PA Medicine – What is a Physician Assistant?

☝️ The most important facts in brief

• Physician assistants support doctors in diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients.
• Physician assistance is possible in doctors' offices, clinics, and other medical facilities.
• In practice, PAs are the link between different professional groups.
• As a physician assistant, you must have a bachelor's degree.
• An interesting alternative to traditional medical studies: with a Bachelor of Science degree as a physician assistant, you will be a highly qualified medical professional working under the supervision of a physician. You will become an essential and central part of the healthcare system.

Never heard of the profession of physician assistant? No wonder, since the bachelor's degree program is not yet as widespread in Germany as it is in the USA. There, the healthcare profession was established in the 1960s to make the work of doctors in clinics easier. A functioning healthcare system is crucial for providing care to billions of people. Working in medicine is not only emotionally and physically demanding for employees, but in most cases it can also be very fulfilling. Nevertheless, a shortage of doctors has developed in recent years, making it necessary to create the role of physician assistant. PAs are trained to take on a variety of tasks in patient care and to directly support the medical team.

After completing your bachelor's degree, you will become a physician assistant. Although you will always report to a doctor in this role, you will have significantly more responsibility and a broader range of tasks than you would after completing vocational training as a nurse. We have compiled a list of the possible activities and tasks that await you in collaboration with doctors:

• You will monitor your patients' compliance with treatment plans and conduct consultations with them.
• You will perform medical tasks under the supervision of a doctor.
• You will perform minor procedures such as wound care independently.
• In the operating room, you will assist the doctor and work together with the surgical staff.
• You will organize patient transfers, create protocols, and coordinate with the medical service.
• In the laboratory, you take blood samples from patients and take care of the tests.

After completing your studies, you can look forward to an exciting career, because as an assistant, your everyday work will be varied.

You will perform your duties in collaboration with a doctor. You will be bound by instructions and work closely with other healthcare professionals. Potential employers include medical centers and medical care centers, as well as outpatient clinics, polyclinics, and hospitals.

As a physician assistant, you are not a doctor, but rather have an independent healthcare profession. The job description allows you to work directly with patients, but you are subordinate to a doctor. Physician assistants relieve the burden on nursing staff, but work primarily with doctors.

There are several universities in Germany where you can study to become a physician assistant. You can decide whether you want to study part-time while working or opt for a full-time bachelor's degree program at a university. Here is a selection of the best-known universities that offer university-level training to become a physician assistant:

The Carl Remigius Medical School in various cities in Germany

Whether in Frankfurt am Main, Idstein, Hamburg, or Frankfurt—at the Carl Remigius Medical School, you will find various options for completing a Bachelor of Science degree as a physician assistant. Studies are full-time.

DHGS German University for Health and Sport in Germany

Future physician assistants can complete their bachelor's degree in cities such as Leipzig, Ismaning, Unna, Hamburg, Berlin, and many more. The advantage of this institution is that you can either complete a dual degree or a full-time degree.

SRH University of Health at several locations

In Gera, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, and other well-known university cities, you can start your career in physician assistance at this educational institution. Your studies will be full-time.

Fliedner University of Applied Sciences

Fliedner University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf is a private, state-recognized university that specializes in courses in the field of health and social services. Named after Theodor Fliedner, a pioneer of modern nursing, the university offers practical and scientifically based bachelor's and master's degree programs, including the Physician Assistant program. This program provides comprehensive medical knowledge and practical skills required to support physicians in patient care. The university attaches great importance to closely integrating theory and practice, as well as providing individual support and encouragement to students, creating an ideal environment for aspiring physician assistants.

Other health schools for your assistant studies:

• Landshut University of Applied Sciences
• Deggendorf Institute of Technology
• Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
• Neu-Ulm University
• State Study Academy in Plauen

Each university can set its own requirements, but generally speaking, the same rules apply to all physician assistant programs. If you have passed your high school diploma or obtained a technical college entrance qualification, nothing stands in the way of you starting your studies right away. However, you can also become a physician assistant under other circumstances.

