PPhysician Assistant

Accredited Physician Assistant PA schools In Kentucky 

  • March 16, 2023

If you derive joy in taking care of the sick but you have no intention of pursuing a medical career, then a career as a Physician Assistant is the best suit for you. A Physician Assistant is a well-trained member of a team of healthcare providers whose job is to assist the doctors.

Find all the information you need about this career here in this article. It is a tailor-made piece for you if you live in Kentucky. This article will disclose the best PA schools in Kentucky where you can acquire your training.

It typically takes a long, thorough process to become a physician assistant but I can assure you it is also a rewarding profession that will expand your medical knowledge.

In this article, we will guide you on how to get started on a good note. we also connect you with various PA programs through several colleges and universities around Kentucky.

Here is an overview of what to expect:

Table of contents

Who Is A Physician Assistant?

Physician Assistant is a medical professional with a license who is trained in a medical school model curriculum. They work under a physician’s supervision to perform physical examinations on patients.

Physician assistants also diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, assist in surgery, and provide patient education and counseling.

What are the Duties of A Physician Assistant?

Part of what a Physician Assistant does is the recording of medical histories and physical examinations of patients. This is on a general note. However, the duties of a Physician Assistant are described according to what specialty they want to focus on or what specialty their supervising physician is focused on.

For instance, a physician Assistant who has under the supervision of an orthopedic surgeon will definitely have the task of conducting bone surgeries even when the supervising surgeon is not around.

In the same vein, a physician assistant working under a pediatrician will have the responsibility of carrying out what duties the supervising pediatrician does whether he is around or not. These depend on the premise that the assistant physician has been properly trained by the mentor.

However, on a general note, Physician Assistants perform the following functions.

  • Physician Assistants order for tests to ascertain the nature and extent of illnesses and injuries of patients.
  • They also prescribe medications and help develop therapeutic plans for the remedy medical problems. 
  • Physician Assistants may also take the responsibility of stitching wounds and setting bones. This is if the have this training.
  • Physician Assistants Administer immunizations in healthcare centers.
  • Another important role physician assistants play is following up the patients through their treatment to ensure strict adherence to treatment plans and recommended regimen.

What Requirements Do I need for PA School?

To be considered for admission into any of the PA schools in Kentucky, it is important that you meet these very important requirements in the following lines.

The first level to becoming a physician assistant is the acquisition of a high school certificate with a strong foundation in sciences like; biology, chemistry, physics, English, etc.

Virtually all schools in the US will require the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This degree requirement is one of the prerequisites for gaining admission into an accredited PA school.

After your bachelor’s studies, you must acquire a master’s degree in a medical-related course. It could in any of these courses or any other ; pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical medicine and pharmacology.

Some schools require a GRE and GPA before they can admit you into their PA master’s program, while some do not consider it.

Furthermore, to become a physician assistant, you’ll be required to complete healthcare training and acquire a license.

After completing a PA program, you’ll need to take the PANCE to earn the certification as a physician assistant, then seek licensure from your state in order to begin practicing.

How Much Does It Cost To enroll In Good PA School In Kentucky?

The total average cost of acquiring a PA degree vary according to school. However, the tuition of PA schools is not the same and other fees.

The cost of enrolling in a PA school in Kentucky can range from $41,000 to $84,000. Despite the costs, the Physician Assistant degree is generally considered as one of the most promising within the healthcare field.

How Long does it take to complete a PA Program?

It takes approximately 8 years of training to become a certified physician assistant. The 8 years are spent in learning various skills that are required to fully become a PA.

Firstly, one must earn a bachelor’s degree, which takes roughly four years to complete. This means you must have also completed your high school education with relatively good grades.

The bachelor’s degree which you must have could be in any course at all provided it is related to the medical profession.

Acquiring a bachelor’s degree alone does not qualify you to become a Physician Assistant. You’ll need to get health training which will further widen your knowledge in health care. The health care training could be in the area of paramedics or any other medical-related course. Usually, this training takes about three years to complete.

After you have completed the health care training, the next thing will be to acquire a masters degree. The masters program does not take so much time to complete. On average, it will cost you like two years to complete a masters degree program which leads to a career as a Physician Assistant.

One more thing will be left for you to do after your master’s degree. That is sitting for the Accreditation test. Only those who graduate from the ARC-PA program (the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) can qualify to write this test.

One can attempt this test up to 6 times in a span of 6 years after which he will need to wait for some time before trying again.

