By the end of 2024, the number of Board Certified PAs reached 189,907, marking a 6.3% increase from the previous year and a 27.8% growth over the last five years, according to the latest NCCPA Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs.

NCCPA President and CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D., PA-C, ICE-CCP, FACHE, expressed enthusiasm about the broad scope of PA practice, which allows them to provide care to an estimated 11.4 million patients each week.

“There are now 56 PAs per 100,000 population in the U.S., compared to 45 in 2020. This continued growth reflects the increasing demand for PAs across various health care specialties,” Morton-Rias said. “PAs play an indispensable role as patient care continues to rapidly evolve.”

While primary care has long been a cornerstone of the PA profession, the latest data shows a slight shift in specialty distribution. Surgical subspecialties now account for the largest proportion of PAs (18.5%), closely followed by family medicine/general practice (16.3%). The overall representation in primary care saw a proportional decrease of 2.4% to 22% in 2024, a drop from 24.4% in 2020.

PA Career Flexibility and Leadership

A defining characteristic of the PA profession is its inherent flexibility and adaptability.

“The ability of PAs to move between specialties is a real strength of our profession,” Morton-Rias said. “It allows us to adapt to the changing needs of our patients and the health care system, bringing valuable experience to different areas.”

The report shows that over half of all PAs (53.4%) have changed specialties at least once during their careers. Additionally, 74.1% have had two or more positions throughout their careers.

About 16.9% of PAs hold leadership roles at their primary job, working in clinical settings, administration, education, research and more. Additionally, 31.7% participate in leadership activities outside their main job through military service, mentorship, volunteerism and community outreach.

International Involvement and Precepting

The report introduced new insights into broad contributions by PAs. According to the data, 10.8% of PAs have participated in either paid or volunteer international medical work, such as medical missions or medical relief work.

“This highlights the global impact and humanitarian commitment of the PA profession,” Morton-Rias said.

Precepting activities also emerged as a significant area of PA involvement, with 38.2% of PAs dedicating at least one hour per week to teaching. On average, PAs spent 3.9 hours weekly teaching or mentoring future PAs.

Impact of Educational Debt

Educational debt continues to influence career decisions for some PAs, with 15.6% of respondents indicating their debt levels affected their specialty choices. Of those influenced by debt, nearly 30% chose surgical subspecialties and just over 19% chose primary care.

Workforce Demographics

The demographic profile of PAs shows ongoing trends with the median age of PAs being 38 years old. Females represent 71.6% of the workforce, a 1.9% increase since 2020. There is also increasing diversity within the workforce, with a rise in Hispanic PAs to 7.5%, along with a modest increase among Black/African American, Asian and multi-racial PAs.

Telehealth Adoption

Telemedicine use has increased, with a reported 43.5% of PAs engaging in telehealth services, up from 20.7% in 2020.

“The adoption of telemedicine underscores the flexibility and adaptability of PAs in meeting patient needs,” Morton-Rias said.

High Job Satisfaction, Lower Burnout

Overall satisfaction among PAs remains high with 87.1% reporting overall career satisfaction, and 83.6% stating they are satisfied with their present job. Feelings of burnout had a proportional decrease of 1.5% from the 2023 report, now affecting 32.6% of PAs. The lowest rates of burnout were with office-based private practice PAs (30%) and PAs working in community health centers reported experiencing the highest (41.5%).

Income Trends

The financial landscape for PAs shows steady growth. The mean income for PAs increased to $129,291 in 2024, up 12% from 2020.

Mental Health

Mental health care remains a significant role of PAs, with 83.3% encountering patients at least monthly who need mental health treatment.  On average, 26.7% of patients seen by PAs required some type of mental health care.

“The ongoing adaptability and growth of the PA workforce are crucial in addressing future health care challenges,” Morton-Rias said. “We anticipate PAs will continue to evolve and expand their roles in the coming years.”

To read and download the report, click here.