Physician Assistants

Cardiology Physician Assistant

Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)

Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA)

Family Practice Physician Assistant

Orthopaedic Physician Assistant

Orthopedic Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant (PA)

Physician's Assistant

Surgical Critical Care Physician Assistant (Surgical Critical Care PA)

Surgical Physician Assistant (Surgical PA)

What is a Physician Assistant?

A Physician Assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs are trained to perform a variety of tasks that include diagnosing and treating illnesses, conducting physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and assisting in surgeries. They work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices, and may specialize in areas such as pediatrics, emergency medicine, or geriatrics. The role of a PA is to improve patient care by increasing access to healthcare services, allowing physicians to focus on more complex cases. PAs are known for their versatility and adaptability in the healthcare field, often taking on roles that require a high degree of clinical judgment and interpersonal skills. To become a PA, individuals must complete a master's degree from an accredited PA program and pass a national certification exam. Continuous education is crucial for PAs to maintain their certification and stay updated on the latest medical advancements.

Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$86280.0 - $170790.0

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Finding local jobs...

Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.

Related Occupations

Tasks

Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.

Technology Skills

Medical software
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel 365
Electronic mail software
- Microsoft Outlook 365
Video conferencing software
- Zoom
Office suite software
- Microsoft 365

Tools Used

Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
Surgical dissectors
- Dissector rods
- Harvester rods
Head or neck traction supplies
- Halo fixation devices
- Tong traction devices
Central venous catheters
- Central venous pressure lines
- Subclavian lines
Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines
- Scalpel blades
- Scalpel handles

Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

29 Active Jobs in South Africa

Avg Salary: R23,900pm

How to Know if You Are Ready to Become a Physician Assistant in South Africa

The healthcare landscape in South Africa is evolving rapidly, and Physician Assistants (known locally as Clinical Associates) are at the heart of this transformation. With 33 active jobs currently available and an average salary of R23,900pm, the profession offers both stability and growth. Our market analysis indicates a strong upward trend in compensation, with monthly earnings beginning at approximately R21,032 in early 2024 and projected to reach R26,290 by December 2024.

Is a Career as a Physician Assistant Right for You? (Psychometric Checklist)

Success in this field requires a specific blend of emotional intelligence and clinical aptitude. Ask yourself if you possess the following essential traits:

Resilience under pressure: Can you maintain focus and calm in a high-intensity hospital or casualty environment?
Strong Empathy: Are you able to build trust and communicate effectively with patients from diverse socio-economic backgrounds?
Analytical Precision: Do you have a natural aptitude for detail and accuracy when it comes to diagnostics and patient records?
Collaborative Spirit: Can you work seamlessly within a multidisciplinary team, following the lead of a doctor while taking initiative within your scope of practice?
Proactive Problem-Solving: Do you enjoy the challenge of assessing complex symptoms and identifying the most effective course of treatment?
Organisational Skills: Are you able to manage a high patient load while ensuring all administrative and clinical tasks are completed to standard?

A Day in the Life of a South African Physician Assistant

In the South African context, your day typically begins early at a District Hospital or a Community Health Centre (CHC). Unlike a traditional 9-to-5, your environment is fluid and unpredictable. You might start your morning conducting ward rounds, checking on the progress of patients, and adjusting treatment plans under the supervision of a Medical Officer.

By midday, you could be in the casualty unit, stabilising a trauma patient or performing minor surgical procedures such as suturing. The role is hands-on and deeply community-focused. You are the vital link between the nursing staff and the doctors, ensuring that patient flow is efficient and that healthcare delivery is seamless. It is a role that requires you to be physically active and mentally sharp, often transitioning from routine consultations to emergency interventions within minutes.

Education and Upskilling: Your Career Roadmap

To practice in South Africa, you must follow a structured educational pathway. The foundation is a Bachelor of Medical Clinical Practice (BCMP), a three-year degree offered by select South African universities. This programme combines intensive theoretical knowledge with early clinical exposure in real-world healthcare settings.

However, obtaining your degree is only the starting point. The medical field is in a constant state of flux, making continuous learning a non-negotiable requirement for career longevity. To stay competitive and provide the best patient care, you should focus on:

Professional Certifications: Pursue short courses in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
Specialised Short Courses: Focus on high-demand areas in the South African public health sector, such as HIV/AIDS management, TB treatment, or emergency care protocols.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Engage in regular workshops, seminars, and online modules to maintain your registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Staying updated with the latest medical research and technological advancements is the only way to ensure you are providing a gold-standard service to your patients throughout your career.

Next Steps: Are You Ready?

Deciding to become a Physician Assistant is a significant commitment that requires both heart and head. If the combination of clinical excellence and community service resonates with you, it is time to take the next step in your professional journey. Don't leave your future to chance—test your readiness now by taking our comprehensive career assessment to see if you have the profile and temperament to thrive in South Africa's healthcare sector.

Skills

Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.

Abilities

Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

Master's degree

81 %
Professional degree

14 %

Awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession
Bachelor's degree

5 %

Work Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Detailed Work Activities

Diagnose medical conditions.
Prescribe treatments or therapies.
Record patient medical histories.
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.

Work Interests

Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.