Of all the degrees in nursing and medicine, Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA) are the two most commonly compared by aspiring healthcare students. From a patient perspective, there may be little or no apparent difference; patients are simply seeing a provider for care.
Both NPs and PAs have advanced education. NPs earn their degrees in nursing and must achieve a minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited school to become licensed within a state. PAs need a minimum of a master’s-level degree from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Both are certified to prescribe medications–NPs in most states and PAs in all states, including controlled substances when appropriate. Both can order and interpret diagnostic testing (e.g., laboratory and imaging tests), and both can perform office-based and hospital-based procedures. Additionally, both NPs and PAs can manage patients with acute, subacute, and chronic conditions and preventive care. At first glance, the careers have some commonalties, but the training is much different.
At second glance, you’ll find the distinction between an NP and a PA meaningful, and it significantly affects how each studies and approaches patient care.
Approach to Learning
For students who want to practice healthcare without going to medical school, two options stand out: a career as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. Both paths can give you the opportunity to diagnose, treat, and care for patients across specialties and settings.
Beyond those similarities, however, there are some key differences to know about these two roles. We’ll go over the distinctions between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant to help you make the best choice for your career.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who can diagnose and treat patients. Nurse practitioners provide primary, specialty, and acute care for a range of patients, including young children, families, and older adults.
Their responsibilities can include:
- Record patients’ medical histories
- Order, perform, and evaluate diagnostic tests
- Diagnose health conditions
- Develop treatment plans and manage patients’ care
- Prescribe medications
- Educate patients about health management and disease prevention
What Is a Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed clinician who provides medical care for patients. Like nurse practitioners, PAs can diagnose and treat patients for a wide range of conditions.
Their responsibilities often include:
- Take patients’ medical histories
- Perform exams
- Order and assess diagnostic tests
- Diagnose health conditions
- Create treatment plans
- Prescribe medications
- Perform medical procedures and help with surgeries
NP vs. PA: Key Differences to Know
It may seem like these two careers have many similarities, but there are also meaningful differences between the role of a PA versus an NP. Let’s take a closer look at the education, autonomy, and approach to practice for each role.
Education and Training
Both NPs and PAs have advanced education, but their programs and training are much different. To become an NP, you must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited school. These programs help you expand upon your nursing knowledge and experience.
For your graduate program, you’ll choose the area where you want to specialize, such as family care, gerontology, or psychiatric-mental health. Your program will most likely follow a holistic model that combines both nursing and medical science. Your studies and clinical training will be heavily focused on providing patient-centric care.
For PAs, the minimum educational requirement is a master’s degree from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Similar to medical school, PA programs offer a generalist approach to training. As a PA student, you’ll do clinical rotations in multiple specialties, such as family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and general surgery.
Approach to Practice
With their differences in education and training, NPs and PAs practice medicine somewhat differently. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NPs have a “unique emphasis on the health and well-being of the whole person.” They focus not only on diagnosing and treating medical issues, but also on educating people about ways they can prevent future problems and lead healthier lives.
In contrast, PAs have broader medical training, which allows them “to provide a wide spectrum of patient care and treat the ‘whole patient,’” according to the American Academy of Physician Associates. They may offer health education or preventive care, but they primarily focus on diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Despite these different approaches, NPs and PAs can both be a patient’s primary point of contact throughout diagnosis, treatment, and management.
Autonomy
Both NPs and PAs need to be licensed in the states where they practice. Depending on the state, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can be autonomous outpatient providers with the ability to practice and prescribe medicine independently. In some states, however, they may need to work under the supervision of a physician.
NPs are generally licensed by state nursing boards. Meanwhile, PAs are usually licensed by state medical boards, though some states have separate PA boards within or under the medical board.
Work Environment
You can find both NPs and PAs working in many medical facilities. NPs can practice in primary care, acute care, and long-term care settings. They commonly work in these settings:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Emergency rooms
- Private practices
- Nursing homes
- Schools
- Public health departments
Similarly, PAs can work in nearly any practice setting, including outpatient, inpatient, emergency room, and surgery. They often practice in these settings:
- Hospitals
- Medical offices
- Community health centers
- Nursing homes
- Retail clinics
- Educational facilities
- Workplace clinics
- Correctional institutions
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner: How to Choose Your Path
If you’re deciding between these two professional paths, consider these factors:
- Degree program requirements: Graduate nursing programs may prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree, but some schools offer RN to MSN programs if you’re a licensed RN with an associate degree. For a physician assistant program, requirements may include a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, like biology, and experience working in healthcare, such as a medical assistant.
- Approach to patient care: Think about the type of care you want to provide. If you want to offer a holistic model of care, a career as an NP may be right for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a care model focused on diagnosis and treatment, you may do well as a PA.
- Opportunities for autonomy: If you want to practice independently, review your state’s requirements for both physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Knowing the level of autonomy in each role can help you make a decision about your future career.
Whichever path you choose, and wherever you decide to practice, you’ll be an indispensable part of the healthcare system.
Begin Your Training as a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant at WCU
Both nurse practitioners and physician assistants have valuable roles in the healthcare field. The differences between them center on the education and training they receive, their approach to patient care, and the level of autonomy they have. Choosing between a career as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant depends on how you want to learn and practice medicine.
West Coast University offers an educational pathway for whichever one you choose. Our Master of Physician Assistant program (available in Los Angeles and Richardson, TX) offers a blend of classroom instruction and advanced simulation labs to help prepare you for clinical rotations. Meanwhile, our MSN and DNP programs can be completed entirely online with clinical placement support to gain hands-on experience.
Are you ready to take the next step toward a career as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant? Schedule an information session today to learn more!
Similar to medical school, all PA programs train in a generalist approach, allowing graduates who subsequently pass their national boards to pursue practice in any medical specialty and any practice setting, including outpatient, inpatient, emergency room, and surgery. Unlike physicians, PAs generally do not need to complete post-master’s internships and residencies, although many are open to pursue such training upon graduation.
By contrast, advanced practice registered nurse practitioners (APRNs) build medical expertise upon previous registered nurse knowledge and experience. Nurse practitioners are educated in a holistic model combining both nursing and medical science. Nurse practitioners specialize by patient population: family, pediatric, women, geriatric, and more. And within those populations they may specialize further: neonatal, acute care, etc. NPs train to focus on the patient and how they are affected by a disorder. A Nurse Practitioner course of study is highly patient-centric.
Approach to Practice
This major distinction in educational approach presents a philosophically different, if equally important, approach to practicing medicine. In oversimplified terms, the NP focuses on the individual while the PA focuses on holistic patient care, which includes the patient, the family, the environment, and the underlying medical condition. PA training has considerable foundation in medical sciences and NP training has considerable foundation in nursing sciences.
In many circumstances, the patient’s primary point of contact throughout diagnosis, treatment, and management can be an NP or a PA, with both serving as primary care providers and PAs also serving as specialty care providers. Research has shown that both NPs and PAs can improve access to high-quality and excellent care.
Autonomy
Depending on the practice specialty, years of experience, and state, both NPs and PAs can be autonomous outpatient providers with the ability to practice on their own licenses. NPs are generally licensed by state nursing boards. Meanwhile, PAs are generally licensed by state medical boards with some states having separate PA boards functioning within or under the medical board. Both NPs and Pas can choose to be a partner in a group clinical practice, choose a private practice, or work in a hospital-based practice.
In deciding which of these professional paths to pursue, consider the requirements of the relevant degree programs, the approach that each profession takes to patient care, and the opportunities of autonomy that both paths provide. Whichever path you choose, and wherever you opt to practice, you’ll be an indispensable authority on medicine and care.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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