Explore Physician Assistant Specialties: A Guide to PA Careers and Clinical Pathways

Physician assistants (PAs) are playing an increasingly vital role in modern healthcare. While many begin their careers in primary care, the field offers remarkable flexibility—allowing PAs to specialize across dozens of disciplines, from emergency medicine and surgery to dermatology and cardiology.

Whether you’re a pre-PA student planning your career path or already enrolled in a PA program and exploring future options, this guide breaks down the major physician assistant specialties, how to enter them, and why PAs are among the most adaptable providers in healthcare.

> Explore Go-Elective’s Pre-PA Internships and PA Rotation Abroad

What Do Physician Assistants Do?

The PA profession was established in the 1960s to address a shortage of primary care physicians. Today, physician assistants are licensed to diagnose illnesses, perform procedures, develop treatment plans, prescribe medication, and assist in surgeries. They work in nearly every medical setting, from outpatient clinics to intensive care units.

While PAs practice under the supervision or collaboration of a physician (depending on the state), many work autonomously within their scope. Their training allows them to deliver high-quality care across diverse patient populations, making them essential to the U.S. healthcare workforce.

How Do PAs Choose a Specialty?

Unlike physicians, PAs do not need to complete a residency to specialize. After graduating from an accredited PA program and earning certification (via the PANCE exam), a PA can enter any specialty—often receiving on-the-job training from supervising physicians or post-graduate programs.

This flexibility is a hallmark of the profession. PAs can switch specialties during their careers, an advantage that provides career longevity, satisfaction, and variety. Most PAs find their specialty within their first few years of practice, often based on job opportunities, mentorship, or personal interest.

Common PA Specialties and Subspecialties

PAs are employed across nearly every clinical field. Here’s a breakdown of key specialties and what they typically involve:

1. Primary Care and Family Medicine

• Provide comprehensive care to patients of all ages
• Diagnose and treat common illnesses, manage chronic conditions, and promote preventive health
• Often work in clinics or private practices
• Common subspecialties: Adolescent medicine, geriatric care, palliative medicine, sports medicine

2. Internal Medicine

• Focus on adult patients with complex or chronic medical conditions
• Often work in hospitals or specialty clinics
• Subspecialties include: Cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, oncology, pulmonology, rheumatology

3. Emergency Medicine

• Provide acute care for patients with urgent or life-threatening conditions
• Work in ERs, urgent care centers, and trauma units
• Must make quick decisions under pressure
• Subspecialties: Wilderness medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, toxicology, hyperbaric medicine

4. Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties

• Assist in pre-op, intra-op, and post-op care
• First assist in surgeries and perform minor procedures
• Work in operating rooms, surgical centers, and clinics
• Subspecialties: Orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, trauma surgery, transplant surgery

5. Pediatrics

• Care for patients from infancy through adolescence
• Conduct well-child visits, immunizations, and sick visits
• May specialize in pediatric subspecialties like pediatric cardiology or neonatology

6. Dermatology

• Diagnose and treat skin, nail, and hair disorders
• May perform biopsies, cryotherapy, or cosmetic procedures
• Work in outpatient clinics, dermatology offices, or cosmetic practices

7. Psychiatry and Mental Health

• Evaluate and manage mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders
• Work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, or behavioral health facilities
• Growing field due to the national shortage of mental health providers

8. Cardiology

• Manage patients with heart conditions including hypertension, heart failure, arrhythmias, and post-op cardiac care
• May assist in interventional cardiology procedures
• Subspecialties: Electrophysiology, preventive cardiology, pediatric cardiology

9. Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)

• Provide women’s health services including prenatal care, contraception, and gynecological exams
• Assist in deliveries, cesarean sections, and surgical procedures
• Work in clinics, hospitals, and labor & delivery units

10. Radiology and Interventional Radiology

• Support radiologists in performing image-guided procedures
• May conduct diagnostic assessments and document radiology reports
• Common in hospital systems and specialty imaging centers

11. Anesthesiology

• Assist in administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during surgery
• May work in pain management, critical care, and procedural sedation
• Often part of surgical teams in hospitals and ambulatory centers

12. Otolaryngology (ENT)

• Diagnose and treat conditions of the ear, nose, and throat
• Perform minor procedures like endoscopies, debridement, and foreign body removal
• Subspecialties: Pediatric ENT, facial plastic surgery, head and neck surgery

How to Prepare for a Career in a PA Specialty

Step 1: Earn a Master’s Degree from an Accredited PA Program

To become a PA, you must complete a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Admissions typically require:

• A bachelor’s degree (often in health sciences or biology)
• Healthcare experience (often 1,000+ hours)
• Strong GPA and GRE scores (if required)
• Prerequisite coursework in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology
• Letters of recommendation and a compelling personal statement

Step 2: Pass the PANCE and Obtain Licensure

After graduation, you’ll take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Once certified, you’ll apply for licensure in your state and can begin practicing under a supervising physician.

Step 3: Gain Experience in a Specialty

Your first job may be in general practice, but many PAs begin training in a specialty from the start. You’ll gain practical, on-the-job training and mentorship from physicians and experienced PAs. Postgraduate fellowship programs are available in some specialties but are not required.

Step 4: Stay Certified and Consider CME or Fellowships

To maintain certification, PAs must complete continuing medical education (CME) and pass the PANRE (recertification exam) every 10 years. Some choose to pursue CAQ certifications (Certificates of Added Qualifications) in specialties like emergency medicine, psychiatry, or cardiovascular surgery.

Stand Out with a Pre-PA Internship Abroad

If you’re still preparing for PA school, clinical experience is essential. One of the most immersive and impactful ways to stand out as a competitive applicant is through a global health internship.

At Go-Elective we offer PA internships in Kenya and Tanzania that allow students to:

• Shadow or work licensed PAs and physicians across departments like surgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and emergency medicine
• Gain hands-on experience in low-resource hospitals and clinics
• Participate in community health education and outreach
• Develop cross-cultural communication and clinical adaptability

Our programs are ideal for students interested in family medicine, internal medicine, and global health. 

The Future of the PA Profession

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for physician assistants is projected to grow by over 30% from 2020 to 2030—much faster than average for most professions. PAs are increasingly managing chronic disease, providing primary care, and serving in leadership roles across healthcare systems.

With the ability to pivot between specialties and deliver cost-effective, high-quality care, PAs are not just filling gaps in healthcare—they are reshaping it.

> Apply to Go-Elective Physician Assistant Internships Abroad

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 15, 2025