How to Switch from RN to PA: Career Guide
Are you a registered nurse (RN) with a passion for medicine and a desire to do more? As a physician assistant (PA), you’ll enjoy a broader scope of practice, greater decision-making authority, and the chance to collaborate more closely with doctors on complex cases.
Transitioning from RN to PA is a chance to shift your career in an exciting new direction, but it requires additional education, experience, and certification to ensure you’re ready to handle the expanded responsibilities with confidence.
Ready to take the leap? This article breaks down the key steps you need to take to make this career shift a reality, including education, certification, and navigating the career opportunities available to you as a PA.
RN to PA: Snapshot Into the Journey
- Prerequisites: Nursing degree and clinical experience
- Education: Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies
- Certification: Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)
- Licensing: State licensure required to practice as a PA
- Clinical rotations: Extensive hands-on training in various specialties, including emergency medicine, pediatrics, and surgery
- Length of time: Typically 2–3 years
- Salary potential: Generally higher than that of an RN, with variations based on location and specialty
Can You Go From RN to PA?
While there aren’t direct RN-to-PA programs,it’s absolutely possible for nurses to become PAs. Let’s go through the key steps you need to take to make the transition.
Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
If you haven’t already earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, this is the first step in your journey. There are bridge programs, such as RN to BSN, tailored to nurses holding an associate’s degree. These programs can be completed in one to two years, depending on your schedule and course load.
If you already have a BSN, you may still need to complete additional coursework, as many PA programs have specific prerequisites, such as:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English composition and writing
- Genetics
- Medical terminology
- Microbiology
- Organic chemistry
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Statistics
Step 2: Gain Clinical Experience
Leverage your nursing experience to its fullest. PA programs highly value practical experience, and many require clinical hours — usually 500 to 1,000 — although your experience as an RN may meet or exceed this requirement. Be sure to track your hours, as you may need to submit documentation when applying.
Here are some examples of nursing specialties that can prepare you with diverse clinical skills:
Step 3: Pick the PA Schools You’ll Apply To
There aren’t specific RN-to-PA bridge programs, so your next step is to research and select accredited PA schools that align with your goals and qualifications. These programs typically last 27 months and combine classroom education with hands-on clinical rotations.
Unlike nursing school, PA programs train students using the medical model, which emphasizes diagnosing, treating, and managing medical conditions. As a PA student, you’ll be trained to think like a physician, learning to make independent clinical decisions, interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and perform procedures.
Here are a few key differences between PA vs. RN education:
| Aspect: | PA Educational Model: | RN Educational Model: |
|---|---|---|
| Training focus | Medical model, which emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases | Nursing model, which focuses on patient care, support, and advocacy |
| Examples of classes | Physical diagnosis, pathophysiology, and clinical procedures | Basic nursing theory, patient care techniques, and healthcare ethics |
| Clinical rotations | Rotations through multiple specialties, such as surgery and internal medicine | Building basic patient care skills in settings like hospitals, clinics, and community health facilities |
| Decision-making | Training to make independent clinical decisions | Training to follow the directions of physicians or advanced practice providers |
Step 4: Apply to Your Chosen Programs
Your next step is to start the application process. Although program requirements vary between schools, here is a general checklist of things you’ll need to have ready to apply to PA programs:
- A strong GPA, typically around 3.0, especially in science courses
- Proof of clinical experience, which may need to be documented and signed by your supervisors
- Official transcripts from your prerequisites, nursing degree, and any other completed coursework
- A nursing resume outlining your clinical and professional experience, including your nursing work, volunteer activities, and any additional healthcare-related jobs or certifications
- Graduate record examination (GRE) scores taken within the past five years
- A personal philosophyor statement detailing your career goals and why you believe you’re a strong candidate for the program
- A motivational letter explaining why you want to be considered for the chosen program
- Letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your clinical abilities, such as supervisors, physicians you’ve worked with, or nursing school professors
Once admitted into a PA program, your training will consist of two main components: the didactic phase and the clinical phase. Each phase is designed to provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to succeed as a PA.
Step 5: Take and Pass the PANCE Exam
After graduating from your PA program, you’ll need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to become licensed. This exam is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and consists of 300 multiple-choice questions. The following categories are covered on the PANCE exam:
- Diseases and disorders (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and more)
- Job-specific tasks (e.g., managing patients, using diagnostic and laboratory studies, pharmaceutical therapeutics, and more)
Step 6: Apply for a PA License
The next step is to apply for licensure in the state where you intend to practice. Licensing requirements vary by state, but most include:
- Submission of your PANCE scores.
- Proof of graduation from an accredited PA program.
- Background checks and fingerprinting.
- Payment of licensing fees.
After obtaining your license, you may also need to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe controlled substances, depending on your state’s regulations.
Step 7: Maintain Your PA License
Similar to maintaining your RN license, your PA license requires regular renewal according to your state’s requirements. Additionally, you’ll need to pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) every 10 years.
RN to PA: Salary Expectations
Curious about how your salary will change once you transition to a PA role? The average annual salary for an RN in the U.S. is about $94,480 a year. In contrast, a typical PA salary in the U.S. is $130,490 per year. However, this can vary based on your level of experience, geographic location, the specific healthcare setting you work in, and whether you hold specialty certifications.
FAQs: RN to PA Requirements
Transitioning from RN to PA: How long does it take?
Once you have a bachelor’s degree, such as a BSN, transitioning to a PA typically takes two to three years, depending on the program you choose. This includes completing a master’s degree PA program, passing the PANCE exam, and obtaining state licensure.
Currently, there are no direct BSN-to-PA bridge programs, so you may need to complete additional coursework before applying to PA programs. However, your nursing training will likely satisfy many of the admission requirements, including prerequisite courses like anatomy and microbiology, as well as clinical experience.
Do I need to take the GRE to apply to a PA program?
While some PA programs require GRE scores, others may waive this requirement based on your academic background or clinical experience. Additionally, some programs don’t require GRE scores to get admitted. It’s important to check individual programs and ask if the requirement can be waived.
Can PAs specialize in different areas of care?
PAs can specialize in a wide range of medical fields, allowing them to focus on specific areas of healthcare. However, unlike nurse practitioners (NPs), they don’t need to undergo extensive education and certification to make the switch. Some common PA specialties include:
- Anesthesia
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- General practice
- Internal medicine
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Otolaryngology
- Radiology
- Pediatrics
- Surgery
PA vs NP: What’s the difference?
The primary difference between PAs and NPs lies in their approach to patient care: PAs work as part of a healthcare team alongside physicians, offering flexibility across various specialties, while NPs often emphasize a more holistic, patient-centered approach with an emphasis on health promotion and prevention. In full practice authority states, NPs may work independently, taking on a primary care provider role that allows them to diagnose, treat, and prescribe certain medications.
Why do some RNs choose the PA career path instead of NP?
Some RNs choose the PA career path over NP for several reasons, including:
- Medical training model: PAs are trained in a medical model similar to that of doctors, which appeals to RNs who want a more physician-like role in patient care, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment, and procedures.
- Broader scope of practice: PAs have the flexibility to work across a wide range of medical specialties, including surgery, emergency medicine, and otolaryngology, whereas NPs often focus more on primary care or specific areas of nursing.
- Career flexibility: PAs often enjoy more flexibility in terms of changing specialties without needing additional training or degrees.
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