PA vs Medicine

[hs2013]

I'm having a tough time choosing between the two. In terms of the actually work of a PA vs doctor, I would be fine with either, doesn't matter to me that in some cases PA's have less responsibility or autonomy, or that sometimes they are looked down upon by doctors. It also doesn't matter to me that doctors make more money when working full time.

PA Route: I'm really leaning this way, less school, less stress, but there is some concern about so many PA schools opening up and the competition for jobs with NPs. And I'd really have to work full time to support a pretty good life style.

Med Route: Literally the only reason I would rather be a doctor is the fact that I could work part time (.5-.75) and make a damn good living still, and more job security versus a PA having to compete with oversaturation and NPs.

Med school is only about 2 years more of school, and in residency you're making pretty decent money anyways, and when thinking long term, as in the rest of my life.... and having to only work part time.... it's hard to not want to become a doctor.

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[chemdoctor]

Just my two cents... You're considering going through the stress of medical school, boards, residency, etc. just to get a job you're going to work in, part time? Just go for PA if you feel like you would be happier. It seems your main incentive is money and good lifestyle... you can still get both through PA school, since its less stress, less school and training, and most likely a lot less debt

 

[puahate]

PA school. Doctor's have almost no power now

 

[907914]

Just my two cents... You're considering going through the stress of medical school, boards, residency, etc. just to get a job you're going to work in, part time? Just go for PA if you feel like you would be happier. It seems your main incentive is money and good lifestyle... you can still get both through PA school, since its less stress, less school and training, and most likely a lot less debt

I would agree that money should not be the deciding factor between choosing PA or medicine. However, I would have to disagree on the notion of going through all of the stress of med school boards residency etc. for a job that you just want to work part time in. OP is right, as a physician you can work half time or 3/4 time and make some really good money for a whole lot less stress than a full-time PA position. It should not be the deciding factor, but I know that I fully intend on going into a subspecialty like PM and R or derm or gas or path Where it is feasible to work half time or 3/4 time with some in house or from home Call. And I choose medicine over PA because of the love of autonomy and being able to actually practice medicine, And make decisions etc.Just because do you want to practice medicine doesn’t mean you want medicine to be your entire life.

 

[hs2013]

Just my two cents... You're considering going through the stress of medical school, boards, residency, etc. just to get a job you're going to work in, part time? Just go for PA if you feel like you would be happier. It seems your main incentive is money and good lifestyle... you can still get both through PA school, since its less stress, less school and training, and most likely a lot less debt

I get what you mean by that, but I view it as I'm working harder now to work less in the future... Plus, during those extra 2 years of medical school and 3 years residency, if I went the PA route, I would still be working full time anyways during those 5 years, so really how much harder would I be working? Sure maybe more than a 40hr/wk full time job, but not that much more.

 

[hs2013]

PA school. Doctor's have almost no power now

Could you elaborate on that? Meaning that the hospital administration is controlling them and they can't do what they want? Because at the end of that day, if there is a shortage of doctors for x hospital, the doctor can do what he wants.

 

[907914]

I get what you mean by that, but I view it as I'm working harder now to work less in the future... Plus, during those extra 2 years of medical school and 3 years residency, if I went the PA route, I would still be working full time anyways during those 5 years, so really how much harder would I be working? Sure maybe more than a 40hr/wk full time job, but not that much more.

While this does really depend on your subspecialty as some only work around 40 hours a week during residency most of the time, that some is a very small portion. The rules and regulations over medical school residence say that they cannot work more than 80 hours per week average over a four week time frame. A lot of residencies even though they’re not supposed to residence don’t track ours properly and I actually work into the hundreds of hours per week. And most residencies you’re going to be routinely working 60+ hours per week.

Do not underestimate residency

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

I usually get a lot of #&@*&$ for telling people on this site to consider PA and APRN school. Medical school is not for everyone - and many of the things that people enjoy about being a medical provider can be true for a PA or APRN. Be warned that the clinical hour requirements for PA school are very high- much more than medical school. And the course pre-requisites are similar to medical school.

Most hospitals are very dependent on APRN and PA manpower to staff their hospitalist services, as well as their ICU's and OR's. One of the best hospitalists at our large, urban "famous" hospital is a PA. He serves on many hospital committees and works independently in his everyday work. The PA's can also serve on the administration and teaching positions in the PA school, buying down their clinical time.

There are even PA residencies (1-2 years), especially in EM and surgical fields, which increase one's marketability.

I work in the Emergency Dept and the PA's, some of whom have been in practice about 30 yrs, work very independently - they can ask the attendings for advice, but are trusted to manage their own patients. Most perform intubations, central lines, lumbar punctures, bedside ultrasound - all the procedures that EM physicians do.

