Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants?

Do primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants

No education was listed by most employers of primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants. According to job data, no education was required for 57% of positions. In 32% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 6% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants. In 47% of job postings for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 45% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 7% of job postings for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants.

What Kind of Degree Do Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants, and in 2023 a total of 293,125 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants.

Top Degree Programs for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants

What Skills Do Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Primary Care Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants
Based on 195,979 job postings

Based on 195,979 job postings related to primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 30% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for primary care, medical records, patient education and counseling, treatment planning and geriatrics were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants, followed by communication, leadership, writing, computer literacy and research.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants.

What do primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants do?
How much do primary care nurse practitioners/physician assistants make?

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