Adding a PA...Is it Worth it?

[Big Psych]

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I'm considering getting my PA license after my LPC. It's only 2 more years of school, but gives me the power to prescribe meds. Looking for opinions from those who practice already--is it worth the extra schooling to be able to prescribe psychotropics?

 

[psich]

Why not just do psychiatry? It's 4 years of medical school and some years of residency. You'll be spending 4 years anyway to get your MA and then your PA. Or if not psychiatry, what about being a psychiatric nurse practitioner?

 

[lookitssara]

Not sure what your undergrad is, but I would bet PA schools have some prereqs like med and nursing programs do (chem, bio, etc). You'll wanna make sure you have those/think about the extra time they may involve.

 

[tkim]

I'm considering getting my PA license after my LPC. It's only 2 more years of school, but gives me the power to prescribe meds. Looking for opinions from those who practice already--is it worth the extra schooling to be able to prescribe psychotropics?

Correct me, but as a PA you would still need physician oversite/chart review. I'm not sure using the the PA as an 'end run' instead of becoming a psychiatrist will fly.

 

[Donkeykiss]

People always lookin for a shortcut

 

[jdawgg]

I don't know about PAs, but Psych NPs have independent prescriptive authority in 14 states. May want to consider that option.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

If you want to prescribe, the best route is medical school. You'll receive the most training and you'll have the most flexibility. If you do not want to go that route, some people pursue an NP because they have autonomy in a number of states and it tends to be a shorter path.

PA training can be excellent, though you will always need supervision/consultation with a physician. One isn't necessarily better than the other, though the laws are more in the NP's favor.

Assuming you have the pre-req already....

Medical School
4 years schooling
4 years residency training (Psychiatry, IM, etc)
-------------------------
8 years, most flexibility, most training

LPC + PA
2 years schooling
1-2 years to get licensed as an LPC
2 years of PA schooling (inclusive internship?)
-------------------------
5-6 years to get licensed in both, req. supervision/consultation.

LPC + NP (utilizing a direct-entry NP program)
2 years schooling
1-2 years to get licensed as an LPC
1 year completing an accelerated rn/bsn
2 years completing the NP
1 year to get licensed as an NP
-------------------------
7-8 years to get licensed as an LPC and NP, option of autonomy in certain states. req. supervision/consultation in others.

If you do not have the pre-req. requirements to apply to an MD/DO/NP/PA program, that will add at least 1.5 years to your path, and more likely 2 years.

Honestly though...if you want to prescribe, go to medical school, it will prepare you the best and pretty much guarantee you a solid 6-figure job with the possibility of making quite a bit of money.

 

[Big Psych]

People always lookin for a shortcut

You say that like it's a bad thing? Hard work just for the sake of hard work is simply academic masturbation.


My idea behind this is a gradual increase in skillset. I don't want to spend 4 years in Med School at my age, so it's MA, then counseling job. In a year or two I'll set up a private practice, and work on my PA. Two years later, I'll be a PA with an LPC. It'll give me the skillset I need to treat patients effectively.

 

[tkim]

You say that like it's a bad thing? Hard work just for the sake of hard work is simply academic masturbation.


My idea behind this is a gradual increase in skillset. I don't want to spend 4 years in Med School at my age, so it's MA, then counseling job. In a year or two I'll set up a private practice, and work on my PA. Two years later, I'll be a PA with an LPC. It'll give me the skillset I need to treat patients effectively.

And you would still need MD/DO oversight, which in your case would be a psychiatrist. The only person who believes that the medical training required to be a psychiatrist is academic masturbation is you.

 

[jdawgg]

Psych NPs can prescribe independently in 14 states. PAs cannot.

 

[Big Psych]

Psych NPs can prescribe independently in 14 states. PAs cannot.

Interesting, thanks for the tidbit.

 

[Big Psych]

And you would still need MD/DO oversight, which in your case would be a psychiatrist. The only person who believes that the medical training required to be a psychiatrist is academic masturbation is you.

You seem to have trouble with reading comprehension. Good luck with that in grad school...


For the slower crowd, I never wrote "the medical training required to be a psychiatrist is academic masturbation". I wrote "Hard work just for the sake of hard work is simply academic masturbation." Anyone who cannot see the difference in these two statements isn't worth debating.

 

[tkim]

You seem to have trouble with reading comprehension. Good luck with that in grad school...


For the slower crowd, I never wrote "the medical training required to be a psychiatrist is academic masturbation". I wrote "Hard work just for the sake of hard work is simply academic masturbation." Anyone who cannot see the difference in these two statements isn't worth debating.

Yeah, done with grad school, thanks. Now an attending physician, thanks.

Anyone who tries to pull an end-run around to get prescriptive rights isn't worth debating, thanks. But good luck with that.

 

[Big Psych]

Yeah, done with grad school, thanks. Now an attending physician, thanks.

Anyone who tries to pull an end-run around to get prescriptive rights isn't worth debating, thanks. But good luck with that.

Then I take it you intentionally misrepresented my statement in order to attempt to slam me? How cheap. You're likely just feeling a bit uneasy at the fact that a guy like me can go to school for 2 years (one of which is online, lol) and essentially do everything you do with your 300,000 7 year education. LMAO. You got screwed.

 

[tkim]

I guess even the worst students in med school still get to be called "doctor" LMAO.

I also bombed the GRE (570 verbal, 350 Quan), despite having a 122 IQ.

Heh.

Then I take it you intentionally misrepresented my statement in order to attempt to slam me? How cheap. You're likely just feeling a bit uneasy at the fact that a guy like me can go to school for 2 years (one of which is online, lol) and essentially do everything you do with your 300,000 7 year education. LMAO. You got screwed.

You mean practice emergency medicine? Not a chance. Stick with psych, which according to you, you can do by simply reading journals and books.

I've been counseling people for years simply based on journals and books I've read on various subjects. It really isn't all that difficult.

 

[Romatiuni]

A little late to the party but don't forget that many PA programs require that you have so many years of medical experience.