Physician Assistant Syllabus & Subjects 2023: Semester-wise List, Top Colleges Syllabus PDF

Updated on Dec 12, 2024 10:21 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaSenior Executive Content

As healthcare members, physician assistants assist doctors and other healthcare professionals in their roles. They typically offer primary medical care. A physician assistant consults patients, collaborates on treatment plans, and liaises with other medical professionals. Students with a background in EMS or medicine are flocking to become Physician Assistants due to lucrative salaries and various opportunities.

An undergraduate degree in physician assistant (B.Sc.) requires three years of study. Students learn how to gather patient records, examine them, and aid physicians in making diagnoses to prescribe the right treatments and drugs. They will be well-prepared to support physicians by the time they graduate.

Graduate study in any medical speciality is an option after earning a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant. There are different specialisations where students can do their M.Sc. in their higher studies. The M.Sc. Physician Assistant program is a 2-year postgraduate program that provides training to improve the communication between staff nurses and specialists or super-specialist doctors. Students pick one general speciality (medicine or surgery) and three subspecialties in this curriculum.

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Syllabus: Important Facts about Physician Assistant

  • B.Sc. in Physician Assistant

It is an 8-semester course, with the last two semesters being a compulsory internship of one year. The program aims to teach them how to support the doctor in dealing with many ailments.

  • Scope in India

Those with a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant degree have the opportunity to work in various fields. These include dieticians, patient care technicians, drug safety associates, and others.

  • General examination pattern

Examinations in a university take place twice throughout an academic year, once in December and once in June. Exams at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester and in-class activities, homework, and smaller projects are the primary criteria used to grade pupils.

  • B.Sc. in Physician Assistant course structure

    • VI Semesters

    • Core Subjects

    • Lab Workshops

    • Internships (VII and VIII semesters)

List of Subjects in Physician Assistant

Typical Core Subjects for Physician Assistant

Subject Title

Subject Details

Anatomy

 

Anatomy is the study of the human body and anatomical regions.

  • Organisation of the human body

  • Skeletal system, Muscular system

  • Nervous system, endocrine system

  • Maintenance of cardiovascular and other systems of the body

  • Anatomical regions

Physiology

It includes the working and composition of the body.

  • Blood: composition, properties and functions of blood, etc.

  • Cardiovascular system: Functions, Functional Anatomy of Heart & their functions, Cardiac cycle, etc.

  • Digestive system: Functions, anatomy, the composition of digestive juices, etc.

  • Respiratory system: function, anatomy, mechanism, etc.

  • Nervous system: reflexes, histology, nerve conduction, etc.

  • Special senses: vision, blindness, smell, taste, etc.

  • Skin, excretory system, reproductive system, etc.

Biochemistry

It includes studying the body's building blocks and the balance of various elements inside our body.

  • Introduction to Apparatus, Chemical Balance

  • The Chemistry of Carbohydrates and Lipids

  • The Chemistry of Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Pathology

Haematology: Study of blood

  • Blood collection

  • Anticoagulants used in Haematology

  • Normal values in Haematology

  • Basic haematological techniques

  • The morphology of red cells

  • The morphology of leukocytes and platelets

  • Bone marrow

 

Clinical Pathology: Examination of body fluids

  • Urine examination

  • Examination of body fluids

  • Semen analysis

  • CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)

  • Stool Examination

Medical and Pharmacology

It includes learning about the medicines and the working of the medicines.

  • Infectious diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, GIT, immune system, etc.

  • Endocrinology

  • Principles of drug administration

  • Basic drug effects and classification of drugs

  • Common drugs

Surgery anesthesiology

 

It includes the concepts of surgical processes and the anaesthetic techniques to be used during surgery.

  • Metabolic response to injury

  • Wound healing

  • Electrolyte and acid-base balance, bleeding and blood transfusion

  • Benign Hypertrophy of the Prostate and Hydrocele

  • The Classification of Anaesthesia, anaesthetic agents, etc.

Microbiology

  • General Bacteriology

  • Immunology

  • Virology

  • Mycology & Parasitology

  • An outline of common bacterial diseases, their treatment, and prevention

Environmental Science and Community Medicine

Students learn about humans and their environment, which play a major role in body functioning.

  • The multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies

  • The Concept of an Ecosystem, Structure and Functions

  • Biodiversity

  • Pollution

  • "Health and disease"

  • Epidemiology

Paediatrics and Geriatrics

It deals with the study of children and elderly people.