 

[hs2013]

I usually get a lot of #&@*&$ for telling people on this site to consider PA and APRN school. Medical school is not for everyone - and many of the things that people enjoy about being a medical provider can be true for a PA or APRN. Be warned that the clinical hour requirements for PA school are very high- much more than medical school. And the course pre-requisites are similar to medical school.

Most hospitals are very dependent on APRN and PA manpower to staff their hospitalist services, as well as their ICU's and OR's. One of the best hospitalists at our large, urban "famous" hospital is a PA. He serves on many hospital committees and works independently in his everyday work. The PA's can also serve on the administration and teaching positions in the PA school, buying down their clinical time.

There are even PA residencies (1-2 years), especially in EM and surgical fields, which increase one's marketability.

I work in the Emergency Dept and the PA's, some of whom have been in practice about 30 yrs, work very independently - they can ask the attendings for advice, but are trusted to manage their own patients. Most perform intubations, central lines, lumbar punctures, bedside ultrasound - all the procedures that EM physicians do.

And this is one of the other reasons which makes me consider medicine more, because based on where I am at, I could apply to medical school this upcoming cycle, but for PA school I basically have no clinical hours and would probably not be a competitive applicant this cycle, plus who wants to work as a CNA honestly and clean up crap? I'm sorry I don't.

So for me what might seem like only 2 years of PA school, actually becomes 3 because I would have to spend one year just racking up clinical hours. And now you compare that to 4 years of med school, makes the med route seem much more attractive.(of course assuming I get in the first cycle).

 

[hs2013]

While this does really depend on your subspecialty as some only work around 40 hours a week during residency most of the time, that some is a very small portion. The rules and regulations over medical school residence say that they cannot work more than 80 hours per week average over a four week time frame. A lot of residencies even though they’re not supposed to residence don’t track ours properly and I actually work into the hundreds of hours per week. And most residencies you’re going to be routinely working 60+ hours per week.

Do not underestimate residency

What is this small portion you are speaking of?🙂
And yes I am perhaps underestimating residency.

 

[deleted480308]

If you can tolerate not being the best trained person in the room then go PA. I don’t mean that as a slight, I actually mean it as a recommendation to consider PA. Medschool and residency is freaking hard work

 

[Mike Bagwell]

You are aware that PA’s practice medicine right? If you’re not, you need to do some shadowing and read some books.

If you are 100% absolutely professionally satisfied with the knowledge base, responsibilities, and lifestyle of a PA, then go PA. PA’s have it pretty good as long as you are happy as a mid level provider.

If you can’t decide between the two and you choose PA, at some point in your career you will wish you pursued the MD or DO. I’ve heard this echoed by more than a few PA’s.

I’m actually interested to see the future of the PA profession and where it goes.

The thing with PA programs however is that they want a lot of clinical experience. I think they have that requirement to discourage those students who didn’t get into med school. By a lot I mean thousands of hours sometimes.

 

[DrRiker]

For me, the determining factor was academia. I'm a research oriented person. PA's can certainly assist with research in their own time if they are so ambitious, but a PA will never run their own studies or write their own grants. They're hired for clinical work, they do not have time allotted for research, their training does not encourage scientific inquiry. If you want a portion of your job to include asking and looking for the answers to questions, then go MD.

Also, I think the key to job security in the setting of mid-level encroachment is to be more academic.

 

[chemdoctor]

I would agree that money should not be the deciding factor between choosing PA or medicine. However, I would have to disagree on the notion of going through all of the stress of med school boards residency etc. for a job that you just want to work part time in. OP is right, as a physician you can work half time or 3/4 time and make some really good money for a whole lot less stress than a full-time PA position. It should not be the deciding factor, but I know that I fully intend on going into a subspecialty like PM and R or derm or gas or path Where it is feasible to work half time or 3/4 time with some in house or from home Call. And I choose medicine over PA because of the love of autonomy and being able to actually practice medicine, And make decisions etc.Just because do you want to practice medicine doesn’t mean you want medicine to be your entire life.

True.. Never thought of it that way actually. I just figured, all that stress and effort should be for more than working part time but I suppose your point makes sense. Wouldn't working as a PA be less "stressful" than a physician though? I mean sure you can work part time with the latter and still have a strong lifestyle but the stress of each day would be considerably more

 

[chemdoctor]

I get what you mean by that, but I view it as I'm working harder now to work less in the future... Plus, during those extra 2 years of medical school and 3 years residency, if I went the PA route, I would still be working full time anyways during those 5 years, so really how much harder would I be working? Sure maybe more than a 40hr/wk full time job, but not that much more.

