Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner: What Are the Differences?

Observing a physician assistant (PA) and a nurse practitioner (NP) in practice, you might not see the difference. They share many of the same duties and responsibilities: writing prescriptions, developing treatment plans, ordering tests. Both are trained clinical health providers with advanced degrees and clinical preparation, and they must be nationally certified and licensed by the state in which they practice; the specific legal scope of practice and prescribing authority for each profession are governed by, and can vary under, state law and licensing rules.

But the two professions have key differences. A physician assistant receives a generalist education modeled after medical school. Upon graduation, they are prepared to treat the whole patient and develop areas of specialty through clinical practice. An NP, on the other hand, typically specializes in a patient population while in school, such as geriatric, acute care, psychiatric mental health, or women’s health.

Learn more about the careers of PAs vs. NPs and find out which is the better fit for you.

PA vs. NP: Role and Scope of Practice

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) with the advanced clinical expertise needed to prevent, diagnose, and treat health conditions, as defined by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). They develop comprehensive treatment plans in collaboration with patients and integrate insights from the entire medical team, including physical therapists, speech language pathologists, registered dieticians and others as needed. Nurse practitioners (NPs) typically specialize in a particular patient population, such as families, neonatal infants or older adults.

In daily practice, nurse practitioners use a holistic approach. For primary care, this includes addressing social determinants of health, preventing disease and promoting health management. NPs support their patients in practicing healthy lifestyles — scheduling regular health screenings, getting physical activity, stopping unhealthy behaviors such as smoking — that can help prevent chronic diseases. This emphasis on preventative care can ultimately lead to lower health care costs, making NPs essential to creating a more efficient and effective health system.

Common responsibilities of a primary, acute or specialty care NP include:

• Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests (such as X-rays and lab results).
• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions.
• Prescribing treatments and medicines.
• Managing patients’ overall care.
• Providing education on disease prevention and healthy lifestyles.

A physician assistant is also a medical professional who works with the entire clinical team to manage a patient’s care, as described by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Training for PAs is modeled on medical school education. While NPs specialize in a patient population, PAs receive a generalist preparation with rotations in a variety of specialties and subspecialties. Through rotations, and later through practice and continuing education, PAs develop expertise in particular populations, conditions and bodily systems.

Physician assistants make diagnoses, create treatment plans and prescribe medications. Common responsibilities of a PA include:

• Giving physical exams and recording medical histories.
• Performing procedures and offering assistance in surgery.
• Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests.
• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions.
• Prescribing treatments and medicines.

PA vs. NP: Degree and Training Requirements

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners undergo rigorous training to prepare for medical practice. This training typically includes academic and hands-on work. Read further to explore options for PA vs. NP education.

PAs receive a master’s degree-level education. To become a PA, a PA school student must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree, with prerequisite coursework in basic and behavioral sciences.
• Graduate from an accredited PA program.
• Complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.
• Pass the national certification exam.

After becoming licensed, physician assistants must maintain their certification through continuing medical education and recertification exams over a 10-year cycle, which includes logging 100 CME credits every two years and passing the PANRE or PANRE-LA exam by the end of the 10th year.

Registered nurses aspiring to become NPs may complete either a master’s or doctoral degree program. This could be a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

To become an NP, a nurse must:

• Hold an active, current RN license.
• Graduate from a nursing master’s or doctoral degree program.
• Complete clinical hours required by their program and specialty (often more than 500 hours).
• Pass the national certification exam for the chosen specialty.
• Meet state requirements to obtain licensure.

Similar to PAs, nurse practitioners must maintain their clinical competencies through continuing education; for example, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) requires at least 1,000 clinical practice hours and 100 continuing education contact hours every five years for recertification.

PA vs. NP: Career Paths and Salary

The demand for health care services will increase as the U.S. population grows and ages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are positioned to provide essential care to patients. Learn more about the PA vs. NP salary below.