Arkansas is a state in the south-central region of the United States, home to more than three million people. It houses some of the best and accredited Physician Assistant schools for you to study in.  Although Arkansas may not a very popular state, the schools located in her are top notch. PA courses bring about a very interesting career where you get to render help to the needy. We have a lot in stock, why don’t you relax and read on! This article will provide all the necessary answers you need to successfully attend the best-accredited Physician assistant PA schools in Arkansas Here is an overview of all this article will cover.

What Is Physician Assistant PA?

Many countries term physician assistant different things. For instance, in the United Kingdom, they are known as physician associate and Physician assistants in the United States and Canada. A physician assistant is an advanced practitioner of medicine. Their practice may be autonomous or independent depending on the law of the state he practices in. According to Medicinenet, a physician assistant (PA) is a mid-level medical practitioner who works under the supervision of a licensed doctor (an MD) or osteopathic physician (a DO). Although the physician need not be present during the time the PA performs his or her duties, there must be a method of contact between the supervising physician and the PA at all times. In addition, PAs can practice in virtually all medical and surgical specialties, including surgeries. They just have to be trained and supervised properly provided they are properly trained and supervised. Furthermore, PA training programs are accredited by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Responsibilities Of A PA

Having explained who a PA is, there is the need to define his responsibilities. This will help intending students to get a grip on what they are expected to do after their studies. We will just list a few of them. The responsibilities and duties of a physician assistant PA include the following:

Why Should I Study Physician Assistant PA In Arkansas?

We already know that the PA profession is a highly respected career. Their duties are so intertwined with that of a physician. But, why should you study PA in Arkansas? We have a few answers below; Studying in Arkansas provides that fun away from the fast-paced environments you have previously been at. PAs are generally in the medical setting. Every state in the US has a high affinity for medical personnel. That is to say, there is a job available for you upon graduation. Due to the increasing demand for medical practitioners, there is alsoan increased salary for PAs. Furthermore, the time of study is not as long as a normal physician. Although it is about 23-28 months, you have to already earn a bachelor’s degree. You Can Read Best Accredited PA Programs In Ohio | Cost, Schools, Requirements

How Long Is a PA School In Arkansas?

To study PA in Arkansas, you need to already have your bachelors degree. With a bachelors degree, you study for a period of about 28 months. The successful completion of this PA program will lead you to a master’s in physician assistant. Do you remember when we said earlier that for a PA to undertake some jobs like plastic surgery he has to undergo added trainings? Well, the masters in PA provides such added trainings and may even give room for specialization depending on the school involved.

How Much Do Physician Assistants PA In Arkansas Earn?

We already know that physician assistants are mid-level medical personnel who work in clinics and hospitals with physicians. The average salary of a Physician Assistant in Arkansas is $99,105 as of May 28, 2022, but the range typically falls between $91,226 and $109,264. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. According to physicianassistantedu.org, the average annual statewide salary is $82,140.

What Types of Procedures Are PAs Trained To Perform?

PAs are trained to perform many types of procedures, here are some examples:

In What Areas of Medicine and Surgery Can PAs Practice?

Students who attended PA schools can practice in many areas of medicine including;

What Career Opportunities Are Available For PAs?

We will just list most of the careers available below;

How Do I Become a Physician Assistant in Arkansas?

 The process of how to become a physician assistant in Arkansas proceeds as follows, We are going to explain them below.

Step 1. Qualify for an Accredited Arkansas Physician Assistant Program for Licensure

From the directives of Arkansas State Medical Board, PAs applying for a license must have graduated from a Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) certified program. A successor agency may also accredit the program you studied like the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Therefore, you have to scout for a program accredited by both the CAHEA and ARC-PA. Then, meet the program’s requirements. Although PA programs all have their own requirements for admission, there are some general guidelines that every prospective student should meet. Although any bachelor degree is accepted, to shorten your study time, you can major in any course that teaches;

Step 2. Take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

After graduating from a PA school and before applying to the Arkansas State Medical Board for a PA License, physician assistants will need to have passed the PANCE exam.
PANCE is a five-hour exam composed of 300 multiple-choice questions costing $475. You can register online, where they will also find practice exams available for $35. Upon passing the PANCE, you will gain the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) credential and can then apply for licensure with the state.

Step 3. Apply for a License to Practice in Arkansas

To be granted a Physician assistant license, submit an  application packet that contains:

Step 4. Stay Current on Certification and Licensure

The PA license in Arkansas expires each year on the last day of your birth month. While the PA-C credential is to be renewed every two years. The Arkansas State Medical Board will mail out renewal applications eight weeks before a PA’s license expires and must be returned with a $50 fee. For the PA-C credential, PAs must complete 100 credits of continuing medical education (CME) every two years and pass the $350 Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) once each tenth year.

