What is a PA-C?

A physician assistant (PA), or certified physician assistant (PA-C) is a licensed health professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. A physician assistant provides a broad range of health care services that were traditionally performed by a doctor.

Although it varies with training, in general, PAs can provide approximately 80 percent of the services typically provided by a physician:

• perform physical exams
• diagnose illnesses
• develop and carry out treatment plans
• order and interpret lab tests
• suture wounds
• assist in surgery
• provide preventive health care counseling, and
• write prescriptions (in most states)

Although the physician need not be present during the time the PA performs his or her duties, there must be a method of contact between the supervising physician and the PA at all times.