U.S. Physician Assistant Workforce Doubles in 10 Years

While most PAs are in clinical practice, an estimated 5,079 PAs work either alone or in healthcare education, administration, research and public health – a figure that Wooten said demonstrates the growing role PAs play in healthcare.

The AAPA annual census surveys both AAPA members and nonmembers. The data collected are used to track PA workforce issues, calculate summary statistics and describe the salary information. AAPA represents more than 81,000 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in 50 states, the District of Columbia, most U.S. territories, and in the military.