Scottish PA student looking for work in Ireland and UK

Im a scottish PA student currently enrolled at Harding University in Arkansas. After graduation I am considering returning to the UK or to Ireland. I'm a member of the UK associaton of PA's but have no idea if Ireland has an organization or where to begin looking for employment there. Does anyone know who i should contact about this?

Hannah in Little Rock, Arkansas said: Im a scottish PA student currently enrolled at Harding University in Arkansas. After graduation I am considering returning to the UK or to Ireland. I'm a member of the UK associaton of PA's but have no idea if Ireland has an organization or where to begin looking for employment there. Does anyone know who i should contact about this?

I'm curious - My nane is Kim I'm a Physician Assistant in Grand Island, Nebraska and just returned from a vacation in Ireland - have you been able to find anything about employment in Ireland?

I havent been able find out anything as of yet :(

Hi guys...as far as I know there are no positions available for PA's in Ireland. PA's is a relatively new profession recognised in the UK. However, it hasn't reached our shores...yet!! Hey I'm also interested in studying a PA's course in the States...any advice? At the moment I'm studying a BSc in Nursing.

Declan in Waterford, Ireland said: Hi guys...as far as I know there are no positions available for PA's in Ireland. PA's is a relatively new profession recognised in the UK. However, it hasn't reached our shores...yet!! Hey I'm also interested in studying a PA's course in the States...any advice? At the moment I'm studying a BSc in Nursing.

Have you finished your degree in nursing? I'm currently in my 2nd year of school in Boston for PA. I love it! I think you'll have a huge edge over everyone else in class if you alreay have your BS in nursing. NP & PA school are about the same amount of years...have you thought of NP school since you'll have a nursing degree?

If anyone does discover opportunities in Ireland for PAs let me know too! I am in PA school and am hoping to move to Ireland to be with my boyfriend when I'm done, but it wouldn't be realistic for me to go if I can't work! Thanks!

Katie in Indianapolis, Indiana said: If anyone does discover opportunities in Ireland for PAs let me know too! I am in PA school and am hoping to move to Ireland to be with my boyfriend when I'm done, but it wouldn't be realistic for me to go if I can't work! Thanks!

I too am another who is interested in an opportunity to practice in Scotland or Ireland. I've only just begun the hunt and I am wondering if you have had any leads as to what their philosophy is on the PA profession and if they are considering it as a part of their health care system.

Declan in Waterford, Ireland said: Hi guys...as far as I know there are no positions available for PA's in Ireland. PA's is a relatively new profession recognised in the UK. However, it hasn't reached our shores...yet!! Hey I'm also interested in studying a PA's course in the States...any advice? At the moment I'm studying a BSc in Nursing.

the issue might be with the application requirements for the PA school. If your degree originated in another country that could pose a problem. The PA school I went to told me my pre-requisites had to originate from a US accredited School...which was not a problem for me since I completed my bachelors and pre-reqs in the US. But for someone transferring there undergrad stuff it may complicate things. The bestthing would be to contact the school.

Marie in Corvallis, Oregon said: I too am another who is interested in an opportunity to practice in Scotland or Ireland. I've only just begun the hunt and I am wondering if you have had any leads as to what their philosophy is on the PA profession and if they are considering it as a part of their health care system.

PA's in scotland recently finished a two year trial period. They have been accepted by the NHS which is beginning to develop their own programs ( mainly in England ) and are being used very minimally in scotland and england. The areas for work are in fam practice and ER, and I've also seen some orthopedic stuff advertised for England. What I hear from home is that they have been recieved with mixed responses and have been told change in the NHS can take a long time.

Curious to see if anyone finds anything! I am going to be marrying an Irishman and moving to Ireland next year and would obviously love to remain practicing as a PA. Hoping something picks up there soon.

I'm a first year PA student in Florida. Actually, before applying for U.S. schools, I looked into applying to one of the four new schools in England, but stopped when I found out that there was no reciprocity (only U.S. graduates are allowed to sit on the PANCE, which I got from ARC-PA's director himself).
As for PAs in the UK, there are at least 50 currently working in England and Scotland. Contact www.ukapa.co.uk for more info.
As for PAs in Ireland, the grade does not exist currently. The Royal College of Surgeons has been pushing for the introduction, but meeting resistance. Here is what one professor recently said: "The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has for some years supported the introduction of PA’s into the Irish healthcare system; but to no avail. We paid for officials from our HSE to travel to the States to look at the benefits of PA’s; but to no avail. Until the Government agrees to the introduction of the grade our hands are tied."
And with the possibility of Ireland's economy following Iceland's, and the Dáil as quick as mud, it may be a while yet.