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Physician associate

Physician associates support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients.

As a physician associate, you might work in a GP surgery or be based in a hospital, but wherever you work, you'll have direct contact with patients.

Working life

You’ll be a graduate who has undertaken postgraduate training and you'll work under the supervision of a doctor. You’ll be trained to perform a number of day-to-day tasks including:

  • taking medical histories from patients
  • performing physical examinations
  • diagnosing illnesses
  • seeing patients with long-term chronic conditions
  • performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
  • analysing test results
  • developing management plans
  • provide health promotion and disease prevention advice for patients.

Most physician associates currently work in general practice [1], acute (internal) medicine and emergency medicine.

Apprenticeships logo

"I find it very rewarding when I've supported a patient with a mental illness and see them come out the other side feeling hopeful and stronger than they were." Andy King, physician associate at Mosborough Health Centre in Sheffield

Read Andy's story in full  [2]

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need a bioscience-related first degree to get onto one of the training programmes available. Undergraduate integrated Master of Physician Associate Studies programmes are now available and these courses require A-levels or equivalent for entry.

Alternatively, if you’re a registered healthcare professional such as a nurse, allied health professional or midwife you can also apply to become a physician associate. There is also a level 7 apprenticeship for physician associates. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a living while gaining your qualification.

Must have skills

Don’t forget – academic qualifications aren't everything. You’ll need to be able to demonstrate experience of working with the public, an interest in health or social care, the right values to work for the NHS and excellent communication skills.

Wherever you work, you'll have direct contact with patients.

Training and development 

Physician associate training usually lasts two years, with students studying for 46-48 weeks each year and involves many aspects of an undergraduate or postgraduate medical degree. The training focuses principally on general adult medicine in hospital and general practice, rather than specialty care.

There will also be 1,600 hours of clinical training, taking place in a range of settings, including 350 hours in general hospital medicine.  You'll also spend a minimum of 90 hours in other settings including mental health, surgery and paediatrics. 

With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for vacancies in areas such as further specialisation, management, research, or teaching.

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours with the need to work flexibly over a seven day period. As a physician associate, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC [3]) pay system, typically starting on band 7 with internships starting at band 6.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

  • Live vacancies
    • View Vacancy [4]

      Physician Associate

      Greenwich, SE3 7HB

      • Salary:

        Depending on experience

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - Other

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [5]

      Physician Associate

      Haslingden, BB4 5SL

      • Salary:

        Depending on experience

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - Other

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [6]

      Physician Associate

      BRADFORD, BD5 0NX

      • Salary:

        Depending on experience

      • Type:

        Permanent

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - Social Enterprises

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [7]

      Physician Associate

      Whitwick, LE67 5HX

      • Salary:

        £37570.00 a year

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Central Advertising - Social Enterprises

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [8]

      Physician Associate

      Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, BL4 0JR

      • Salary:

        £31,365 - £37,890 per annum

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
    • View Vacancy [9]

      Physician Associate

      Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, CH21UL

      • Salary:

        £38,890 - £44,503 pa

      • Type:

        Fixed term

      • Employer:

        Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

      • View Vacancy
  • Find your course to become a physician associate
    Displaying 1 - 5 of 37 matches

    MSc Physician Associate

    Anglia Ruskin University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [10]

    Region
    East of England

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    27 months

    Contact details
    answers@aru.ac.uk [11] 01245 68 68 68

    Course webpage
    https://aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/physician-associate [10]

    Admissions address

    Chelmsford Campus
    Bishop Hall Lane 
    Chelmsford
    Essex
    CM1 1SQ

    Course webpage
    https://aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/physician-associate [10]

    MSc Physician Associate Studies

    Brighton and Sussex Medical School

    View course Opens in a new window
    [12]

    Region
    South East

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk [13] 01273 643529

    Course webpage
    https://www.bsms.ac.uk/postgraduate/Taught-Degrees/Physician-Associate-Studies.a… [12]

    Admissions address

    BSMS Teaching Building
    University of Sussex
    Brighton
    East Sussex
    BN1 9PX

    Course webpage
    https://www.bsms.ac.uk/postgraduate/Taught-Degrees/Physician-Associate-Studies.a… [12]

    Pg Dip Physician Associate

    Bucks New University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [14]

    Region
    London

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    advice@bucks.ac.uk [15] 01494 605060

    Course webpage
    http://bucks.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/MP1PAS1/ [14]

    Admissions address

    High Wycombe Campus
    Queen Alexandra Road
    High Wycombe
    Buckinghamshire
    HP11 2JZ

    Course webpage
    http://bucks.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/MP1PAS1/ [14]

    MSc Physician Associate Studies

    Canterbury Christ Church University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [16]

    Region
    South East

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    courses@canterbury.ac.uk [17] 01227 928000

    Course webpage
    https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/physician-associate… [16]

    Admissions address

    North Holmes Road
    Canterbury
    Kent
    CT1 1QU

    Course webpage
    https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/physician-associate… [16]

    This course is run in partnership with the University of Kent

    MSc Physician Associate Studies

    Hull York Medical School

    View course Opens in a new window
    [18]

    Region
    Yorkshire and The Humber

    Type of course
    Postgraduate/accelerated programme

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    2 years

    Contact details
    pgtadmissions@hyms.ac.uk [19] 01904 321690

    Course webpage
    http://www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-programmes/physicianassociate [18]

    Admissions address

    John Hughlings Jackson Building
    University of York
    Heslington
    York
    YO10 5DD

    Course webpage
    http://www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-programmes/physicianassociate [18]

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Register your interest in research to improve our website. [21]

Other roles that may interest you

  • General practice (GP) [22]
  • Anaesthesia associate [23]
  • Acute internal medicine [24]
  • Advanced critical care practitioner [25]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/medical-associate-professions/roles-medical-associate-professions/physician-associate

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/medical-associate-professions/roles-medical-associate-professions/physician-associate/physician-associates-general-practice
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/medical-associate-professions/roles-medical-associate-professions/physician-associate/real-life-story-andy-king
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#AfC
[4] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916398769
[5] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916398488
[6] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916410066
[7] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916407340
[8] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916392704
[9] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916393831
[10] https://aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/physician-associate
[11] mailto: answers@aru.ac.uk
[12] https://www.bsms.ac.uk/postgraduate/Taught-Degrees/Physician-Associate-Studies.aspx
[13] mailto: medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk
[14] http://bucks.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/MP1PAS1/
[15] mailto: advice@bucks.ac.uk
[16] https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/physician-associate-studies-20-21.aspx
[17] mailto: courses@canterbury.ac.uk
[18] http://www.hyms.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-programmes/physicianassociate
[19] mailto: pgtadmissions@hyms.ac.uk
[20] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/325?page=1
[21] https://bit.ly/36kefZD
[22] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/general-practice-gp
[23] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/medical-associate-professions/roles-medical-associate-professions/anaesthesia-associate
[24] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/acute-internal-medicine
[25] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/medical-associate-professions/roles-medical-associate-professions/advanced-critical-care-practitioner