  • Definition, population, morbidity and mortality in children, maternal, perinatal, neonatal, infant and preschool

  • Nutrition

  • Immunisation

  • Paediatric emergencies

  • Geriatrics - physiological and psychological fundamentals of the ageing process

  • Disorders of major geriatric ailments and their management

  • Degenerative joint diseases, effects of immobility

 

Detailed Syllabus for Physician Assistant

The syllabus for B.Sc. in Physician Assistants may vary from one university to the next, but the subjects are more or less the same. Here is a general overview of the core subjects taught from the first to eighth semesters of B.Sc. Physician Assistants.

 

Semester

Core

Subject Title

Subject Details

1 and 2.

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Physiology

Microbiology

Pathology

 

Anatomy

 

 

Biochemistry

 

 

Physiology

 

 

 

Microbiology

 

 

 

Pathology

 

English

 

Practicals

  • Anatomy focuses on identifying and describing the internal architecture of living organisms.

  • At the cellular and molecular level, biochemistry is the study of biological processes.

  • Physiology is the study of how human bodies function in a healthy state and how they malfunction when someone is ill.

  • Microbiology focuses on microorganisms and the structures, body mechanisms, and diseases they cause.

  • Pathology uses surgical specimens to research and diagnose diseases.

3 and 4

Medicine

Pharmacology

Surgery

Paediatrics

Anaesthesiology

 

Medicine

 

 

 

Pharmacology

 

 

Surgery

 

 

Paediatrics

 

 

 

 

 

Anesthesiology

 

Practicals

  • Medicine involves diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, treating, palliating, and improving a patient's health.

  • Pharmacology studies medication effects on biological processes and how the body reacts to them.

  • Surgery investigates and treats pathological conditions using manual and instrumental procedures.

  • The Paediatrics department strives to prevent newborn and child fatalities, restrict infectious disease transmission, promote healthy lifestyles for a long illness-free life, and support children and adolescents with chronic disorders.

  • Anaesthesia permits painless treatments that might otherwise cause significant discomfort or be technically impossible.

5 and 6

Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

Neurology

Nephrology

Gastroenterology

Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

 

 

Neurology

 

 

 

Nephrology

 

 

Gastroenterology

 

Practicals

  • Surgical treatment of diseases connected to the heart and the thoracic aorta is the speciality of cardiac surgery in medicine.

  • Neurology is the branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating all illnesses and diseases that affect the nervous system.

  • Studying kidney disease, transplantation, and treatment of renal illness is a major focus of nephrology.

  • The medical speciality of gastroenterology focuses on digestive problems and their treatment.

7 and 8

Internship

Internship- 12 months

Students have the opportunity to fulfil a PA intern's responsibilities in several medical facilities, including a hospital or clinic. Their tasks include evaluating and taking the patient's medical history, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, delivering treatments within the PA scope of practice, and prescribing drugs.

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Specialisations Offered in Physician Assistant

Students in a specialised course serve as house officers to deliver patient care and gain expertise. Students learn diagnostic, curative, and preventative care. As coworkers, they gather patient histories, do clinical exams, request lab tests and x-rays, and provide support to physicians. Some of the specialisations in Physician Assistant are:

Specialisation

Specialisation Subjects

Subject Details

Paediatrics

Paediatrics

One of the Physician Assistant's primary roles is to help with surgeries and document patients' medical records. Histories and physical exams in the paediatric department, handling children as patients.

Oncology

Cancer Studies

It is common for Physician Assistants in the field of oncology to aid in educating cancer patients and their loved ones about their health concerns and treatment choices.

Mental Health

Psychiatry

It provides mental health services under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Their medical knowledge enables them to handle inpatient and outpatient patients.

Pathology

Pathology

Physician Assistants specialise in pathology practice, including tissue sampling, imaging, and postmortem assessments. They help the pathologist diagnose the disease by analysing the specimen.

Surgery

Surgery and Anaesthesiology

Surgical Physician Assistants, often known as PAs, are highly trained clinicians who have acquired classroom instruction and hands-on experience to perform in all facets of the perioperative setting.

Emergency Care

Trauma and ER

A Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine works alongside the attending physician. Patients are instructed and counselled, physical exams are performed, diagnostic and therapeutic investigations are carried out, and diagnostic laboratory tests are interpreted.

Books and Authors Related to Physician Assistants

As Physician Assistant is a highly versatile field with many specialisations, students read a wide range of books during their graduation. Listed below are some books that are highly referred to:

Subject

Book Title

Author(s)

Description

Physiology

Human Physiology

C.C. Chatterjee

This book covers the systems of the body and their physiology. Many considerations of anatomy, clinical notes, and pharmacological notes are included in this work for the various body systems.

Anatomy

Regional and Applied Human Anatomy

B.D. Chaurasia

The book covers upper limb bones; pectoral, scapular, palm, wrist, articulation, thoracolumbar wall, pleura, endocardium, and the heart.

