Physician Associates: The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a PA

Introduction

Are you considering a career as a physician associate in the NHS, or do you just want to know more about the profession? 

Here you’ll find everything you need to know about becoming a physician associate, including the degree itself, the postgraduate prospects and how to build a flawless application. 

This is a rapidly changing and evolving field, with many rules and regulations changing monthly.

What Is A Physician Associate?

The physician associate role is a rapidly expanding healthcare role within the multidisciplinary team. 

Physician associates are trained to take histories, perform physical examinations, and develop differential diagnoses and management plans under the supervision of a consultant, registrar or general practitioner.

They can deliver care to patients and provide health promotion advice. 

Currently, physician associates are not allowed to prescribe or request procedures involving ionising radiation, such as X-rays or CT scans. 

Physician associates generally work within hospitals, in primary care and sometimes in community clinics. 

What Is The Difference Between A Physician Associate And A Doctor?

There is some overlap between the roles of a physician associate and a junior doctor in the NHS, however, a physician associate is not a doctor. 

A physician associate has a minimum of 2 years of medical education before working in the NHS, whereas a doctor has a minimum of 4 to 5 years at medical school.

They are able to choose which speciality they wish to work in, without needing to apply for further speciality training.

Unlike junior doctors, physician associates generally apply for a permanent position at a hospital, general practice or community clinic and do not need to move between specialities every 4 months. 

PAs can also choose where in the UK they wish to work, whereas doctors are allocated to a ‘deanery’ where they are placed within. This means that many doctors are placed in unfamiliar parts of the UK for their 2 years of foundation training. 

Physician Associates are not currently able to prescribe medication or order imaging scans which involve radiation. 

Physician Associates are typically contracted to work from 9 am - 5 pm, on a 37.5-hour week, whereas doctors can work up to 48 hours a week including antisocial hours and up to 13-hour shifts. 

What Is A Physician Associate Studies Degree?

A physician associate degree is a post-graduate degree which lasts 2 years. Throughout these 2 years, you will be taught by a diverse range of healthcare staff in both clinical and non-clinical environments, such as through hospital placements, GP placements, lectures and small group teachings on the university campus. 

👉🏻 Read more about boosting your personal statement

What Is The Salary Of A Physician Associate in the UK?

Physician Associate Salary In The UK

Physician Associates (PAs) in the UK are paid under the Agenda For Change pay scale at band 7, ranging from approximately £43,742 to £50,056 based on the level of experience.

This is for a standard working week of 37.5 hours. This pay for a physician associate is higher than the starting salary of an F1 or F2 Doctor.

👉🏻 Read more about how much doctors in the UK earn

How Can I Become A Physician Associate?

The most traditional route to becoming a PA includes studying a medically related undergraduate degree, such as biomedical sciences, and then completing the postgraduate physician associate degree. 

There are also a limited number of UK degrees which can be completed following A-Levels at an undergraduate level. These are covered in more detail below. 

Allied Health Professionals with or without an undergraduate degree are also able to apply to study to become a physician associate. 

There are also plans to develop a physician associate apprenticeship. 

👉🏻 Read more about how much it costs to become a doctor in the UK

Which UK Universities Offer A Postgraduate Physician Associate Degree? 

Currently, there are 23 universities in the UK which offer a MSc Physician Associate programme. 

For the year 2024/25, the following universities offer a PA programme: 

University	Programme
Anglia Ruskin University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of Aberdeen	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Brunel Unviersity London	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Bangor University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Brighton and Sussex Medical School	Postgraduate Clinical Diploma in Physician Associate Studies
University of Birmingham	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of Chester	MSc Physician Associate Studies
De Montfort University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
St George’s University of London	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Edge Hill University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of Hertfordshire	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of Keele
University of East Anglia	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Universiyty of Manchester	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
University of Reading	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of the West of England	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Newcastle University	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
University of Sheffield	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Swansea University	PgDip Physician Associate Studies; MSc Physician Associate Studies
Queen Mary University of London	MSc Physician Associate Studies
University of Surrey	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Ulster University	MSc Physician Associate Studies

What Are The Entry Requirements For A Physician Associate Degree? 

