NP vs. PA: What’s the Difference?
Dreaming of a career in healthcare that doesn’t involve medical school? Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) follow two career paths that offer fulfilling alternatives in the medical field. These mid-level practitioners share similar responsibilities, from diagnosing illnesses to prescribing medications. However, the education paths of NP vs. PA differ in significant ways.
NP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who often specializes in a specific clinical area, such as psychiatric or pediatric care. However, a PA is a licensed clinician who has gone through training that’s similar to medical school and can work in multiple medical specialties in collaboration with medical doctors.
When considering the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant, it’s important to note that the specific scope of practice for both NPs and PAs is heavily influenced by state regulations — different states, different rules.
This article is your backstage pass to the contrasting worlds of NP vs. PA, exploring the ins and outs of their responsibilities, education routes, salaries, and career outlooks to guide you in picking the right stage for your healthcare career.
NP vs. PA: Job Description
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
An NP is a registered nurse who has completed advanced education and clinical training to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including health promotion, disease prevention, and diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health conditions.
In full practice authority states, NPs can practice with a greater degree of independence. They may be able to diagnose, treat, and manage patients without direct supervision from a physician.
What Is a Physician Assistant?
A PA is a healthcare professional who practices medicine as part of a collaborative team with physicians and other members of the healthcare team. Versatility is a hallmark of the PA profession. They go through medical-school-like training with clinical rotations in various specialties including emergency medicine, internal medicine, family medicine, and general surgery. This expansive training makes them well-versed in handling any medical emergency and allows them to transition between different areas of medicine throughout their careers.
PAs practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. The level of supervision can vary, but PAs generally work in collaboration with physicians, without the option to practice independently.
NP vs. PA: Responsibilities
As the healthcare field evolves, the roles of a physician assistant vs. nurse practitioner continue to adapt, adjusting to meet the evolving needs and challenges of the contemporary medical scene. Their job responsibilities are further shaped by the specific policies of healthcare institutions and states where they practice. NPs and PAs share many responsibilities, yet each brings unique contributions to patient care.
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant: Shared Responsibilities
- Patient assessments including medical history, physical examinations, and diagnostic evaluations.
- Diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, which may include prescribing medications and formulating treatment plans under the guidelines and regulations of their respective scopes of practice.
- Collaboration with other healthcare team members — including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals — to provide coordinated and comprehensive patient care.
- Prescriptive authority, including controlled substances. In some states, NPs can prescribe medications independently. PAs can prescribe medications, but the extent of their prescriptive authority may depend on state regulations and the collaborating physician’s preferences.
- Patient education regarding preventive care, health maintenance, and management of chronic conditions to promote overall well-being.
Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities
- Holistic patient care: NPs often emphasize a holistic approach to patient care, considering not only the physical health but also the mental, emotional, and social well-being of the patient.
- Health promotion and education: NPs emphasize health promotion and disease prevention, focusing on educating patients about lifestyle changes that result in better health.
- Specialization: NPs often specialize in specific types of nursing, such as:
- Primary care: NPs often serve as primary care providers, managing routine healthcare needs, performing physical examinations, and coordinating patient care over time.
Physician Assistant Responsibilities
- Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: PAs may perform a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as suturing, casting, and assisting in surgery, under the supervision of a physician.
- Emergency medicine: Many PAs work in emergency medicine, managing acute medical conditions and making critical decisions in high-pressure situations.
- Pre- and post-operative care: PAs often assist in surgical procedures, providing pre-operative and post-operative care and collaborating closely with surgeons and other members of the surgical team.
NP vs. PA: Education
The educational paths for a nurse practitioner vs. physician assistant follow different trajectories — nurse practitioners often start with nursing education and progress to specialized master’s or doctoral programs, while physician assistants pursue specialized training resembling medical school.
Steps to Becoming an NP
When faced with the PA vs. NP dilemma, consider the educational routes. The steps to become an NP include the following educational milestones:
1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
The first step is to complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, which typically takes about four years. This program provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed for nursing practice.
2. Obtain Nursing Licensure
After completing the nursing program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to get a nursing license. Learn more about the next generation of the NCLEX.
3. Gain Clinical Experience
Most NP programs require applicants to have some clinical experience as an RN. The amount of required experience varies by program but is often around one to two years. Consider these specialties to build strong clinical skills:
4. Choose a Specialization
Nurse practitioners often specialize in areas like pediatrics, women’s health, acute care, or psychiatric-mental health. Choose an NP specialization that aligns with your goals. If you prefer a broader focus, you can choose family nurse practitioner programs.
5. Pursue a Graduate-Level Program
Choose an accredited graduate-level program in nursing that offers a specialty program in the area you want to practice as an NP. Some programs lead to a master’s degree, while others lead to a doctoral degree, which is becoming the standard for NP education.
6. Obtain NP Licensure
After completing your NP program you’ll need to apply for state licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse and pass the exam.
Keep in mind that to practice independently as an NP, the required clinical experience differs from state to state.
Steps to Becoming a PA
Thinking about becoming a PA instead of an NP? The educational path to make it happen is different. Here are the steps to take to become a PA:
1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
While some PA programs accept students with an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree is often preferred. The degree can be in any field, but it’s common for students to major in biological sciences, healthcare, or a related field.
2. Complete Prerequisite Requirements
Most PA programs have specific prerequisite coursework requirements. Common prerequisites include biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and statistics. They may also require applicants to have hands-on patient care experience. This can include work as an emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, medical assistant, nurse, or other healthcare roles.
3. Complete a PA Program
Successfully complete a PA program, which typically takes around two to three years. PA programs include both classroom instruction and clinical rotations. Coursework covers medical sciences, patient assessment, pharmacology, and clinical medicine.
4. Complete Clinical Rotations
PA students undergo supervised clinical rotations — often 2,000 hours or more — in various medical specialties, gaining practical experience in areas like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and more.
5. Obtain PA Licensure
After completing a PA program, graduates must take and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), a national certification exam. Success on this exam is required for licensure.
How Long Does It Take to Become a PA vs. NP?
The overall time to become an NP, including nursing education and advanced practice preparation, usually ranges from six to eight years. In contrast, the journey to become a PA, with all its steps, may take around six to seven years.
NP vs. PA: Salary
When comparing physician assistant vs. nurse practitioner earnings in the healthcare field, the average nurse practitioner salary is $128,490 annually, while the average physician assistant salary is lower, at $112,410.
Top 5 highest paying states for NPs:
Top 5 highest paying states for PAs:
- Connecticut
- Washington
- New Jersey
- Alaska
- California
NP vs. PA: Job Outlook
The job outlook looks promising for both professions. Overall employment for NPs is projected to grow 45% in the next decade. The job growth for PAs is expected to grow 27% in the same time frame — both significantly faster than the 3% expected growth for all occupations.
NP vs. PA: What’s Your Next Job?
Now that you know the difference between these two roles, it’s time to embark on the job search. IntelyCare can help you to build a career you want. Sign up today and discover personalized nursing opportunities that cater to your specific needs.