医师助理（PAs）是高技能的国家认证和国家许可的医学专业人士，他们与医生和其他卫生专业人士一起在医疗保健团队中练习医学。他们提供的服务的质量和价值在几乎所有医学和外科专业及亚专业中都得到了公认，包括：执业医师（私人和团体，机构环境，教养机构，城乡社区卫生中心，制服服务和其他联邦政府机构）政府机构，疗养院，学校和其他大学设施以及零售诊所。医师助理会记录病史，进行身体检查，订购和分析诊断数据（例如实验室和影像学研究），并执行主要和次要治疗程序。助理制定并实施以患者为中心的治疗计划，以包括有关与医疗团队其他成员
The USA physician assistant program provides the student with comprehensive medical knowledge, skills, and attitudes enabling them to engage in clinical practice, and is designed to prepare the student for a variety of clinical practice settings. The goals and objectives of the PA program are guided by the criteria set forth in the Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant, as established by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Students in the physician assistant program are prepared for PA practice using a variety of learning strategies, including, formal lectures, practical laboratory classes, clinical education and clinical research. Graduates of the physician assistant program develop advanced clinical problem solving skills, in addition to acquiring technical proficiency in areas related to professional practice.