Physical assistant is sometimes being viewed as the “representative” of the physician, where they are trained and supervised under the guidance and supervision of the supervising physician in that specific specialty/practice. The physician can be from dental, psychological, surgeon, general heath care or others. The physician and its assistant should work together as a team in the best delivering of medical care and treatment for their patients.

However, there are some key differences between these two professions. The gap will always exist. In fact these two professions enforced on different focus area and job functions.

1.The amount of formal education -

- One of the key differences is the amount of formal education which is required for a physician vs. a physician assistant. A physician is required to undertake hospital internship and a residency in that specific specialty in a particular medical area, apart from the formal education which the potential physician need to get enrolled in.

- While for a PA ( physician assistant) , an internship and a residency are not required at all. in fact, it is not mandatory for a physician assistant to own their certification, but many have tried to own one for better career advancement in future.

2. The amount of the responsibility -

- The physician own the responsibility for the well-being and care of the patients, while a PA share this responsibility with their supervising physician but they are not the one owning it.

3. The scope of work -

- The scope of work handled by the physicians is more complicated where additional care and attention is required with necessary examinations or in-depth investigations, which are unlike the physician assistant who manage more on the routine scope of work which are very much of administrative and clerical based.

4. Different type of practitioner -

- A physician such as a doctor or a surgeon is an independent practitioner, however a physician assistant is a profession who is practicing medicine under the care and supervisory of a physician.

5. Re-certification -

- It is the guidelines set by the American Academy of Physician assistants for every Physician assistants to get themselves re-certified every six years to sustain their credentials on the qualification as a physician assistant. This is to make sure they are equipped with the necessary latest medical information and practice which are relevant for their industry.

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