Physician associate
Physician associates support doctors to diagnose and manage patients in hospitals and GP surgeries.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a physician associate, you'll work under the supervision of a doctor. You could:
- examine patients and take medical histories
- diagnose conditions and make referrals
- create a healthcare management plan
- perform medical procedures
- collect and analyse patient data
- give advice on keeping healthy and promote wellbeing
You'll support the work of the medical team to provide care for patients with a range of medical conditions.
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital or at a health centre.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
As an experienced physician associate you might be able to move into management, medical teaching or research.
You might move from general or emergency care into a specialism like paediatric care or mental health.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine
- knowledge of biology
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- active listening skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
Once you're qualified you have to complete 50 hours of continuous professional development each year and sit a renewal exam every 6 years.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
To become a physician associate you'll need to complete a postgraduate diploma or master's qualification in physician associate studies.
For this, you'll usually need a first undergraduate degree in a health or life sciences subject, such as:
- biochemistry
- medical science
- healthcare science
- nursing
The postgraduate qualification takes 2 years to complete. It combines study with practical clinical experience in general, community and emergency medicine.
Some universities now offer an undergraduate degree that includes an integrated Master of Physician Associate Studies (MPAS). These courses take 4 years to complete.
If you're already a qualified medical professional, contact universities offering the postgraduate course about their entry requirements.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including at least 1 science
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may be able to apply for a Physician Associate Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
Speak to your employer to see if this option is available.
The apprenticeship takes around 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
More Information
If you're a registered healthcare professional, like a nurse or midwife, you might be able to apply to become a physician associate.
You'll need to take a postgraduate qualification in physician associate studies to do this.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips
When applying for courses and jobs, you'll be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values apply in your work.
Further information
You can find out more about training and working as a physician associate from Health Careers.
Related careers
Related videos
Suggested videos
Coffee With is in early release mode with a limited number of videos. New videos are being added every week, so please check back for updates.
External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.