Physician assistants are also known as physician assistants; they practice medicine under the direction of physicians and surgeons. They were formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment. Medical assistants also evaluate and treat patients under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. A physician assistant is a graduate of an accredited physician assistant training program who is nationally certified and licensed by the state to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. The main duties of a medical assistant are to take medical histories and examine patients. They interpret laboratory tests and make diagnoses, treat minor injuries with stitches, splints, casts and prescribe some medications, surgical doctors' assistants help doctors in the operating room and provide care to patients after surgery, the exact tasks depend on medical specialty and state. The process for entering the workforce as a medical assistant is that you must have attended a 4-year college or university with a bachelor's degree. You must take Biology, Chemistry, English and Math, to get into many Pa programs you must complete at least 2 years of college. Depending on the healthcare industry, one school might require 200 hours, while another school requires 2,000. Many people enter this profession after working in another healthcare field such as nursing. There are over 100 accredited programs that qualify for associate degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. The length of medical assistant programs varies, but most last about 2 years. They consist of both classroom studies and supervised clinical rotations. In all states, physician assistants must be licensed. This requires the successful completion of a national requirements document. The responsibilities you have involve an increased patient load, starting to develop some autonomy. At level 3 the champion title is Expert Medical Assistant. The earrings cost $80,000 to $115,000 a year. Some requirements that you must have are continuous maintenance of certification requirements. The responsibilities you must have are a patient load similar to that of a doctor, a high degree of autonomy, you may have some teaching or supervisory responsibilities. Most medical assistants receive benefits such as paid vacation, retirement contributions, and paid dental and vision care. The working conditions of a medical assistant include working in hospitals, private practices, clinics, HMOs, home health agencies, schools, prisons and the military. Medical assistants routinely work one-on-one with patients. Most see 25 to 50 patients a day.