In addition, a person who has completed all the rigours and has been licensed to practice as a physician assistant will still need to take council exams periodically to maintain their licensure.

PA Schools Accreditation

A good PA school must have accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission for The Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

The ARC-PA offers Accreditional-Provisional, which is an accreditation status, to qualified PA schools. This status shows that the school’s PA program meets the ARC-PA standards. It also shows that the school demonstrates continued progress in complying with the standards.

The top PA schools in PA, which we share with you all have ARC-PA accreditation. This is part of the reason why they make the list, as well as why you should apply to them.

READ ALSO: Accredited Physician Assistant PA Schools in Utah 2023

How Do I Apply for PA Schools In Kentucky?

All PA schools in Kentucky we’ve highlighted in this article require you to apply for admission using the Central Application Services for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal.

However, you’ve to first, visit your preferred school site to view their requirements before proceeding to CASPA.

If you meet your school’s requirement, then hurry on to the CASPA official site and create an account.

After the account creation, complete the “college attended section”, and the “evaluations section.”

Follow through with all the requirements on the portal, then submit your application. After that, we will review your completed and verified application. Finally, you’ll get a call for an interview if you qualify for it.

List of Top PA Schools in Kentucky

Below are the top PA schools in Kentucky arranged in no particular order. However, the basics of our selection of these schools are their rankings, accreditation, acceptance rate, tuition, graduation rate, and other relevant factors.

We got our data from reliable sources, testimonials, interviews, and contacting individual schools. Below is the list of the schools, you must read further to get information on the various degree programs offered, tuition info, and program options for these schools.

  • The University of the Cumberlands
  • Sullivan University
  • The University of Kentucky

#1. University of the Cumberlands

The physician assistant profession can be a lucrative career path since the demand for physician assistants is expected to increase rapidly, with competitive salaries, over the next decade.

Suppose you’re thinking about pursuing a graduate-level physician help degree or ready to advance your career with an accredited physician assistant program. In that case, the University of Cumberlands is proud to offer the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program through both our Williamsburg and Northern Kentucky Campuses.

The university Curricula for its physician assistant degree program comprises basic, behavioral, and pre-clinical sciences of medicine. You’ll also learn the foundational clinical and critical thinking skills required for the clinical phase of their graduate-level physician assistant studies program.

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#2. Sullivan University

Sullivan University is one of the top schools with PA schools in Kentucky. It is a private institution of higher learning dedicated to providing educational enrichment opportunities for the intellectual, social, and professional development of its students.

The institution offers career-focused curricula with increasing rigor from the certificate through diploma, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels.

Throughout those curricula, the university seeks to promote the development of critical thinking, effective verbal and written communication, computer literacy, and teamwork and an appreciation for lifelong learning, cultural diversity, and the expression of professionalism in all activities. At the graduate level, the university also seeks to promote a culture of research.

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SEE ALSO: Accredited Physician Assistant PA Schools In Arizona 2023

#3. University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is one of the best PA schools with the best PA programs in Kentucky.

The University of Kentucky is a public institution that was founded in 1865. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,136, with a campus size of 814 acres. It uses a semester-based academic calendar.

The University of Kentucky’s ranking in the edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #132. In-state tuition and fees are $12,360; out-of-state tuition and fees are $30,680.

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Want to study near Kentucky, You can see the Accredited Physician Assistant Schools in Ohio here

How Much Do Graduates From The Best PA Schools In Kentucky Earn?

The PA average annual wage ranges from $93,080 – $120,922. Becoming a Physician assistant is indeed a very lucrative career choice to make.

What Is The Job Outlook Of Graduates Best PA Schools In Kentucky?

Ensure that you consider the job outlook for a position when considering the best PA school for you.

That being said, technological advancement will play a big role in the employment of physicians and assistants.

Demand for physician assistants is expected to grow 30 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, because of the growing population, there will be a need for more health care.

Job opportunities for PA are expected to be good, especially in rural and low-income areas. Some of these areas have limited doctors. 

Conclusion

Because of the vast array of career opportunities in the medical sector, earning a PA degree can be the ideal choice for those looking for a fulfilling and demanding profession that makes a difference in others’ lives. So if you’re interested in seeking high-level educational opportunities to advance a career in this in-demand profession, then sign up for the best Kentucky PA school we’ve highlighted on our page. Such schools provide services to help you achieve your career ambitions.

References

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