The physician assistant functions under the supervision and responsibility of a licensed physician and is competent to:

•elicit a comprehensive health history
•perform physical examinations
•interpret and evaluate diagnostic data
•establish basic treatment plans
•counsel and educate patients
•respond to commonly encountered emergency care situations.

Physician assistants serve in a variety of clinical settings, such as primary care practices, geriatric long-term care facilities, hospitals, correctional institutions and community-based clinics. Program graduates also are competitive for positions in clinical research, health care administration and higher education.