💡 Why it matters: Health services need more skilled clinicians. Physician associates work as part of a medical team under a doctor's supervision, assessing patients and helping to diagnose and treat them.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦2M – ₦4M
- Mid-career
- ₦4M – ₦8M
- Senior
- ₦8M – ₦15M
≈ ₦333k – ₦667k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Indicative mid-career range (our estimate, not yet checked against an official source). Incusim estimate
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Take patient histories and examine patients
- Order tests such as blood tests and X-rays and read the results
- Diagnose common illnesses and suggest treatments
- Help in minor procedures and write patient notes
- Work under the supervision of a doctor and refer harder cases to them
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Empathy
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
Get ready at school
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Registered healthcare professionals such as nurses can apply for the postgraduate course
- Gain care experience as a healthcare assistant first
🇺🇸 United States
- Work as a medic, EMT or nursing assistant to gain hours before applying
- Some schools offer combined bachelor's and master's programs
🇨🇦 Canada
- Health care experience before applying
- Military or hospital roles can lead to training
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at school
- 2Earn a science or health degree and gain some hands-on care experience
- 3Complete a 2-year physician associate or assistant master's programme
- 4Pass the required exam and register or get licensed
- 5Work in a hospital or clinic and add a specialty over time
⏰ A day in the life
You start clinic by reviewing your list of patients with the supervising doctor. You see a teenager with a persistent cough, listen to their chest, order a scan and explain the plan. After lunch you check test results and call a patient to talk through new medicine.