How do you decide which one to become? (a PA or a doctor)?

Question

so i am trying to decide which one to choose, but i cant figure it out. a PA has better hours and has less school, but its like being a resident your whole career. A doctor has alot more school and worse hours but at leaset your in charge. Is it worth the more school to become a doctor? am i forgetting some other variable? please help me

Answer 1

PA: less schooling, less autonomy, smaller scope of practice, often regular hours, limited areas of practice.

Doctor: longer schooling, requires a residency, more autonomy, more specialties available, some specialties have insane hours.

Basically just look at the pros and cons and decide which are more important to you. Notice I didn't mention money. Both pay well and in the end you won't have to worry about money, and hopefully that is not the reason you want to get into medicine.
Also, look at the various types of physicians, Allopathic, Osteopathic, and Podiatric. Some people aren't aware of their options.

Answer 2

I think you should try job shadowing like other people suggested. I have a friend who is going to be a PA for about 5 years and then become a doctor, which is something you could consider too. Also, I think it's really important to take into consideration how much of a bond you want with a patient. I was very sick for quite some time and my PA was amazing. I felt like I could talk to her about everything and she was very understanding. I think if you want to have really close relationship with patients, being a PA is a more realistic choice as doctors normally get bogged down with alot of patients, conferences, emergencies, etc. Then again, if you want more responsibilites, a doctor would be a good choice. Just think about what your ultimate goals are.

Answer 3

Why don't you try job shadowing each for a day? You're right, as a PA you would have more supervision but that's because ultimately the physician you're working under is responsible for your work. So as a physician you can do more but it's a ton more responsibility and unless you're in a specialty like dermatology or something like that, it's crazy hours. But you also make a lot more money. So I guess you need to weigh which means more to you....more money and more responsibility or less stress and a smaller pay check. You also may want to consider job opportunities that are available to each.

Answer 4

you ought to evaluate pay. the two make exceedingly good pay, yet a doctor does get heavily extra. you in addition to mght ought to evaluate your individual skills. Are you the form that has a tendency to take charge in emergency circumstances, or are you the only that takes course and performs procedures (you do issues that are recurring ultimate). a doctor comes to a decision medical care and acts on his very own. A PA in many cases works below supervision of the healthcare professional. PAs in lots of cases get extra affected person touch/interaction, in case you like that form of element. Hmm.. what else? docs can open up there very own practices, at the same time as PAs can not-i think of. PA college is only 2 years... Admissions is way less selective. wish that facilitates...

Answer 5

which ever one makes you happy dont think about the money/schooling