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What is a PA?

Physician Assistants (PA) are academically prepared and highly skilled health care professionals who provide a broad range of medical services. PAs act as health care extenders, working under the supervision of a physician, to complement existing services and aid in improving patient access to health care.

PAs are nationally represented by the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) and, in Â鶹ӳ»­, must be certified and registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Â鶹ӳ»­ (CPSA). The process for regulation of the PA profession in Â鶹ӳ»­ is still underway.

As of , PAs are fully-regulated health professionals in Â鶹ӳ»­. As part of this regulation, PAs must be and have a valid practice permit.

If you are interested in learning more about PAs, please visit the .

Scope of Practice

The PA¡¯s scope of practice is determined on an individual basis and formally outlined in a practice contract or agreement among the supervising physician, the PA and the facility where the PA will work.

• Activities may include conducting patient interviews, histories and physical examinations; diagnosing and treating illnesses, performing selected diagnostic and therapeutic interventions or procedures; and counseling patients on preventive health care.
• A PA¡¯s scope of practice may also include patient education, research and administrative services.

Integration into the Healthcare Team

A PA is not a replacement for a physician, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Registered Nurse (RN), or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Rather, each of these professions have different abilities, skill sets, talents, and varying scopes of practice that all work together to provide Â鶹ӳ»­ns with high-quality health care.