cotatopa Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 I'm in the very early stages of considering going into a PA program. Briefly I'm 39, and 40 soon. Occupational Therapy assistant the last 4 years of life. I have a BFA in film and photography and an A.A.S. in occupational therapy assisting. I know I've got some work to go in the prereq department and the shadowing and with my current life situation I know it will be a steep climb. So my question is What's the lifespan of PA career? The earliest I could see my degree being completed is by the time I'm 45 giving me maybe 25-30 years of work left depending. Do people usually practice in this career until their 60s and 70s? We all know Doctors do, but obviously that is a different deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 <snip>. Do people usually practice in this career until their 60s and 70s? We all know Doctors do, but obviously that is a different deal. Why do you say that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotatopa Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Just meaning that MDs are a different profession with more autonomy so they can practice out of their home or whatever the standard is in their state. But my impression of a PA is that you have to find a Doc (or be assigned? Depending on employer?) to be on the license of that doc and I didn't know how common it was for young doc to supervise old PA. Maybe this is my midlife crisis talking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted April 19, 2016 Moderator Share Posted April 19, 2016 PAs have their own licenses, but have to work in conjunction with a physician through a delegation of services agreement. at 4 out of 6 of my current jobs I work alone and never see the doc. at the other 2 I work double coverage and rarely with my collaborating physician of record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Just meaning that MDs are a different profession with more autonomy so they can practice out of their home or whatever the standard is in their state. But my impression of a PA is that you have to find a Doc (or be assigned? Depending on employer?) to be on the license of that doc and I didn't know how common it was for young doc to supervise old PA. Maybe this is my midlife crisis talking Since I'm over 50 and I'm a student ... with my PA career ahead of me ... and in my previous professional life I was supervising and managing people twice my age at the time ... it NEVER crossed my mind that I could only work with a collaborating physician that was older than me! :) Both of the docs I have already lined up (yes, you can have more than one collaborating physician) for after I graduate are younger than me. Some PAs are also practice owners in their own right and/or practice in MANY different settings, including concierge medicine, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotatopa Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Interesting! I guess my ignorance is showing on that process. I assumed or had been lead to believe that a PA practiced "on the license" of a physician and that ultimately the physician was responsible for the actions and direction of that practice. The whole physician extender thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Since I'm over 50 and I'm a student ... with my PA career ahead of me ... and in my previous professional life I was supervising and managing people twice my age at the time ... it NEVER crossed my mind that I could only work with a collaborating physician that was older than me! :) Both of the docs I have already lined up (yes, you can have more than one collaborating physician) for after I graduate are younger than me. Some PAs are also practice owners in their own right and/or practice in MANY different settings, including concierge medicine, for example. Really? I've never heard of a PA in concierge medicine. That would be awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted April 19, 2016 Administrator Share Posted April 19, 2016 I don't think anyone can answer that question. We have a whole sea change in the demographics, and that's not all settled out yet. An increase (and not a small one) in the number of female providers means more PAs will be leaving the workforce to care for families, certainly moreso than the original PAs. The question isn't so much "how long will you be allowed to work as a PA?" but more along the lines of "how long can you stand to work as a PA?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted April 19, 2016 Moderator Share Posted April 19, 2016 I will probably "work" until at least 67 and then continue to practice part time, at free clinics, and on disaster teams as long as I can. I know a doc who still volunteers regularly at a free clinic in his late 80s. . I want to be him someday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 I'm bailing just after age 62 at current pace which will be a tad over 38 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cotatopa Posted April 30, 2016 Author Share Posted April 30, 2016 I appreciate the range of opinions on here. And all of your replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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