Physician Assistant Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A physician assistant examines patients, diagnoses conditions, orders and interprets tests, and prescribes treatment, working under physician supervision or in collaborative practice depending on the state. PAs cover a wide range of settings, from primary care to surgery, and often carry their own patient panel.
Physician assistants need a master's degree from an accredited PA program and national certification through the PANCE exam. The role sits close to a physician's scope of practice, so strong clinical judgment and clear communication with both patients and the care team matter as much as technical knowledge.
Physician Assistant job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Physician Assistant
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a physician assistant to support [department / specialty] at [facility]. You'll see patients independently and alongside [supervising physicians], manage a caseload of [patient population], and keep care moving without compromising quality.
What you'll do
- Conduct patient exams, take histories and document findings in [EMR system].
- Diagnose common conditions and order appropriate labs and imaging.
- Develop and adjust treatment plans, including prescribing medication where authorized.
- Perform or assist with procedures appropriate to [specialty].
- Coordinate care with supervising physicians, nurses and specialists.
- Educate patients on diagnoses, treatment plans and follow-up care.
- Respond to urgent patient concerns and triage appropriately.
- Maintain accurate, timely documentation for billing and compliance.
What you'll bring
- Master's degree from an accredited PA program and NCCPA certification.
- Active state license to practice as a physician assistant.
- [X]+ years practicing clinically, or a completed relevant residency.
- Strong diagnostic reasoning and comfort making decisions under time pressure.
- Clear communication with patients, families and the care team.
- Current BLS/ACLS certification as required by [facility].
Nice to have
- Experience in [specialty, e.g. emergency medicine, orthopedics or dermatology].
- Prior experience in a high-volume or fast-paced clinical setting.
- Fluent in a language spoken by [patient population].
- Comfort with [EMR system] from prior roles.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Malpractice coverage, CME allowance and paid CME days, health coverage, loan repayment assistance]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter screen, an interview with the supervising physician or medical director, a clinical case discussion, and a final meeting with the care team.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Physician Assistant duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Sees routine cases with physician oversight and ready access to consultation.
- Builds speed with documentation, orders and common treatment protocols.
- Learns the referral network and escalation paths for the specialty.
Mid-level
- Manages a full patient panel with routine and moderately complex cases.
- Handles urgent situations with appropriate but less frequent physician consultation.
- Takes on a clinical focus area within the practice or department.
Senior
- Manages complex and high-acuity cases with broad clinical autonomy.
- Mentors newer PAs and may help train students on rotation.
- Contributes to protocol development and quality improvement initiatives.
Physician Assistant career path
- Physician Assistant
- Senior Physician Assistant
- Lead PA
- PA Program Director or Clinical Operations Lead
Physician assistants enter practice after a master's degree, clinical rotations and the PANCE certification exam, often following prior healthcare experience as an EMT, medical assistant or nurse. From there, paths include specializing in a clinical area, moving into lead or supervisory PA roles, or shifting into PA education and training.
Similar roles
- Nurse Practitioner job description
Operates under a nursing model with similar scope but a different licensing path.
- Registered Nurse job description
Delivers ongoing patient care rather than independent diagnosis and prescribing.
- Physical Therapist job description
Focuses on movement and rehabilitation rather than diagnosis across conditions.
- Pharmacist job description
Manages medication dispensing and interactions rather than direct diagnosis.
Physician Assistant job description FAQ
What does a physician assistant do?
Examines patients, diagnoses conditions, orders and interprets tests, and manages treatment including prescribing medication, working under a supervising physician or in collaborative practice depending on the state.
What certification should a physician assistant job description require?
A master's degree from an accredited PA program, NCCPA certification through the PANCE exam, and an active state license. Specialty experience is a common and reasonable addition depending on the department.
How does a physician assistant differ from a nurse practitioner?
Both diagnose and treat patients with similar scope in most states, but PAs train under a medical model with physician supervision in many jurisdictions, while NPs train under a nursing model and often have more autonomy.