Pathology

Practical Pathology

P. Chakraborty

Gargi Chakraborty

This book helps pupils learn PA skills. It links fundamental sciences, clinical medicine, and clinicopathologic principles. It features clinical examples, virtual microscope slides, and treatment boxes.

Paediatrics

A Textbook of Paediatrics

Orient Longman

This 2-volume reference covers constantly evolving diagnostic and treatment methods, new technology, and the vast spectrum of biological, psychological, and social issues children confront today.

Surgery

A Manual on Clinical Surgery

Dr S. Das

It deals with illnesses and ailments that either need or are susceptible to surgical or manual treatments for treatment.

Microbiology

Textbook of Microbiology

Ananthanarayan & Panicker's

This book explains how researchers investigate and work with organisms that are usually unicellular and very small. These approaches vary from those employed in the majority of other biological studies and are explained here.

Entrance Exams for Physician Assistants

Depending on the norms and regulations of the respective institutions, each institution's Physician Assistant admission process may vary. Students who demonstrate exceptional performance on the required qualifying exams may be granted entry into this program at certain educational institutions. The majority of the best institutions in India use entrance examinations as their primary method for selecting students to enrol in their programmes. Below is the list of entrance exams.

  • CUCET: A national exam that is governed by a consortium of ten central universities.

  • CPNET: A common entrance exam for the Physician Assistant course offered by universities.

  • PANCE

  • DUET

  • IPU-CET

  • BITSAT

  • BHU PETE

The entrance test syllabus is different for every institute. Hence, students must have a thorough knowledge of their 11th and 12th subjects and NCERTs, good knowledge of solving reading comprehension problems, general knowledge, and basic aptitude and reasoning. The difficulty level of these exams is easy to moderate. The students must have a basic understanding of the concepts.

Almost all of the examinations are conducted in the format of multiple-choice questions. The tests can get you into the best colleges for a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant. You also need to do well in the final exams for your intermediate or 10+2 level of schooling. To be eligible to take the admissions test, you need to have earned at least 55 per cent of the maximum marks.

Syllabus for Distance Program in Physician Assistant

Students who can not afford full-time courses can get their degrees through distance education. Also, students who are unable to meet the eligibility requirements for full-time courses may opt for part-time or distance B.Sc. in Physician Assistant programs. The syllabus of distance education programs is remarkably similar to the regular programs. The evaluation format (30% for internal assessment and 70% for the end of semester examination) is nearly the same as the regular courses. The only difference is that a distance learning course is for 3 years, whereas the regular offline course is for 4 years, and the fees are slightly lower for the distance program.

There is only one college so far that provides distance education in B.Sc. Physician Assistant and that is Vinayaka Mission Institute, Tamil Nadu. Fee for the program costs around INR 25000 per year.

Top Colleges for Physician Assistant

Based on the curriculum, choices of electives offered, and in-house placement opportunities, these are the top colleges for B.Sc. Physician Assistant courses in India.

S. No.

Institution

Syllabus URL

  1.  

Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Kirumampakkam

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Adithya Institute of Health Science, Coimbatore

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Chengalpattu Medical College, Kanchipuram

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Bharath University

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Brainware University, Kolkata

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

The Tamil Nadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Om Sterling Global University, Haryana

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

KLE University, Belagavi

To be uploaded soon
  1.  

Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Mysore

To be uploaded soon

Physician Assistant Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Who is a Physician Assistant?

A. Physician Assistant (PA) is a member of the medical community who collaborates with physicians to deliver medical care. It's possible to locate a physician's assistant in practically every primary care and specialised medical sector. The tasks of a PA vary based on the needs of the supervising physician.

Q. How is the exam pattern for the PANCE exam divided?

A. The examination is categorised into two dimensions: • Knowledge of the diseases and disorders physician assistants encounter • Knowledge and skills related to tasks physician assistants perform when treating patients

Q. What are the subjects in B.Sc. in Physician Assistant programs?

A. The subjects in B.Sc. in Physician Assistant programs are: • Anatomy • Physiology • Biochemistry • Pathology • Clinical Microbiology • Clinical Pharmacology • Hospital Management • Medical Ethics • Anaesthesia for Specialty Surgeries • Principles of Anaesthesia • Basics of Surgery • Gastroenterology • Biostatistics • Psychiatry • Nephrology • Medicine and Pharmacology • Pulmonology • Radiology • Paediatrics

Q. Is it possible to take a Physician Assistant course after completing a B.S. in nursing?

A. Students interested in becoming physician assistants should enrol in a bachelor's degree program in biological or chemical science. After completing a B.Sc. in Nursing/B.A. in Nursing, you may also pursue a Physician Assistant degree.

