However, the ranks of physician assistants is on the rise. Physician assistants can do many of the same tasks as doctors, including examine patients, prescribe medicine, and ordering diagnostic tests.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for physician assistants is growing. Demand is projected to grow by 38% from 2012 to 2022, which has led to an increase in training programs.
In the 1990s, there were a little more than 50 physician assistant programs, now there are 187 accredited programs.
