Pros and Cons of a Postgraduate PA Residency

Matthew Benoit/123RF.com

Physician assistant programs can be challenging. In most cases, PA school takes about 24 to 26 months to complete. A lot of information and training is packed into a relatively short time. If you have made it to graduation, it is time to celebrate. But you also have a decision to make. You can either look for a job or apply to a postgraduate PA residency.

What is a Physician Assistant Residency? 

Keep in mind, the PA field is relatively young and continues to evolve. Currently, physician assistant residencies are not required to start working in the field. Although not mandatory, some graduates still choose to complete a PA residency.

A PA residency is additional training beyond physician assistant school. Residency provides a chance for physician assistants to focus on a specialty and receive intense, organized training. Although the length of a residency can vary, many are completed in a year to eighteen months. Some may be slightly shorter and others a bit longer.

Physician assistant residencies are available in many specialties: emergency medicine, critical care and oncology. Residencies are also available in pediatrics and surgery. Although PA residents are paid a stipend, it is not comparable to PA starting salaries.

Competition to get into a physician assistant residency can be tough. There are currently not enough residencies for interested graduates. Your grades in PA school, letters of recommendation, and evaluations at clinical rotation sites are all considered when trying to land a spot.

Benefits of a Physician Assistant Residency

Although it may not be the right choice for everyone, there are several benefits to completing a post-graduate physician assistant residency.

One obvious benefit of a PA residency is enhancing your knowledge and skills. Programs often involve a lot of information and skills practice in a short period. The experience you gain in a PA residency program could take years to learn on the job.

A residency also increases your marketability. You may find it easier to obtain a position with additional training. Depending on the specialty you plan to enter, it can be hard to get a job without additional training. For example, those interested in surgery may find hospitals prefer to hire physician assistants who have completed a post-graduate surgical PA residency.

By developing enhanced technical skills and knowledge, you may also start a position with a higher level of responsibility. More responsibility may also mean a higher salary.

In many cases, a PA residency is completed by a recent graduate from a physician assistant program. But some experienced physician assistants also complete a residency in order to change gears and move into a new specialty.

Negatives of a Physician Assistant Residency

There can also be a few cons to completing a PA residency. For instance, stipends during a PA residency are usually lower than earnings if you were to obtain a position.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for physician assistants in 2013 was $94,000 a year.  Even the bottom ten percent of PA’s made just over $62,000 a year. The bottom-line is you may make less while you are completing a PA residency than if you went straight to your first job, and it might take quite a few years after completing your postgraduate residency to make up the difference.

It is also possible to start a PA residency only to find out you selected the wrong specialty.  Working in the field for a while may allow you the chance to decide what specialties you are most interested in practicing.

Sources

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291071.htm  Accessed December 2014.

The Association of Post Graduate PA Programs. Advantages of Postgraduate Residency. http://appap.org/post-graduate-pa-programs/advantages-of-pa-programs/   Accessed December 2014.