Not sure which flair to use but I was wondering what the difference between the two is. I understand the academic background is different but if both can diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients, what’s the difference in terms of scope of practice?
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MD here and I will try to be as unbiased as possible:
NP/PAs were created and envisioned as extensions of a doctor to allow more patients to access care. As more people age, there will be a greater demand for medical care that the pipeline for creating new MDs simply could keep up. In especially rural areas, there might not be an MD available. In those cases, a PA/NP could help to provide care with guidance from a doctor, to catch the one sick patient that needs attention while taking care of the day to day upkeeping.
To specifically answer your question will require a bit of bias: the difference is the level, type, and quantity of education and learning to practice at the highest level of my credential. I am a trauma/critical care surgeon, and to get to this point requires 4 years of school, 5 years of residency, 1 year of fellowship, and sitting through and passing my board exams. I am expected to know and handle whatever comes my way and know my limitation. If I choose to switch career, I have to start all over from residency, if I can even find a place that will let me.
NP/PAs have their schools, and as far as I know, that is it. There are specialized PA/NP “residencies” but they are not accredited as far as I know and have no common core curriculum and requirements that are mandated. You may choose to specialize if you so choose. A family medicine NP can choose to specialize as a surgical NP then transition to a cardiology NP, with nothing more than a regular training period, without any oversight or general curriculum to ensure they have been exposed to the enough of the specialty. They can be good with enough time, and a cardiology NP with 10 years of experience certainly can be knowledgeable, but the key is there is no mandate that they get that amount of experience of way to certify that they have that knowledge.
My personal TL:DR summary/opinion: your day-to-day physical, boo-boos, prescription renewals, go ahead and see an NP or PA.
If you are actually worried about a problem that has been bothering you, try to find a doctor that may know the proper pathway to work you up.
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