This is a full-time, two year intensive medical training programme. It is designed to educate and produce knowledgeable and competent clinicians who can practise medicine and support the medical team in the diagnosis and management of patients, and provide high quality medical care across a range of medical specialities.
The programme delivers the requirements of the Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant (PA), enabling graduates to successfully complete the university programme and the PA national examination.
The first year of the programme is mainly theoretical and university-based (five days per week), with one day per week in general practice (12 x one day sessions). In the second year, the majority of time is spent in clinical attachment with one day every 10 weeks back in university for formative or summative assessments. You will learn to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, request and analyse test results, diagnose illnesses, and develop treatment and management plans.
Please note: The qualification is not currently recognised outside of UK/Ireland and graduates from any UK University offering the PA course cannot work in the USA/ Canada/ Netherlands.
On completion of the FPA national written and OSCE examinations, candidates are eligible to register on the PAMVR, held at the Royal College of Physicians and enter professional practice.
In Northern Ireland a New Graduate Year (NGY) has been established to embed the profession into the different areas our graduates are employed in. This allows them to consolidate and develop their knowledge and skills as they begin their careers as Physician Associates. The PA NGY has been advertised at AfC Band 6 with automatic progression to a Band 7 after completion of the NGY.