While both healthcare providers play a significant role in direct patient care, there are significant similarities and differences between a physician assistant (PA) and a nurse practitioner (NP). There are 110,000 NPs and 87,000 PAs practicing in the US and providing cost-effective healthcare. With

While both healthcare providers play a significant role in direct patient care, there are significant similarities and differences between a physician assistant (PA) and a nurse practitioner (NP).

There are 110,000 NPs and 87,000 PAs practicing in the US and providing cost-effective healthcare. With the projected physician shortage expected to be 90,000 MDs by 2022 and 130,000 MDs by 2025, both roles will become important healthcare providers in the US, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges.

The projected job growth for NPs and PAs, respectively, is 34% and 38% over the 10-year period from 2012 to 2022.

Similarities Between the Roles

These two careers share many similarities, which include some of the following:

• Both require a formal education beyond an undergraduate degree
• Both provide healthcare
• Both can work in hospital or clinic settings in rural, suburban or urban areas
• Both roles are accepted in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
• Both have prescriptive rights in all states with some limitations varying by state
• As of 2013, salary compensation is comparable: NPs $95,070 and PAs $94,350
• Both roles generally eligible for third-party coverage and reimbursement

Differences Between the Roles

Some general differences in these healthcare roles include some of the following:

• There are 92 nurse practitioner and 170 physician assistant programs in the US, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• A primary difference is the educational requirements for each
• NPs follow a patient-centered curriculum while PAs follow a disease-centered program
• Specialization matters; NPs can specialize in an area of interest like orthopedics, geriatrics, pediatrics, women’s health or mental health. PAs education is more generalized medicine-based
• NPs can practice autonomously in 22 states and Washington, DC but generally have a physician overseeing their practice. PAs cannot work without MD supervision

To be more specific, there are other differences in the NP and PA roles:

Nurse Practitioner

• Attends a nursing school
• Often begins NP program as an experienced registered nurse (RN)
• More academically advanced role by attaining a masters or doctoral degree. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommends that the NP standard be the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DPN) by 2015. It is not yet a state requirement
• NP program requires 500 classroom/lecture hours and 500 to 700 clinical hours
• Successful qualification through a national exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), which is specific to their field of medicine (pediatrics, geriatrics, family medicine)
• Re-certified every 5 years by sitting for the appropriate exam or completing a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours and 75 to 150 continuing education units in NP specialty
• Each state has different re-certification qualifications
• State licensure required to practice

Physician Assistant

• Attends a medical school or center of medicine program
• Masters degree required
• 1,000 classroom/lecture hours and more than 2,000 clinical hours
• 9 to 15 months is actual supervised clinical training
• Successful qualification through a national certification exam called PANCE, which is a general medical exam through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• Must practice under a certified physician
• Recertification through an exam called PANRE every 6 years and 100 continuing medical education (CME) hours every 2 years
• State licensure required to practice

Responsibilities of the Roles

Both NPs and PAs have the main goal of providing healthcare for patients. They both:

• Diagnose illnesses
• Treat illnesses
• Prescribe medicine
• Teach patients

The key differences are:

Nurse Practitioner

• Has a more independent practice without supervision of a physician in 22 states, while others require a collaborative practice with an MD

Physicians Assistant

• Must only practice under the authority of a physician

Which Way to Go

There are many decisions that go into determining which career path to follow, NP or PA. While both provide direct patient care, they each have their own idiosyncrasies.