Our course will prepare you for the National Physician Associate entrance exam. Successful completion of the exam allows you to work as a Physician Associate (PA) within the NHS. You will gain skills in history taking, physical examination and diagnosis. You will also study clinical theory and undertake clinical placements.
This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to qualify as a Physician Associate (PA). PAs are healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education who work alongside doctors, physicians, GPs and surgeons to provide medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.
PAs are dependent practitioners working with a dedicated consultant or GP supervisor, but are able to work autonomously with appropriate support. The course will suit graduates of a bioscience discipline.
PAs, while not doctors, work to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment with the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.
Our programme will teach you how to work to the medical model including:
how to consult with patients effectively
taking medical histories
performing physical examinations
requesting and interpreting tests
diagnosing illness or injuries
developing treatment and management plans
counselling on preventative healthcare
You will develop your understanding of clinical practice through a combination of:
case based self-directed learning
clinical skills laboratory teaching
hands on experience in clinical settings
Additionally, you will develop core knowledge in preparation for the clinical workplace. This will include appropriate knowledge of:
anatomy
biochemistry
physiology
pharmacology
immunology
microbiology
neurology
On completion of the course you will be able to take the National Physician Associate qualifying exam. Satisfactory performance allows you to begin work as a PA within the NHS. The exam is overseen by the Faculty of Physician Associates within the Royal College of Physicians.