All physician associate degrees require a prior undergraduate degree in a human life sciences or healthcare-related subject, awarded at a level of 2:2 or above.

Alternatively, you may be accepted as an Allied Health Professional who has a minimum of 2 years post-registration experience. 

You cannot apply to study for a Physician Associate Degree if you have completed or previously studied for a medical degree. This includes if you were not able to complete the degree. 

👉🏻 Read more about interviews for medical school & next steps 

Can You Study As A Physician Associate Without An Undergraduate Degree?

You may be able to join a postgraduate physician associate course if you are an experienced allied health professional. 

There are also 2 undergraduate physician associate courses in the UK. These last 4 years and are available from the University of Central Lancashire and from the University of Reading. 

These both have A-level requirements of AAB, achieving at least a grade B in both chemistry and biology. 

Is There An Admissions Test For Physician Associates? 

Some universities may encourage candidates to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

Where the university does not use the UCAT, offers are made based on degree achievement, relevant healthcare experience and personal statements. 

Successful applicants are usually then invited to an interview. 

👉🏻 Read more about how hard the UCAT entrance exam is 

Physician Associate Interview Questions

The interview for PAs will assess various domains. Here are some examples of possible physician associate interview questions you may be asked. 

Motivation 

1. Why do you want to study to become a physician associate?

2. Why do you believe that you would make a good physician associate?

3. Describe your understanding of the role of a physician associate

4. Why do you want to be a physician associate over studying medicine to become a doctor?

5. Why do you want to be a physician associate over a nurse or other healthcare professional?

6. What aspects of the physician associate program are you most excited about and why? 
   

Experiences 

1. Tell me about an experience in healthcare which stuck with you 

2. Describe an experience where you worked with a healthcare professional with a different background to yourself

3. Tell me about your work experience and what you learnt from it.
   

Problem-Solving

1. Describe a difficult decision that you had to make in the past year, and what went into making that decision.

2. How do you organise your studies, and how do you plan to keep on top of the workload as a physician associate student? 

Communication Skills

1. Tell me about an experience you have had with a conflict, and how you resolved it

2. What techniques would you employ to effectively communicate with patients who speak limited English? 

3. What changes would you make to your style of communicating when interacting with people from different groups of society? 

How Is A Physician Associate Degree Funded? 

Unlike an undergraduate degree, the physician associate degree tuition fee is not covered entirely by Student Finance England. 

However, students can apply for a postgraduate master's loan, as well as further funding from Health Education England, which will cover part of the tuition fee. Individual universities also offer further bursary support for students. 

Unfortunately, some msc physician associate students may need to work during their degree to fund the rest of their tuition fees and living costs. 

What Work Experience Do You Need To Study As A Physician Associate?

The work experience that physician associate applicants have will vary massively, based on their previous degree and occupation. Any work experience conducted should be in a relevant clinical or care environment, such as a hospital, GP practice, care home etc. 

👉🏻 Read more about what work experience you need for a healthcare degree

Are Physician Associates Regulated By The General Medical Council?

From December 2024, PAs will be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC), the same professional regulator that oversees doctors in the UK.

This has raised some controversy, with doctors concerned that it may blur boundaries between the two roles, and may confuse patients. 

This marks a significant shift from the current system where registration is voluntary. This change means that PAs will be subject to similar rigorous standards and oversight as doctors, ensuring a consistent framework of accountability and professionalism across the healthcare profession.

Impact of GMC Regulation on the Role and Perception of Physician Associates

Think about some of these thoughts for any upcoming physician associate or even medical school interviews which you may have.

1. Enhanced Professional Credibility: Regulation by the GMC is expected to enhance the professional credibility of PAs. It will affirm their role as a vital part of the healthcare team, bringing them in line with other regulated healthcare professionals. This could lead to increased trust from patients and colleagues alike.

2. Standardisation of Training and Practice: With GMC oversight, there should be a standardised approach to the training, qualification, and practice of PAs. This will ensure that all PAs meet specific competencies and adhere to a uniform code of conduct, which could enhance the quality of care provided to patients.

