Pharmacy, Physician Assistant or Physical Therapist???

I am very confused as to which career to choose from. I love all three but please someone give suggestions??

Tell us what you LIKE about each profession.

Tell us what you don’t like about each profession.

Are you a domestic student?

@mom2collegekids Pharmacist- Like the salary and the environment, don’t like standing up all the time

Physician assistant- Like the amount of schooling and pay, don’t like how there isn’t much you can do after since you’ll always be working under someone

Physical therapist- Like the amount of schooling, pay is okaaaay, dislike eh I’m not too sure since I’m mostly deciding between pharmacist and physician assitant. But yes I am considering physical therapist

@“aunt bea” What do you mean by domestic student?

^^She means-- are you a US citizen or permanent resident? Or are you an international?

@“aunt bea” I am a US citizen

Why not shadow someone this summer for each of these professions to see what the daily routine is like for them?

They all share some of the same core classes, Chem, Bio, Ochem, etc, so if you take all the requirements and do a bachelor’s degree first then you could keep your options open for a while longer and narrow down your choice later.

I don’t think pharmacists make significantly more and that should not be the main motivation.

If you get a BS first then pharmacy school would add 4 yrs to that = 8 yrs, PA master programs are usually 2 yr long so that would be 6 yr total, not sure about PT.

Do you want to prescribe and counsel people on medications?

Do you want to diagnose and treat illnesses and work closely with patients?

Do you want to help patients rehabilitate with physical therapy treatments?

In all three you will work under someone, you will not be able to open your own pharmacy or PT practice right out of school.

In the US major states, the pharmacy market is saturated right now. Too many schools of pharmacy have opened.

PA is becoming popular and doesn’t require the MD, but, you will be working under a licensed MD. Sorry, but that is why this is called a “Physician’s ASSISTANT”.

PT not only requires standing all day, but bending, twisting, reaching, lifting and wrecking your back, getting patients to relearn how to stand, walk, reach, etc. and you will be working under MD orders, who will prescribe how much therapy you can give, if the patient’s insurance permits it.

A PHYSICIAN (no 's) Assistant is also on his/her feet most of the day. The level of independence varies with the specialty - most report to a doctor but do not literally work under the nose of a doctor. In the state where my daughter works in family practice her doc is required by law to read three charts a week. Other than that she has her roster of patients and he has his…

In some specialties a PA has patients that they see on a regular basis. Some specialties and physical therapists do not have long term relationships with patients . Which would suit you better?

PAs diagnose or prescribe treatment while therapists and pharmacists either do the hands on work or coordinate medications. Again which suits you better?