HEY SHIPMATES!
SECURE THAT B.S.!
At least one or two ACTIVE IDCs have been doing the "I know someone who knows someone who said..." routine regarding transition from Navy IDC to civilian P.A.
There is NO SUCH THING as "challenging a State Board" to be a P.A. The only way to be certified as a Physician Assistant in the U.S. is to pass the National Certification Examination for Physician Assistants which is administrated by the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA). If you want to take the Certification Exam, you must have completed a course of study for Physician Assistants at a Physician Assistant program approved by the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP), NCCPA and, in some respects, the AMA. No short cuts. Individual States do not administer examinations and all require verification from the NCCPA of passing the Certification Examination.
Being a Navy IDC has advantages, especially in experience in dealing with patients and the health care system, as well as at least 60 credit hours towards an undergraduate degree. Having been a Navy IDC, IDC Instructor (twice) and a P.A. for more than 21 years, there is NO WAY that one can just take a test (and even the best and most intelligent IDC will not pass the initial P.A. certification exam without going to P.A. School) and be ready for all that is involved in being a Physician Assistant.
Any questions? Contact the NCCPA, APAP and AAPA or the Naval Association of Physician Assistants (NAPA). If you hear of any IDC who has successfully been certified as a P.A. (after 1980) without completing the established requirements, have them contact ME.
Well, that's just darn dissapointing. I fell victim of the falacy. Anywho, I'm slated for the June 2008 IDC class and PA or not, my career goal has been to be an IDC.
Quick question. Does anyone know if GW university will let you take the other course required for their BSHS degree before you have completed IDC school. Since I still have 10 months untill I class up, I would like to transfer my credits from University of Maryland over to GW and continue making the most of my TA and Shore duty.
Thanks!
GW is an interesting college. I have recieved my associates from them and they do things by the book. You can contact them and let them know that you are in the Navy. They have a completely seperate part of the school completely dedicated to Navy medicine. First will request be be excepted to the program in which you desire your degree. Then they will take transfer credit it is is exceptable. Know what I have found is that they are not very receptive to the "I am going to be in IDC school, which classes do I need to finish my degree." They will start you out at the bottom and let you work your way up. The problem is that you might take double class covered by the credits you recieve from IDC school. It is a risk you must figure out if you are willing to take. My point being that after school you are probably going to be left with 400 level class to finish your degree. They will not let you jump into a 400 level class without completeing the pre. req's. I have found that Touro University is much more responsive and is a lot more help with these issues. I am currently taking classes at Touro and I love it. They make getting a degree very easy. After the completion of IDC shool I believe that you need 8 or night classes for your degree from Touro. They will let you know which ones and possibly get a jump on them. The have 4 semesters a year, and taking two classes a semester is not overwhelming. So do the math and you could just about graduate IDC school with a B.S. Again these are my experiences and my be different for other people. I am still waiting to recieve my A.S. in the mail from GW and it has been a few years. So in closing I think your best option is Touro University. Good luck with school and I hope I have been of some help.