You may have already heard of the title change for PAs from “physician assistant” to “physician associate,” but many people are still curious about who made this decision and what it means for the profession. Why did this change happen? And is there a difference between a physician associate vs physician assistant? In this post, we’ll answer your top questions about the physician assistant name change, why it happened, and the future of the PA title. Let’s get started!
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When did the physician assistant name change take place?
In May 2021, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) House of Delegates voted to change the title of “physician assistant” to “physician associate,” and the organization is now called the American Academy of Physician Associates (still the AAPA).
The physician assistant name change came after years of discussion and research by the AAPA, starting way back in 2018, to find a title that more accurately represents the independence that physician associates have as providers. In the eyes of many practicing PAs, it’s been a very exciting development for the profession.
Why change to “physician associate?”
Remember that the PA profession is very new in the grand scheme of things, with the American Medical Association (AMA) first recognizing it in 1971. This means it’s only been recognized as a career for 53 years!
Along the way, there have been so many developments and changes to this job. As the role of a PA has continued to develop, rigorous education requirements and enhanced training have increased PA responsibility in clinical practice. With increasing autonomy, many PAs began questioning their title of “assistant,” as it’s thought to minimize the work PAs are doing in clinical practice.
While PAs do work under a supervising physician, this is often in a collaborative and independent manner. Therefore, rather than being an assistant to the physician, it was determined the title associate is much more accurate.
Is there a difference between a physician assistant vs physician associate?
Not at all! It’s important to understand that the scope of practice for PAs is not altered by the title change whatsoever. States will decide specific practice laws, but PAs will continue to diagnose, treat, and manage patients independently under a supervising physician.
Rather than changing the scope of practice, the title change is an effort to more accurately represent the role physician associates already have in clinical practice. When discussing the name change with patients, it’ll be important to emphasize those facts.
It’s hoped that with the new title of physician associate, patients will understand PAs better as practicing providers, rather than assistants to the provider, and continue to remain confident in the medical care they are receiving.
Why do most people still say “physician assistant?”
You may wonder why you’re still seeing the title “physician assistant” even after this name change was technically put into place. At this time, “physician assistant” and “physician associate” are both accurate terms that can be used interchangeably. Conveniently, both are referred to as “PA.”
While some parts of the country have adopted the new title (more on this shortly), that hasn’t happened nationwide. Depending on where you live, it may be some time before you start seeing the title “physician associate” being used instead of “physician assistant.”
The Process of Officially Changing the PA Title
Additionally, adopting the new title requires more than a consensus among PAs that it’s the right thing to do. To fully make the switch, each state would need to officially implement a title change within their legislature. Following this, health systems within the state would need to start using the title of physician associate on job postings, badges, and provider descriptions.
Furthermore, practicing PAs, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team would need to start using the title of physician associate. And of course, patients would need to recognize and understand the name change.
The bottom line is, it’s not easy to conduct a name change for a whole profession—and, because of this, the two titles have been (and will continue to be) used interchangeably for the foreseeable future.
An Example of Progress
Notably, while writing this article, I did some research to see if any states had taken the step to make the change within their legislature. I discovered that Oregon was the first state to take the necessary steps, with the title change officially taking effect in June 2024!
I even browsed through the advanced practice provider job openings at various Oregon hospitals and found many postings for physician associates, rather than assistants. Although there were scattered postings for physician assistants, it looks like the hospitals in Oregon are already taking necessary steps to implement this change.
What can I do to advocate for the physician assistant name change?
If you’re looking to get involved in implementing the title change in your state (or advocating for the PA profession in general), state PA chapters will lead the title change initiative in the legislatures of their individual states with the assistance of the AAPA.
For future or current PAs, I highly recommend joining these organizations. They offer you the opportunity to get involved and stay up-to-date on your profession. Plus, they often host continuing medical education (CME) dinner lectures and help you connect with other PAs in your area! They’re great resources for networking, conversation, and education.
Best of luck in your PA journey, and be sure to check out Blueprint PA for all your exam prep needs (from day 1 to your last day on the job)!
