{"id":17983,"date":"2023-02-09T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T09:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/?p=17983"},"modified":"2024-02-15T16:14:58","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T16:14:58","slug":"np-or-pa-which-career-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/np-or-pa-which-career-right\/","title":{"rendered":"NP or PA? How to Know Which Career Path is Right for You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To be or not to be, a PA or an NP? There are plenty of potential career paths you can take in the world of healthcare. If you see yourself practicing medicine, but you\u2019re not quite destined for full-blown medical school, then these two pathways may be right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few differences and similarities between being a nurse practitioner and a physician’s assistant. Read below to compare and contrast the two and find out which is the best choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarities Between PAs & NPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PAs and NPs are both licensed healthcare providers who go through clinical training, have a graduate degree, and earn certification\u2014through Nurse Practioner Certification<\/a> for NPs or Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination\u00ae<\/a> (PANCE) for PAs. PAs and NPs have a bit of overlap in their everyday duties as they both diagnose conditions and illnesses, treat patients, and prescribe medications. Although, NPs are limited to prescribing medications in some states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find the scope of practice for PAs by state here<\/a>, and the scope of practice for NPs here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Differences Between PA & NPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The primary difference between these two professions is their approach. PAs follow the medical model which is a disease-focused, direct approach to care. It involves testing, diagnosis, and treatment for prompt treatment of a patient\u2019s illness or condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NPs, on the other hand, follow the nursing model which is a holistic approach that considers the whole person. NPs consider how the treatment affects the individual, their independence, and those around them. They often promote smart choices to their patients for long-term disease prevention and overall improvement of their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NPs can also practice independently in some states, but PAs must work with physicians. PAs may also assist in surgeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PA and NP Education and Certification <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nurse practitioners can earn their Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DPN). They must be a registered nurse before entering these programs and have a bachelor\u2019s degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aspiring nurse practitioners have a few specializations to choose from, but they must be certified in that specialization via their board certification exam. Long term, they must be recertified every two years and complete 1,000 clinical hours in a certified specialty and 100 continuing education hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a PA program, PAs must earn their Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and pass the PANCE exam. PAs can switch specializations easily with no recertification requirement. Although, every two years, PAs must complete 100 continuing medical education (CME) hours and pass recertification every six to ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PA and NP Salaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> dertermined the median pay for a PA was $121,530 per year; the NP median pay<\/a> was $120,680. According to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report<\/a>, nurse practitioners currently rank #1 as the best healthcare job and physician assistants come in second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Choose If Being a PA or NP Is Right For You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Physicians assistant and nurse practitioners work in similar environments. Both career paths are in high demand with a career outlook of 40% growth<\/a> from 2021-2031 for NPs and 28% growth <\/a>for PAs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing between the two:<\/p>\n\n\n\n