Is it harder to become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant?The average program length to become an NP is 15-24 months with 720 clinical hours as a nurse first. Physician's assistant training programs are highly competitive and require undergraduate coursework in science as well as several years of hands-on medical experience with direct patient contact and care.
What can a PA do that a NP Cannot?A physician assistant can diagnose and treat a wide array of medical concerns, prescribe medicine, and may even perform surgery. A nurse practitioner can help diagnose and treat patients with routine and complex medical conditions, sometimes working alongside physicians to do so.
Is PA school better than NP school?If you're looking to jump right into practice, physician assistants finish school quicker than physicians or NPs without a nursing education. However, if you are already a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you have a significant advantage when pursuing an Advanced Practice Nursing degree.
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