Industry Trends

First Annual Statistical Profile of PAs Released

Young male and femal doctors

Young male and femal doctorsLast week, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) published the 2013 Statistical Profile of Certified Physician Assistants. The report, which represents responses from more than 76,000 certified physician assistants (PAs), is the first of its kind from the organization.

“Just 18 months after its launch, 80 percent of all certified PAs had contributed data to it, making it by far the most robust source of PA data in existence,” says Dawn Morton-Rias, EdD, PA-C, president and CEO of NCCPA. “As we continue to publish findings—through this report and others to follow—we hope all those concerned with the PA profession and with healthcare workforce issues find this to be an invaluable source of insight and information.”

Data reflected in the report includes input from PAs who were certified as of December 31, 2013, and had minimally completed part of the profile between May 2012 and December 31, 2013. Some data was gleaned from other NCCPA data collection strategies. At the end of last year, there were 95,583 certified PAs. Roughly 80 percent of these clinicians provided responses for at least a portion of the statistical profile.

A press release shared by the Fort Mill Times highlights a number of its important findings, such as:

  • 66 percent of physician assistants are female
  • Median age of certified PAs is 38
  • PAs see an average of 70 patients per week in their principal clinical setting
  • More than 75 percent of PAs practice in an office-based private practice or hospital setting
  • More than 52 percent of recent graduates have three or more job offers

“It is not surprising to see that demand is high for certified PAs in the era of healthcare reform,” adds Morton-Rias. The PAs who responded cumulatively see over 5 million patients a week and are well entrenched in the delivery of healthcare to patients across the nation. As newly insured patients increase and more Baby Boomers enter the Medicare system, demand for PAs will continue to surge as proven providers of quality care.”

To see open Physician Assistant jobs throughout the country, check out Weatherby Healthcare’s job board.

About the author

Bobbi Harrison

Bobbi Harrison is the communications manager at Weatherby Healthcare. She is the former editor of LocumLife and Healthcare Traveler magazines, and also served as the managing editor of Healthcare Staffing and Management Solutions. A recipient of the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ prestigious gold award, she has more than a decade of publishing experience in the staffing industry.

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