Q. What are the duties of a Physician Assistant?

A. Physician assistants are often responsible for the following: • Review medical histories of patients. • Examine patients. • Arrange and analyse diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and blood tests, if necessary. • Diagnose patients' injuries and illnesses. • Set broken bones and immunise patients as needed.

Q. Is it possible to take this course online?

A. Yes, Vinayaka Mission University offers a distance-learning option for this program. It is a 3-year course. The syllabus is the same as the regular course.

Which is better—B.Sc. Physician Assistant or B.Sc. Nursing?

A B.Sc. in Nursing is a 4-year undergraduate program for medical aspirants. After completing a B.Sc. in Nursing, students may work or pursue further education. A B.Sc. Physician Assistant is a 3-year plus 1-year medical undergraduate program. Physician Assistants are trained academically and clinically to offer treatment under the supervision of specialists. One cannot claim the better course among the two as it depends on the candidate’s preferences.

Q. Does a Physician Assistant require a NEET?

A. NEET is not required to get admission into B.Sc. PA. A minimum score of fifty per cent on the 10+2 exam or its equivalent is required. They must have completed the university’s entrance test with a primary focus on Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. In some circumstances, applicants are also expected to show up for the admission test that will be given by the educational establishment.

Q. Which type of Physician Assistant is the best?

A. Cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery Physician Assistant is the best specialisation with a much wider scope. PAs complete cardiovascular and thoracic surgery practices by handling perioperative care, daily rounds, and invasive procedures.

Q. Is there any entrance exam for a Physician Assistant course?

The entrance examinations may be at either the national or the state level. The admissions processes at various educational institutions, such as universities and colleges, are governed by a variety of distinct norms and regulations. The following are examples of some of the most competitive admission exams: • CUCET • CPNET • PANCE DUNET • BHU NET, etc. Some colleges also provide merit-based admission on the basis of 12th board examination results.

Q. Is a licence required to practise as a Physician Assistant in India?

A. The Physician Assistant profession in India does not have an official certification yet.

Q. Do you need Maths for a Physician Assistant?

A. No. The entry criteria for the B.Sc. Physician Assistant course is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. Maths is not a requirement.

Q. Is biology compulsory for a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant?

A. Yes, the students must take Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their subjects on 10+2 boards and have a minimum grade of 55% in their board examination.

Q. What is the B.Sc. Physician Assistant Course Structure?

A. The course is designed for 3 years plus a 1-year internship. The subjects are divided into 6 semesters, and there are regular practical workshops and training at hospitals. The last two semesters are entirely dedicated to a compulsory internship in which students are given training at hospitals for better understanding. The assessment of the students is done based on annual examinations, workbooks, labs, and their behaviour over the entire session.

Popular Physician Assistant Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant Colleges in India. Learn more about these Physician Assistant colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
3.75 L
3.9 LPA
5 L
4.3 LPA

#12 NIRF

#22 NIRF

1 Course
1.65 L
5.4 LPA

#23 NIRF

1 Course
3 L
1.0

#39 NIRF

1 Course
4 L
8.15 LPA

#47 NIRF

Popular Private Physician Assistant Colleges in India

1 Course
3.75 L
3.9 LPA
5 L
4.3 LPA

#12 NIRF

#22 NIRF

1 Course
1.65 L
5.4 LPA

#23 NIRF

1 Course
3 L
1.0

#39 NIRF

1 Course
4 L
8.15 LPA

#47 NIRF

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Physician Assistant.

Popular Physician Assistant UG Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Physician Assistant PG Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Physician Assistant. Students interested in pursuing a career on Physician Assistant, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Mar '25

NEET 2025 Application Process

TENTATIVE

Apr '25

NEET 2025 Application Correction

TENTATIVE

13 Dec ' 24 - 20 Dec ' 24

NEET PG 2024 round-2 counselling reporting

26 Dec ' 24 - 1 Jan ' 25

NEET PG 2024 round-3 counselling registration

10 Dec ' 24 - 18 Dec ' 24

INI CET 2025 round 1 Choice filling

19 Dec ' 24

INI CET 2025 round-1 seat allotment result

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

TENTATIVE

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

TENTATIVE
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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 weeks ago

Here are some colleges offering M.Sc. Physician Assistant programs:

1. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Kochi) - Specializes in Medical Oncology.

2. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai).

3. Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation (Salem).

4. JSS Academy of Higher Education and

...more

C

Chenna kesavulu Putchakay

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, you can pursue a Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) after completing a B.Sc in Physician Assistant, provided you meet the eligibility criteria set by the institutions offering the program.

Some universities may require you to have a background in specific healthcare courses, but many accept

...more

P

Parul Thapa

Contributor-Level 10

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