FAQs about careers in the medical associate professions

  • Physician associates and anaesthesia associates are regulated by the General Medical Council

    Healthcare professionals working as surgical care practitioners will usually need to maintain their professional registration too (eg as a registered nurse with the NMC, ODP with the HCPC).

  • Physician associates usually start on AfC band 7 although can train through an internship on band 6. Surgical care practitioners and anaesthesia associates are likely to be AfC band 6 while training, then band 7 once they have finished their training.

  • Yes, it depends on the role you are interested in, but is certainly possible if you have the right qualifications and background. As an example, read about Sara who went from being a nurse to a surgical care practitioner. You can also read about Antoinette who was a nurse and now works as an anaesthesia associate.

  • You can find details of approved physician associate and anaesthesia associate courses on our course finder.

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