Physician Assistant vs. Anesthesiologist Assistant

[voiddweller]

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the anesthesiologist assistant profession? I am considering all of my options, but would like to get the opinion of experienced professionals such as yourselves.

It would seem that AA school would be alot more competitive than PA school since there are only 3 schools now. It also seems that AAs are not as flexible as PAs, but they do make more money in general. Both professions sound great. Could someone provide me with thier experiences with AA?

Also, is anyone PA/AA dual certified? I may consider that route, since my chances are probably greater to get into a PA program now and become AA certified while I am a PA. I appreciate your time in advance.

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[deleted6669]

CHECK OUT THE ANESTHESIA FORUM AT WWW.PHYSICIANASSOCIATE.COM
THE MODERATOR OVER THERE IS AN AA
THERE ARE LOTS OF DUAL CERT AA/PA FOLKS BUT NO DUAL CERT PROGRAMS.
SOME AA PROGRAMS WILL GIVE PARTIAL CREDIT FOR COURSES DONE IN PA SCHOOL
PA'S CAN WORK IN ALL 50 STATES AND US TERRITORIES AS WELL AS A RAPIDLY EXPANDING # OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
AA'S CURRENTLY WORK ONLY IN 16 STATES BUT THIS IS INCREASING YEARLY. AA SCOPE OF PRACTICE IS EQUIVALENT TO CRNA AND THE PAY IS THE SAME.

 

[voiddweller]

CHECK OUT THE ANESTHESIA FORUM AT WWW.PHYSICIANASSOCIATE.COM
THE MODERATOR OVER THERE IS AN AA
THERE ARE LOTS OF DUAL CERT AA/PA FOLKS BUT NO DUAL CERT PROGRAMS.
SOME AA PROGRAMS WILL GIVE PARTIAL CREDIT FOR COURSES DONE IN PA SCHOOL
PA'S CAN WORK IN ALL 50 STATES AND US TERRITORIES AS WELL AS A RAPIDLY EXPANDING # OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
AA'S CURRENTLY WORK ONLY IN 16 STATES BUT THIS IS INCREASING YEARLY. AA SCOPE OF PRACTICE IS EQUIVALENT TO CRNA AND THE PAY IS THE SAME.

As always emedpa you have been a great help. I would prefer the flexibility of a PA over an AA. Are you dual PA/AA certified?

 

[deleted6669]

As always emedpa you have been a great help. I would prefer the flexibility of a PA over an AA. Are you dual PA/AA certified?

I wish.....
AA is a great career and I think we will see over the next 20 yrs or so that they will be used more and in a greater geographic area.as the crna folks get on the wrong side of md anesthesiologists by pushing for independent practice I think you will see md anesthesiologists hiring AA's over crna's because the AA folks are not looking to be independent and favor an anesthesia team approach as opposed to a solo cowboy approach.

 

[nitecap]

All depends what you wanna do. AA's and PA's a totally different unless you are an AA and PA having dual privelages.

If you want to administer anesthesia and work in the OR go AA. If you want to do other things like work with different specially doc (cardio, GI, derm, IM) ect then do PA. Just all depends what you are more interested in.

There are opportunites with both careers, you prob. cant go wrong with either. PA's more established while AA's attempting to increase numbers. Only time will tell.

 

[guetzow]

Greetings money-board SDNers!!
But really, as far as the 'clinical' end of that question (was there one?)....these two professions are so unnnnnnnnrealated. What is it you want to "DO". That should point you in the right direction

 

[AlexCCRN]

I wish.....
AA is a great career and I think we will see over the next 20 yrs or so that they will be used more and in a greater geographic area.as the crna folks get on the wrong side of md anesthesiologists by pushing for independent practice I think you will see md anesthesiologists hiring AA's over crna's because the AA folks are not looking to be independent and favor an anesthesia team approach as opposed to a solo cowboy approach.

This pablum you spew is so typical of jackasses like you...

 

[guetzow]

Comin' home to roost ain't it

 

[jwk]

This pablum you spew is so typical of jackasses like you...

Geez, I can't believe I missed this thread.

Obviously you didn't Alex - same old ****, different board.

 

[deleted6669]

Geez, I can't believe I missed this thread.

Obviously you didn't Alex - same old ****, different board.

don't worry jwk -he's all but banned at another forum already.....

 

[jwk]

don't worry jwk -he's all but banned at another forum already.....

definitely not worried about trollers