnose and treat patients, and prescribe medication. However, there are key differences:
NPs have full practice authority in 28 states, which means they can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications independently, without physician supervision. During their training, they typically specialize in a particular field, such as family medicine, pediatrics, adult medicine, women's health, or psychiatry, among others.
PAs, on the other hand, work under the supervision of physicians. They receive broad, general medical training, which allows them to practice across various fields, including emergency medicine, surgery, dermatology, cardiology, pediatrics, women's health, and more. PAs can start in one field of medicine and transition into other specialties without having to return to school, offering flexibility throughout their careers.
The Path to Becoming Physician Assistant (PA)
The Path to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Basic Educational Requirements:
A bachelor's degree, including the required prerequisite courses.
Basic Educational Requirements:
Become a registered nurse (RN). Pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Earn a bachelor's degree.
Entrance Exam:
None
Entrance Exam:
Achieve a strong score on the GRE. (Most PA programs require this exam.)
NP Program:
Obtain advanced patient care, diagnosis, and treatment education. This typically leads to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)degree.
PA Program:
2 to 3 years of specialized education in a physician assistant program, depending on the program's structure. This includes clinical training and coursework in medical knowledge, diagnostics, and patient care. Earn a Master's in Physician Assistant studies.