Physician Assistant

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

This occupation has not yet received an official NOC code. However, it is considered similar to the following historical NOC codes. CAUTION—As this occupation is only similar to these NOC codes, related details and labour market information may not be accurate:

• 2006 NOC: Other Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services (3414) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Other Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services (D313) 
• 2011 NOC: Allied primary health practitioners (3124) 
• 2016 NOC: Allied primary health practitioners (3124) 

Physician assistants are highly skilled health care providers. They support physicians and enhance their productivity. This allows more patients to gain access to quality health care.

In general, physician assistants:

• conduct patient interviews and record medical histories
• perform physical exams
• counsel patients on preventive health care practices
• perform and evaluate routine diagnostic tests
• diagnose and treat disease and injury
• tend to cuts, casting, and splinting
• provide referrals within the health care system
• prepare patients for surgery
• manage patients before, during, and after surgical procedures
• act as a first or second assistant during surgery
• provide prescriptions and medical orders.

Specific duties may vary with the physician assistant's skill set and relationship with the physician in charge.

As part of a health care team, physician assistants work under the direction of registered physicians to provide patient care in various clinical settings. Their schedules and working conditions depend on where they work and the hours of the physician in charge. In a hospital they may work rotating shifts of weekends, nights, or early mornings. In a surgical setting they often stand for long periods. It can be a high-stress role.

Physician assistants need to possess:

• the ability to think critically
• the ability to solve problems
• the ability to empathize with patients
• the ability to work under pressure
• self-motivation and a desire to help patients
• the ability to work well as part of a health care team
• an interest in pharmacology
• an interest in human anatomy.

Emerging occupations typically appear as a result of:

• an increased human need (for example, alternate sources of energy)
• technological advances
• greater specialization within an occupation.

Often there are too few people working in an emerging occupation to gather survey information. Therefore, it can be difficult to define advancement opportunities or employment outlook. Some Albertans already are working in this emerging occupation but future demand for physician assistants is unknown.

Physician assistants work in:

• public and military hospitals
• community health centres
• private practice specialty physician offices
• clinics.

Physician assistants train as generalists but work in many specialties (such as orthopaedics, oncology, neurosurgery and psychiatry). As they gain greater clinical knowledge and experience, they can assume new duties and seek higher wages. For example, they may supervise other staff and PA students. Additional education improves career prospects.

In Alberta, most people employed as physician assistants work in the Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the D313: Other Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.2% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 246 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Alberta Health Services website: www.albertahealthservices.ca

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) website: capa-acam.ca

Canadian Medical Association (CMA) website: www.cma.ca

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) website: www.cpsa.ca

Physician Assistants Certification Council of Canada (PACCC) website: capa-acam.ca/paccc

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.