3. Increased Responsibility and Autonomy: Regulation may pave the way for expanded roles and responsibilities for PAs, including prescribing rights and the ability to order radiographic studies, as it provides a formal mechanism to ensure they are adequately trained for these tasks. This could lead to greater autonomy in their practice within the healthcare team.

4. Greater Accountability: Under GMC regulation, PAs will be held to high professional standards and can be held accountable for their clinical decisions and actions. This accountability will be crucial for maintaining patient safety and upholding the integrity of the profession.

5. Impact on Recruitment and Retention: The formal recognition and regulation of PAs may make the profession more attractive to potential candidates by providing clear career pathways and professional development opportunities. It might also aid in the retention of PAs by recognising their critical role within the NHS and providing them with a secure professional status.

This transition to mandatory GMC oversight represents a landmark development for Physician Associates, aligning them more closely with their healthcare colleagues and ensuring a robust framework for their integration and growth within the UK healthcare system.

👉🏻 Read more about GMC's Good Medical Practice

Physician Associate Resources & Hot Topics In The NHS 

For further reading and to learn more about becoming a physician associate, check out Youth Employment UK’s interview with current physician associates discussing the role. Prospects also provides further information about this expanding role, and what it entails. The most updated physician associate information can be found in the Faculty of Physician Associates.  

To excel in your PA interview, you should have a good awareness of current issues in the NHS and hot topics affecting healthcare in the UK. Our NHS Hot Topics blog contains everything you need to know, but we’ve also provided some examples below. 

Physician Associate Hot Topics

Improving Access To Healthcare: The NHS Pharmacy First Initiative

Launched on 31st January 2024, the Pharmacy First Initiative enables pharmacists to treat 7 common conditions: acute otitis media, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, and UTIs. The service aims to increase access to healthcare services in the UK and help reduce the burden on primary care. 

Medical Ethics: Indi Gregory

Indi Gregory was a baby born with a severe and significantly life-limiting form of mitochondrial disease. Healthcare professionals decided that it was in her best interests for her invasive life support to be removed when she became critically ill. Indi’s parents opposed this decision, raising ethicolegal issues within the hospital. 

Service Provision: The UK Mental Health Crisis 

The UK currently faces a mental health crisis, characterised by a surge in mental illnesses, requiring increased support and service use. Escalating demand for NHS mental health services has resulted in extensive backlogs, prolonged wait times, and strain on healthcare staff. Prolonged wait times present ethical concerns, including deteriorating patient conditions and increased mortality risks, while healthcare staff confront burnout and workforce deficits.

Service Provision: NHS Backlogs & The Waiting List Crisis

NHS wait lists are longer than ever, with over 7.5 million people waiting for treatment in 2023. The largest patient backlog is for elective care services, and this is secondary to underfunding, increased demand for NHS services, chronic workforce shortages, COVID-19 and the NHS worker strikes. This backlog affects patients both mentally and physically, potentially leading to worsened patient outcomes.

👉🏻 Read more about NHS Hot Topics

Physician Associate Clearing

Aspiring physician associates without an offer after the initial application cycle, UCAS Clearing and UCAS Extra provide valuable opportunities to secure a spot in a physician associate programme at universities in the UK.

To maximise success, you should regularly check UCAS Clearing for updated course availability and consider UCAS Extra to apply for additional courses if you have used all five choices and are not holding any offers.

We would recommend promptly contacting universities with open spots, ensuring all necessary documents and qualifications are up to date, and clearly demonstrating enthusiasm and commitment to becoming a physician associate (on your personal statement), which can significantly enhance the likelihood of securing a place through these avenues.

These can help you get a place to study becoming a physician associate via clearing in 2024.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Do physician associates work in general practice?

Yes - many do. 

This is a growing field for PAs to work in - many of whom are currently funded by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), where their salary is paid centrally by the NHS, rather than taken out of the individual practice's general practice budget. 

This is similar to other roles in general practice such as for clinical pharmacists, social prescribing link workers, physiotherapists and paramedics.