Depending on the university, a three-year training program in the healthcare sector may be recognized. For example, if you are a medical office assistant and have the necessary practical experience, you can study without a high school diploma.

If you study at a public university in Germany, there are no tuition fees. At private universities, however, students must bear the costs of studying healthcare themselves. Find out in advance which study models are available to you and what costs you can expect.

Are you an MFA and have you already gained practical experience? Then it is even possible to study without a high school diploma.

Your personal characteristics also play a role in your success at university. Have you always been interested in the medical sector? Did the numerus clausus prevent you from pursuing a traditional medical degree? Then physician assistance may be just the right thing for you. The course is similar to a medical degree, and in your career you will also work with and for patients. The places of work are just as varied as those of doctors, and the requirements are similarly strict. In hospitals, your responsibilities will include supporting doctors and providing valuable assistance in various situations.

Physician assistants are involved in patient care and must therefore have a certain degree of empathy and interest in technology. Healthcare is becoming increasingly digital, and as a physician assistant, you will be part of this development. Working in the operating room is not uncommon in hospitals. Students therefore not only learn practical knowledge for patient care, but also how to use technical equipment. The following qualities characterize you as a future physician assistant:

You are resilient and enjoy diverse and varied tasks.

You are willing to work under the authority of a physician.

You don't mind shift work in your professional life.

During your practical training, you show full commitment to supporting physicians and nursing staff.

You are a team player and are interested in various areas of medicine.

You enjoy scientific work and like to contribute to the healthcare system.

Switching to medical school after completing your Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant is not impossible—but the route via the second-degree quota is very difficult. 

How long does it take to study to become a Physician Assistant PA?

To become a Physician Assistant, you complete a degree program and graduate with a Bachelor of Science. In this article, we would like to look not only at the content, but also at the duration of the program. Regardless of whether you study in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Hamburg, or another German city, the regular duration of the program is three years, or six semesters. If you are studying part-time, the duration of your studies will be extended accordingly.

To work as a physician assistant, theoretical knowledge alone is not enough. All students are required to demonstrate their skills and competencies in practice. To this end, you will complete a seven-week practical phase during which you will perform practical tasks on patients. To become a physician assistant, the work assignments at clinics are structured as follows:

• In the first semester, you will work in internal medicine.
• In the second semester, you will work in general surgery
• In the third semester, you will work in trauma surgery
• In the fourth semester, you will work in radiology
• In the fifth semester, you will work in neurosurgery
• In the sixth semester, you will work in psychiatry

The State Examination Office specifies the dates by which you, as a prospective physician assistant, must have completed your practical training phase.

Our tip: Complete your practical phase abroad

Would you like to combine your studies to become a physician assistant with international experience? Then take advantage of the opportunity to complete your practical phase in clinics abroad. We at travel4med will support you in getting to know the most beautiful regions of the world. You don't have to worry about recognition at German universities. We know the countries where you can gain high-level knowledge for your profession as a physician assistant and later obtain recognition in Germany without any problems.

Most students wonder how much they will earn after graduation. That depends on their future employer. On average, physician assistants earn more than other well-known healthcare professionals, with the exception of doctors. As a physician assistant, you can expect a gross salary of between €3,200 and €3,800, depending on your location, employer, and type of position.

The Bachelor of Science degree gives you access to many master's programs. You have the opportunity to study Physician Assistance (M.Sc), but courses such as Crisis and Emergency Management or Medical Management are also available to you.

The development of digital medicine is also of great importance. As a trained Physician Assistant, you could also work in the field of telemedicine and care for patients in the future.

The Physician Assistant degree program paves the way for your future. You can work in areas such as internal medicine, psychiatry, orthopedics, geriatrics, and all other specialties. Physician assistants will become increasingly important for patient care in the future, as the healthcare system is under enormous pressure. Are you already studying and would now like to complete your practical training abroad? Get in touch with us—we have all the information you need and can support you with everything that needs to be done.