Huh... I suppose that makes sense

 

[chemdoctor]

You are aware that PA’s practice medicine right? If you’re not, you need to do some shadowing and read some books.

If you are 100% absolutely professionally satisfied with the knowledge base, responsibilities, and lifestyle of a PA, then go PA. PA’s have it pretty good as long as you are happy as a mid level provider.

If you can’t decide between the two and you choose PA, at some point in your career you will wish you pursued the MD or DO. I’ve heard this echoed by more than a few PA’s.

I’m actually interested to see the future of the PA profession and where it goes.

The thing with PA programs however is that they want a lot of clinical experience. I think they have that requirement to discourage those students who didn’t get into med school. By a lot I mean thousands of hours sometimes.

Yeah... I think a lot of people in PA school wish they had gone for the MD and the DO... Better pay, more autonomy and better lifestyle choices... Not saying PA isn't great, but for a bit more work, I guess you get paid a lot more with a "be your own boss" type of attitude

 

[Mike Bagwell]

Yeah... I think a lot of people in PA school wish they had gone for the MD and the DO... Better pay, more autonomy and better lifestyle choices... Not saying PA isn't great, but for a bit more work, I guess you get paid a lot more with a "be your own boss" type of attitude

I wasn’t referring to pay or autonomy. Professionally, some people will just not be satisfied with the knowledge base that comes with being a PA.

PA is still a great bang for your buck career though if you are completely satisfied with where it will lead you professionally.

There are a lot of other factors to consider as well including family life and spousal career choices.

 

[Means]

This is anecdotal, but every PA that I have met that has practiced for 10+ years wishes they went to medical school and would never recommend PA school to prospective students. Getting told what to do by someone who is fresh out of school when you are decades into your career is a tough pill for some people to swallow.

 

[chemdoctor]

I wasn’t referring to pay or autonomy. Professionally, some people will just not be satisfied with the knowledge base that comes with being a PA.

PA is still a great bang for your buck career though if you are completely satisfied with where it will lead you professionally.

There are a lot of other factors to consider as well including family life and spousal career choices.

If it's knowledge base that is the issue, why not just attempt to learn the material on your own? well, I guess that's not the best way but

 

[907914]

If it's knowledge base that is the issue, why not just attempt to learn the material on your own? well, I guess that's not the best way but

Do you have a spare 7 years to self study medicine?

 

[chemdoctor]

Do you have a spare 7 years to self study medicine?

LOL so true

 

[Mike Bagwell]

If it's knowledge base that is the issue, why not just attempt to learn the material on your own? well, I guess that's not the best way but

Then that comes back to autonomy. What good is that knowledge if someone else has the final say?

 

[Gilakend]

PA

 

[Shammyguy3]

This is anecdotal, but every PA that I have met that has practiced for 10+ years wishes they went to medical school and would never recommend PA school to prospective students. Getting told what to do by someone who is fresh out of school when you are decades into your career is a tough pill for some people to swallow.

My own PCP who i shadowed told me to just go to PA school since I want to do FM. And he's been practicing for nearly 30 years. So it just depends on who you talk to i guess

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

and in residency you're making pretty decent money anyways

Hahahahahahahahahahaha
*gasp*
Hahahaha Hahahaha.
Ok. I’ll stop now.
Just FYI. Counted out with an 80 hour work week, residents are just this shy of indentured servitude. They make less than minimum wage.

 

[boundlesscorpuscle]

A few years ago when I was still trying to figure out my path, I strongly considered becoming a PA instead of a doctor. Ultimately I felt that as a physician I would be more satisfied. In making my decision, I created a pros and cons table along with a list of my core values- I've shared them here so perhaps it will help you with your own choice.

*Keep in mind, some of the points about Physician vs. PA are generalities and/or information I found in my internet research that may or may not be completely accurate.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

In the area I live in, I know of several (5+) physicians who’s kids are PA’s or in PA school now. I’m not saying their choice is right or wrong, but I think their physician parent must be advising them down the PA path and not the doctor route. Take it for what it’s worth.

 

[puahate]

Keep in mind PAs might become oversaturated

 

[loglat]

I have serious concerns about competition with NPs. They all seem to be going the way of the DNP... they seem to want the title without going to medical school... but I digress. Anyway, they have much more power than PAs as far as numbers and lobbying, so if they set the midlevel bar at the doctorate level, PAs will likely have to do the same to be competitive, thus defeating the purpose of the midlevel provider. I could be way off base, but it seems to be the writing on the wall, in my humble opinion.