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Physician associate
As a physician associate, you’ll provide support to doctors, helping them diagnose medical conditions and manage patient care.
Work activities
A physician associate is a healthcare professional who works closely with doctors to provide medical care to patients in clinical settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries, health centres and clinics. They carry out many of the duties of a doctor, such as taking medical histories, conducting physical exams, diagnosing illnesses, and developing treatment plans. Physician associates are trained in the ‘medical model’, which means they follow a similar approach to diagnosis and treatment as doctors do. However, although they have extensive training, they are not independent practitioners and work under the supervision of a doctor.
Physician associates often help to bridge the gap between doctors and patients by spending more time with patients to explain treatment plans, answer questions and provide continuity of care. This makes them an important part of the healthcare team, helping to improve patient access to medical services and reduce waiting times. They may assist in surgeries, order tests, and interpret results, but they cannot prescribe medications or perform certain procedures independently.
Personal qualities and skills
A physician associate needs a combination of clinical skills and personal qualities:
- Strong medical knowledge: Understanding of human anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments.
- Clinical assessment skills: Ability to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, and diagnose conditions.
- Critical thinking: Ability to analyse information, assess symptoms, and make informed decisions about patient care.
- Communication: Clear and effective communication with patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
- Empathy and compassion: Ability to understand and relate to patients’ feelings and concerns.
- Teamwork: Willingness to collaborate with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff in a multidisciplinary team.
- Problem-solving: Skill in finding solutions for complex medical issues.
- Adaptability: Flexibility to work in various clinical environments and respond to changing patient needs.
- Attention to detail: Ensuring accuracy in patient assessments, treatment plans, and medical documentation.
- Time management: Efficiently managing a busy workload and prioritising tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Resilience: Coping well with stress and the emotional demands of patient care.
- Lifelong learning: Commitment to staying updated with the latest medical developments and continuing professional development (CPD).
Pay and opportunities
Physician associates start on band 7 of the NHS Agenda for Change payscale. This means that in 2024-25, they can expect to earn at least £46,148 once their training is complete.
Once you have qualified, there are opportunities for further training and development. For example, you could apply for a role in management, research or teaching, or specialise by developing your knowledge and skills in a particular area of medicine.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Opportunities are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, as well as the government’s Find A Job service and individual NHS trust sites – check your local trust’s website to find vacancies.
Entry routes and training
To become a physician associate, you’ll need to complete a two-year course which combines aspects of an undergraduate or postgraduate medical degree. The course focuses on general adult medicine in hospital or general practice.
Training includes 1,600 hours of clinical training, including 350 in a general hospital setting. You’ll need a minimum of 90 hours in other settings such as mental health, surgery or paediatrics.
You can train as a physician associate at university or through an apprenticeship. At university, you’ll need to do a two-year postgraduate diploma or master’s degree which is accredited by the Faculty of Physician Associates. This combines practical clinical experience with theoretical learning. Relevant subjects include:
- Biochemistry
- Healthcare science
- Medical science
- Nursing
Some universities offer a four-year undergraduate degree which is integrated with the physician associate studies master’s qualification (MPAS), so you can begin training straight after school or college.
Alternatively, you could do a level 7 degree apprenticeship in the role of physician associate. This involves a greater focus on on-the-job training than the MPAS, and is a good option if you don’t already have a degree.
Qualifications
To get onto a postgraduate course, you’ll need a degree in a relevant subject. To do the MPAS, you’ll need at least three A-levels in relevant subjects, which are likely to include biology and chemistry.
For the apprenticeship programme, at least two A-levels in relevant subjects are usually required. Biology and chemistry are good choices as they will provide a solid theoretical basis for your practice and studies. Five GCSEs at grade 4+ are usually required too, particularly in English and maths.
Adult opportunities
Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.
If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter a degree, foundation degree or HND course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, for example, Access to Medicine. You don’t usually need any qualifications to enter an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. A foundation year before the start of a science degree or HND is available at some universities and higher education colleges for students who don’t have the A-levels usually needed for entry.
