This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to qualify as a Physician Associate (PA). PAs are healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education who work alongside doctors, physicians, GPs and surgeons to provide medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.

PAs are dependent practitioners working with a dedicated consultant or GP supervisor, but are able to work autonomously with appropriate support. The course will suit graduates of a bioscience discipline.

PAs, while not doctors, work to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment with the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.

Our programme will teach you how to work to the medical model including:

• how to consult with patients effectively
• taking medical histories
• performing physical examinations
• requesting and interpreting tests
• diagnosing illness or injuries
• developing treatment and management plans
• counselling on preventative healthcare 

You will develop your understanding of clinical practice through a combination of:

• case based self-directed learning
• clinical skills laboratory teaching
• hands on experience in clinical settings 

Additionally, you will develop core knowledge in preparation for the clinical workplace. This will include appropriate knowledge of:

• anatomy
• biochemistry
• physiology
• pharmacology
• immunology
• microbiology
• neurology

A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a bioscience or related subject.

Some examples of degrees we regard as generally suitable are:

• anatomy
• biology
• biochemistry/medical biochemistry
• biomedical science
• dentistry
• human biology/physiology/pharmacology
• medical sciences
• Operating Theatre Practitioner
• pharmacy
• physiotherapy
• podiatry
• psychology (with a biological orientation)
• radiography
• zoology