3 Best PA Schools in Utah (FAQs, Career, How-to) | 2022

If you are looking for the best PA schools in Utah, this article is for you.

There are only three, all of which are well renowned. This article will give you all the information you need to decide which of these PA schools in Utah is best for you.

If you live in Utah, this article was developed specifically for you. It contains the best colleges in Utah where you can get your education to become a physician’s assistant.

Is being a PA worth it?

Yes, it is. To become a physician assistant, you must go through a long and arduous process. You’ll need to put in a lot of time and effort to succeed.

Becoming a physician assistant takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and you should be proud of your accomplishments.

When you’re working in a medical-surgical unit in a hospital, you can switch to an outpatient setting like family practice or a specialty like orthopedics if you wish to change your career path.

On the other hand, you can switch from one specialty to another because of your training. A career in healthcare means you’ll never be without work, no matter how you look at it.

As a medical assistant, one of the biggest drawbacks is that your work hours may not always be the most convenient for your schedule.

Working hours for a physician assistant can include nights, weekends, and even holidays. Your work schedule may cause you to miss out on some social gatherings.

The good news is that by 2029, employment in this field is projected to increase by 31%. This one is expected to see employment growth above average compared to other occupations.

Is a physician assistant a doctor?

PAs “have finished school” and will never “become a doctor.” They are called Physician Assistants, not “physician’s assistants.” PAs are not doctors who want to be doctors.

Before going to PA school, PAs get a Bachelor’s degree; when their program is over, most PAs will have two Bachelor’s degrees and one Master’s degree.

On the other hand, PAs can’t work until they pass the difficult Physician Assistant Medical Certification Exam. They must recertify every 6 years by passing a recertification exam and keeping track of each year’s continuing medical education.

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Are Physician Assistants Also Nurses?

Physician Assistants are not nurses, but they assist medical doctors in performing their tasks alongside other medical professionals.

Therefore, if you think that working as a nurse and becoming a physician assistant are the same, you could not be more wrong.

A nurse has a different job than most of the other people on a healthcare team.

How to Get Started as a Physician Assistant in Utah:

The following are some of the typical stages required to become a physician assistant in Utah:

1. Complete your studies to become a physician assistant:

It will take you somewhere between two and three and a half years to complete this task.

You should look for physician assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

This will make sure that you can meet the requirements for certification in the future.

2. Pass the Physician Assistants National Certifying Exam for Physician Assistants (PANCE):

The PANCE exam is a timed, computer-based test with 300 multiple-choice questions that test the medical and surgical knowledge needed to become a certified physician assistant. 

The lowest score you can get on the PANCE is 200, and the highest score is 800. The score you need to pass is 350.

The best way to study for an exam like the PANCE is to do hands-on work and answer questions. Since you’ve been in PA school for more than two years, you’ve been getting ready for the PANCE the whole time.

3. Receive your physician assistant license:

Check with the Utah Division of Occupational and Provisional Licensing as soon as possible to ensure that you are on track to complete all of the current requirements for licensing and that you are aware of any changes that may affect your ability to do so.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) states that to get licensed as a physician assistant in Utah, one must first graduate from an accredited physician assistant program and then pass the PANCE exam.

Candidates don’t need certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

This is just a general overview. You should check with the Utah state board to know the exact criteria.

4. Choose a Program to Become a Physician Assistant:

Before making your final decision on which PA school to attend, make certain that the PA school you will be attending has been accredited to run a PA program and know if the school provides financial aid or scholarships to its students.

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How long does it take to become a physician assistant?

In the medical field, a physician assistant is a vital member of the team. Physician assistants play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, despite the fact that they are generally overlooked.

In this role, there is a lot of variety. In the morning, they might visit with patients one-on-one; in the afternoon, they would work with a group of medical experts.

It is possible that they may be involved in creating a treatment plan and will have a hand in giving drugs.

Thus, the typical length of a PA program is three years. They include classroom and clinical work, as you might anticipate.

Clinical rotations of at least 2,000 hours are required in all PA programs, ensuring students get a comprehensive range of hands-on training.

List of PA Schools You Can Attend in Utah:

1. University of Utah:

When compared to the majority of other PA schools, this institution has an exceptionally low GPA requirement, which is the first reason why it is so appealing.

They were co-sponsors of the Utah Medical Association, the most influential constituent association in Utah.

They aim to ensure that their students can provide the greatest possible medical treatment to the people who become their patients in the future.

This is of utmost significance in traditionally neglected areas, such as rural and underprivileged communities.

To be eligible for admission to this school, you need to satisfy the following minimum requirements:

You must have a minimum of three letters of recommendation, at least 2000 hours of experience working in a healthcare-related field, completed courses in human anatomy and physiology, and a minimum GPA of 2.7. 

The University of Utah is one of the top PA schools in Utah.

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2. Utah Valley University (UVU):

The Physician Assistant Program at Utah Valley University gives students a dynamic and supportive learning environment where they can learn the professional skills they need to work as a physician assistant on any healthcare team.

Utah Valley University can be found nestled in the folds of Mount Timpanogos and in the heart of a city whose grid system has the potential to be regarded as the crowning achievement of urban planning in the United States.

UVU was established in 1941 and followed a policy of open admissions.

This allows the institution to combine the accessibility of community colleges with the academic rigor of universities.

Students who want their applications to be considered for admission must have either completed high school and acquired a diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma, or they must be older than the age of compulsory education in their home country.

Freshmen students younger than 17 who have not yet graduated from high school and are seeking admission must submit an exception request through the Admissions Office.

More so, students are expected to remain in the High School Concurrent Enrollment (HSCE) program in a non-degree-seeking status until they either graduate from high school, get a GED, or reach an age where they are no longer obligated to attend high school.

Testing with either the ACT/ACT-R or the SAT is required of students, and they must, at a bare minimum, be qualified to enter English and math at the college level (1010 or above). 

Utah Valley University is one of the top PA schools in Utah.

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3. Rocky Mountain University of Health Profession University (RMUoHP):

The goal of the RMUoHP PA Program is to train students to become competent physician assistants who appreciate and offer comprehensive, evidence-based, patient-centered care and are devoted to lifelong learning, professional excellence, and collaborative practice.

In the RMUoHP PA program, students develop the skills they need to become successful physician assistants who prioritize providing thorough, patient-centered care, continuing their education throughout their careers, and working in teams.

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Frequently Asked Questions on the PA Schools in Utah:

Conclusion:

PA Schools in Utah: A career as a physician assistant is extremely rigorous, but it also offers a lot of financial rewards.

You’ll have the opportunity to spend significant time attending classes and gaining the necessary education.

It takes approximately 6 years if you do not have any healthcare training, while it takes over 9 years if you do have healthcare training.

Awesome one; I hope this article answered your question.

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