Can One Be Accepted Into Physician Assistant PA Schools In Arkansas Without GRE?

The general requirement of acceptance into a PA school in Arkansas is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). However, some schools may not accept students without a GRE score. For instance, Harding University requires you to write the GRE but no minimum score is given or expected. According to the admission portal, “GRE scores should support your academic grades and demonstrate your ability to take a standardized test.” In conclusion, Arkansas pa schools and programs require GRE scores.

Can One Be Admitted Into PA Schools In Arkansas With A Low GPA?

One of the prerequisites is already having a bachelor’s degree. While some may graduate with a high GPA, others may not. For instance, UAMS expects students to have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. This is quite high if analysed critically. So, to conclude, no, the three best accredited pa schools in Arkansas do not accept a low GPA.

Accredited Physician Assistant PA Schools In Arkansas

There are several Physician assistant PA schools in Arkansas. In this article, we have written the best physician assistant pa schools in Arkansas 2022. This is in a bid to help you in making a choice. The links to the schools are right below it including the map in case you want to navigate to the school. Below is the list of the accredited physician assistant PA schools in Arkansas. You Can Check : Accredited Physician Assistant PA Schools in Virginia

Harding University

Harding University started the first ever Pa program in Arkansas in 2005. Its Physician Assistant Program is a 28-month graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies. The graduates are practicing in different areas of medicine which include Primary Care, Urgent and Emergent Care, Orthopedic, Dermatology, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Oncology, Rheumatology, Surgery specialties, Mental Health, Urology, and Pediatrics. US News & World Reports Best Health Care Jobs lists PAs as #2 and Bureau of Labor Statistics (April 2018) lists PAs as the top 20 fast-growing occupations.  The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued to the Harding University Physician Assistant Program. This is given to those in compliance with accreditation standards. Actually, what this means is that the accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or fails to comply with standards. The program will be revalued in September 2026. Furthermore, the tuition for Physician Assistant students is $14,178 per semester for 7 semesters. Tuition for repeated courses is $927 per semester hour.  

University of Arkansas

The College of Health Professions (CHP) at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences offers the physician assistant program at the University of Arkansas. The mission of the UAMS Physician Assistant Program is to educate students who will practice patient-centered medicine while embracing cultural diversity, ethical integrity, professionalism, and collaboration with other members of the health care team. It is one of the best pa schools in Arkansas. Physician Assistant PA Program runs for 28 months. They accept new students once a year in mid-May and hey finish in a little more than 2 years by August. This Pa schools program trains in broad areas of medicine and provides high-quality and compassionate health care. Additionally, the tuition is $61,409 for Arkansas residents and $90,809 for non residents. This is the entire cost of the program.

Hendrix College

At Hendrix College, PA students may not get admitted into PA programs with a low GPA. Although few students are admitted with it. A career as a Physician Assistant is increasingly appealing to many people, making entry into PA programs somewhat competitive. In addition, the tuition is $62,310.

CONCLUSION

PA schools in Arkansas programs are totally four in number with the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education PA Program still seeking accreditation. Hendrix college is a bit complicated because the programs are different. This leaves us with two best accredited PA schools and Programs in Arkansas being Harding University and the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. In conclusion, we advise you make a pick from the two best pa schools and programs to begin your journey. To become a physician assistant, you need to already have a bachelor’s degree in health allied courses then you enroll for a slightly above two -year PA program. You may wish to go for a master’s in PA to become a specialized PA. Physician assistants (PAs) examine patients, prescribe medicine, and order diagnostic tests. Usually, they work under the supervision of physicians, but they can work more independently in some states, consulting with physicians only when they need help with cases. According to https://www.physicianassistantedu.org/, the average starting salary for physician assistants in Arkansas is $82,140.

  1. Qualify for Accredited Physician Assistant Programs for Licensure in Arkansas2. Take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)3. Apply for licensure to the Arkansas Medical Board.4. Maintain the Arkansas Physician Assistant License. No. They’re called either Physician Assistants or PAs. Yes, the Pa profession s a fast-growing profession. The demand for PAs increased more than 300 percent from 2011 to 2014, according to the healthcare search firm Merritt Hawkins. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the profession will increase 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is the fastest average for all professions.Actually, the demand for PAs is so high that three-quarters of PAs receive multiple job offers upon graduation.

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