The pediatric assistant program is a very essential specialty among the PA programs that exist in the medical profession. It is both a lucrative career and a fun one too, as you get to meet kids all day.
In this article, we will be looking at some of the most important steps to take to become a pediatric assistant. We will also talk about all you need to know about the profession, like its salary and what it is about.
So if you have no idea what a pediatric assistant is all about, fear not; we have your back. Let’s get started, shall we?
Who is a pediatric assistant?
A pediatric assistant is a medical professional who specializes more in the diagnosis and treatment of kids. Pediatric assistants offer medical tests and treatments to individuals who are younger than 18 years of age or are regarded as kids.
It is worth knowing that sometimes a pediatric assistant may be called a pediatric physician assistant. Whereas in some parts of the world, they are referred to as pediatrician assistants.
How much does a pediatric assistant make?
Just like in every other profession, the range of income varies depending on the geographical location of the individual. But records have it that the average annual income of a pediatric assistant is $132,574.
However, this amount is different among the various sub-specialties of the pediatric assistant profession. Hence, pediatric cardiology specialists are regarded as the highest-paid pediatric assistants, with an average salary of $142,000 per year.
What are the best pediatric assistant schools in the world?
There are several schools scattered around the globe that offer a pediatric assistant program to our generation. However, not all countries in the world can offer this program as well as job opportunities for its graduates.
As of the time of publication, Canada was known to have the highest rate of job opportunities for pediatric assistants. So be sure to do your research properly before choosing which you want to go for.
Below is a list of the top 10 pediatric assistant schools in the world, according to online sources:
- Duke University
- Emory University
- Yale University
- University of Southern California
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Drexel University
- Northwestern University
- University of Colorado
- University of Lowa
- Saint Louis University
What are the admission requirements to enter a pediatric assistant school?
Gaining admission into school to pursue a pediatric assistant program is not really that big of a deal. The requirements needed are not too different from those needed for any medical course.
Since a pediatric assistant program is usually a master’s degree program, it is expected that all applicants must have undergone a bachelor’s degree program. However, to be qualified for the application, it has to be a medical-related program.
Applicants must also have a minimum CGPA of about 3.0 for a 4.0 grading system and 3.30 for a 5.0 grading system. Having field experience in a healthcare facility is an advantage too.
How do I become a pediatric assistant?
If you are still reading, it means you are convinced and ready to take the steps to become a pediatric assistant. Well, you are in luck, as we have compiled for you the best ways for you to achieve your dream.
Below are listed the steps to take in order for you to become a pediatric assistant, and in what order to take them.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree
- Acquire working experience in medical fields
- Take the GRE
- Go for a PA program
- Get the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) License
- Join a professional organization
1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
As we said earlier when we talked about the admission requirements, you need to have undergone a bachelor’s degree. This is literally the first step you need to take to become a pediatric assistant anywhere in the world.
You need to have a good GPA from a science or medical course in your bachelor’s degree. Once you know that your bachelor’s degree section is not an issue, then go to the next step.
2. Acquire Working Experience in Medical Fields
Now that you have a good record from your bachelor’s degree program, it is advisable to have an on-field record too. Naturally, most schools will give preferential treatment to applicants with work experience in the medical sector.
You can easily get this by volunteering in a clinic, pharmacy, or even a government hospital. Just go with your bachelor’s degree certificate, and explain to them that you just want to gain some field experience. Easy right?
3. Take the GRE
This third step may not be compulsory, as not all schools request a GRE result. However, it is advisable to just do it because you don’t know who may request it.
Certain medical schools do request the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results before they can give you admission.
And the best part is that you can get this result by taking the test at almost any test center. There are also many free or low-cost tutorial classes to prepare you for the test. Better safe than sorry.
4. Go for a PA program
If you followed our steps gradually, at this point, you should be able to successfully apply for a pediatric assistant program. You can choose from any of the 10 PA schools we listed above, or Google for more.
Even though you’ve known some of the necessary requirements, make sure to still go through the individual school requirements, ok? This is because many schools may have some unique documents they want you to submit.
5. Get the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) License
This is a very important step that you must take if you truly want to stand out in the field. The PANCE is a professional test conducted by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
As a pediatric assistant, you must take the PANCE test if you want to get a physician assistant certification. It is simply a section of multiple-choice questions that can be taken in most test centers in the US.
6. Join a professional organization
Last but not least on our list of easy ways to become a pediatric assistant is joining an organization. Yes, you saw that right.
Every profession has a set of organizations or bodies that govern the people in it. And these organizations vary between countries and states.
Hence, it is up to you to find out which pediatric assistant organization exists in your location and become a part of it.
Conclusion
This article looks at the steps needed to become a successful pediatric assistant anywhere in the world. It also gives you a list of the top 10 schools that offer the PA program.
However, if you have any other nice steps that were not listed, feel free to drop them in the comments, ok?
