PA-C or Master Program

What is the difference between a PA-C program (like the one at Stanford Medical School, where a Bachelor's is not required for entry to the program) and a masters entry program like USC's Keck School? Is there a difference in licensure and/or salary that can be made after graduation?

I have a BA and have been working for 7 years and would like to go to Stanford's program. Is that not going to be as "good" for my career as a straight-to-master's program?

Thanks!!!

In the state of California there is no difference in lincensure between the graduates of Masters and non Masters programs. Half of the programs in California are non Masters.

To get a license in Cali you must be a graduate of an ARC-PA accredited program and a PA program approved by the California Physician Assistant Committee and must have passed your intital NCCPA PANCE examination.

Current practice in California is good for Certificate AS, BS and MS trained PAs. Depending upon where you are in the state will determine job opportunities, and salary to some degree. If you work for the Feds or organizations that have salary scales based on degrees you may see some difference in pay.

But for the most part Certificate PAs make as much as the MSPAs. The Docs that hire are mainly interested in you being certified, licensed, no malpractice or disciplinary actions against you and when can you start seeing a ton of patients...lol

Good luck in your future PA endeavors
LesH

Stanford does offer a Master's Degree upon completion of their PA program - you have to enter with a Bachelors, and take 3 extra online courses. It adds 3k to the program, and your MS degree will be from St Frances Univ., but your PA cert will be from Stanford.
There is talk that in 5-10 years PAs will all be required to graduate with their MS, but existing PAs will be grandfathered in.

Thanks HbPA and LesH!

That sounds like a no-brainer. Thank you for the information. I'm finding it difficult to get the programs to give me straight answers on these types of questions so I appreciate your help.

You're in Chico? I'm moving there in 2 weeks to get my prerequisites done. Do either of you specialize? Most I have met are family practice but I may still want to specialize, although I don't feel like I can decide until I enter a program and see how I feel about the rotations.

I don't see patients anymore. I did FP, Ortho and Occ med.

hi my name is amit.. am a paramedic..i am interested in master in PA program in Canada.

could any one please tell me how are the job opportunities for PA in canada??

amit in Hyderabad, India said: hi my name is amit.. am a paramedic..i am interested in master in PA program in Canada.

could any one please tell me how are the job opportunities for PA in canada??

PA's are used in just ontario in a pilot project and in Manitoba. However, many other provinces are looking into getting PA's within the next year or two

hi breathless,

thanks for your reply. are u a PA?? can you tell me whether the manitoba PA program is pilot project or a proper masters program??

LesH in Visalia, California said: I don't see patients anymore. I did FP, Ortho and Occ med.

LesH,

I quit being a PA this spring after 17 years. My last two were in family practice. Just wondering why you don't see patients anymore. I was burnt out.

I found PA education and health workforce policy more interesting and less stressful. I do admit once in a while I will help a friend out with his practice seeing patients, but it is rare (once or twice a year).

Hello
I'm a PT interested in becoming a PA... I'm looking RCC (a JC) for the certification program, that cost only about $3000 for the whole program and Loma Linda University, which is a masters program, which is about $70,000 for the whole program. I know it seems like a no brainer, but I'm not so comfortable with becoming a PA from a jc... just sounds weird to me.

So there really is no difference with certification and masters once you're out in the field? it's just a title huh? i hear that some states are trying to pull that PA's will be required to have a MA soon.

The way i see it, this my education and for the sake of the patients that is on the line here. Do i pay less for less education, or pay more for for the title, more education?

ahhhhhhh help~!

PT in Riverside, California said: Hello
I'm a PT interested in becoming a PA... I'm looking RCC (a JC) for the certification program, that cost only about $3000 for the whole program and Loma Linda University, which is a masters program, which is about $70,000 for the whole program. I know it seems like a no brainer, but I'm not so comfortable with becoming a PA from a jc... just sounds weird to me.

So there really is no difference with certification and masters once you're out in the field? it's just a title huh? i hear that some states are trying to pull that PA's will be required to have a MA soon.

The way i see it, this my education and for the sake of the patients that is on the line here. Do i pay less for less education, or pay more for for the title, more education?

ahhhhhhh help~!

California is not one of those states seeking to link a PA license to a degree. If you wish to practice in Cali, RCC and LLU are both good programs that produce excellent providers that have little difficulty passing the PANCE or gaining employment. I must admit I am more familiar with RCC than LLU's program, so I'll address the RCC program.

RCC may be harder to gain admissions due to their selection process. Both programs have excellent clinical training facilities. RCC tends to have more hospital based training than other PA programs in the state IMHO. Both
programs have great faculty and strong leadership. If the MS is what you want. RCC is affiliated with St. Frances to offer a Masters in Medical Science for qualified candidates. I think folks may be able to qualify for additional FA at the graduate level through SFU.

The choice is yours of course, and it is a hard call without doing your research on the pros and cons of each program. I will say without hesitation or reservation that should you be admitted to either program you will recieve a top notch PA education.

Good luck in your future PA endeavors
Les