CONTRIBUTORS:
Colette Jeffery, M.A., Senior Research Analyst
Andrzej Kozikowski, PhD, Director of Research
Dawn Morton-Rias, EdD, PA-C, President and CEO
Sheila Mauldin, M.N.M., Vice President of Research and Exam Programs
PUBLISHED IN 2019| NCCPA
KEYWORDS: Physician Assistant/Associate, PA, Workforce, PA Certification Statistics, Certified PAs
INFORMATION:
Message from the President and CEO
With U.S. News and World Report ranking physician assistants as the top health care job in 2019, it is no surprise that the 2018 cohort of newly Certified PAs is exceptional. Not only is the 2018 cohort the largest in
NCCPA’s history, but these 9,287 newly Certified PAs are also the youngest cohort to be certified, with 72.5% of them under the age of 30. They are the most diverse cohort, with 14.4% identified as non-white and 22.1% able to communicate in languages other than English. I invite you to pause for a moment to consider the impact these individuals will have on the millions of patients they will care for throughout their careers as they move forward into primary care, surgery, or other specialty areas of practice. We are also pleased to report that the job market remains strong for newly Certified PAs. Of those who have accepted a position, 74.4% had two or more job offers. Pay has increased with 35% of the 2018 newly Certified cohort earning salaries of $100,000 or more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 31% growth in the PA profession from 2018 – 2028, much higher than the average for all occupations. As this new group of certified PAs enter the workforce, we hope the information provided in this report will be beneficial to policy makers and health care economists. This report would not be possible without the dedication of newly Certified PAs who took the time to provide their valuable data. To this exceptional group of newly Certified PAs, we extend our appreciation and our best wishes for a rewarding career as they embark on their journey of caring for patients.
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About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for the over 150,000 PAs in the United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification requirements. NCCPA also administers the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) program for experienced, Certified PAs practicing in seven specialties. For more information, please visit http://www.nccpa.net.