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Should I be a physician assistant or elementary school teacher?
I'm having a hard time picking which one I should be. I'm stuck between being a physician assistant or an elementary school teacher. I absolutely love little kids and I'll be so happy doing that in life but at the same time teachers are so underpaid. This year I took a lot of high school science related classes since I was thinking about being a physician assistant so maybe it makes sense to just continue with it but I'm not sure. I can't really handle blood either but my school offers so many science classes and less education centered classes.
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5 answers
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Jerry’s Answer
What an interesting question! Talk about your choices.
First. The physician's assistant. As far as I know, the income is quite reasonable and the "status" in that profession is very good. You would be able to feel comfortable with a decent living standard and being very socially acceptable.
On the other hand,"getting out the door" with the qualifications and the papers is quite demanding. And can take almost as long as doing premed and then med. And in all probability, all your work will not be accomplished at one institution. Maybe yes, maybe no. And then the practicum. Off you go.
So if you're prepared mentally and physically for the long days and what may appear as the endless years and you really want to take up the profession, then off you go. And again, in the end it can be quite rewarding.
And the other choice is teaching grade school kids. How interesting. (I still remember many of my grade school teachers with great fondness.)
And at least you're in an area that offers many institutions of higher learning offering degrees in education.
And in an area that offers a wealth of opportunities to teach grade school. Public and private. Depending upon your personality and attitude you may be able to take your pick. Then there are the subjects you have to teach. And conducting the class. In my view, the proper approach would be to emphasize to the students that the class is a unit,. You are all together, You're on the inside and everyone else is on the outside. You're a single unit.
The income from teaching will undoubtedly be less than your other choice. But you, again, live in an area where the income will get you through, though not as well as the other choice.
One thing you can do is go to two grade schools. One public and one private and ask to talk to some of the teachers. If you're lucky, they may allow you to sit in on a class or two. And freely talk to you about their profession. If one school is not interested, try another. It's to your advantage to get as much insight as possible.
But be assured, staying away from becoming a physician's assistant and teaching at a grade school, will not keep you from avoiding blood.
First. The physician's assistant. As far as I know, the income is quite reasonable and the "status" in that profession is very good. You would be able to feel comfortable with a decent living standard and being very socially acceptable.
On the other hand,"getting out the door" with the qualifications and the papers is quite demanding. And can take almost as long as doing premed and then med. And in all probability, all your work will not be accomplished at one institution. Maybe yes, maybe no. And then the practicum. Off you go.
So if you're prepared mentally and physically for the long days and what may appear as the endless years and you really want to take up the profession, then off you go. And again, in the end it can be quite rewarding.
And the other choice is teaching grade school kids. How interesting. (I still remember many of my grade school teachers with great fondness.)
And at least you're in an area that offers many institutions of higher learning offering degrees in education.
And in an area that offers a wealth of opportunities to teach grade school. Public and private. Depending upon your personality and attitude you may be able to take your pick. Then there are the subjects you have to teach. And conducting the class. In my view, the proper approach would be to emphasize to the students that the class is a unit,. You are all together, You're on the inside and everyone else is on the outside. You're a single unit.
The income from teaching will undoubtedly be less than your other choice. But you, again, live in an area where the income will get you through, though not as well as the other choice.
One thing you can do is go to two grade schools. One public and one private and ask to talk to some of the teachers. If you're lucky, they may allow you to sit in on a class or two. And freely talk to you about their profession. If one school is not interested, try another. It's to your advantage to get as much insight as possible.
But be assured, staying away from becoming a physician's assistant and teaching at a grade school, will not keep you from avoiding blood.
Updated
Katie’s Answer
There are ways to combine medicine and teaching. For example, you could become a school nurse, or a pediatric physician's assistant, or a child life specialist in a hospital who works with hospitalized children helping them with relevant play activities, such as role-playing an upcoming procedure. You could also become a pediatric occupational o r physical therapist, or a speech-language pathologist, working to help children with disabilities. To find out more about these options, look online for the American Physical Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association or the American Speech Hearing Association. All three fields also have trained assistants, usually requiring an associates degree. The therapists now need a clinical doctorate, because there is so much to learn. The job market for therapists is excellent in te USA!
Updated
Laisha’s Answer
Hi, hi. I can see why it can be so hard to decide what career path you want to pursue. I would say you should also first get experience in both fields, such as working in school-setting programs such as an after-school program, to see how much you like working with kids. When picking a major for college you can also have a minor like for education while still learning to become a physician assistant. In colleges, you can ask for an internship and find stuff in the related field for physical assistance.
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Emily,
It might seem like the two careers are very different and perhaps they are in many ways, but I hope you know that you aren't the only one with this dilemma. I have also considered both career options, although not at the same time. Your concerns about teachers being underpaid are real and I can relate. As someone who is a PA and comes from Australia where the PA profession as we know it in the US doesn't exist, I can share that I would choose to become a PA if I had a choice between a k-12 teaching career and becoming a PA. PAs practice medicine in all specialties and in all clinical settings, so direct contact with blood likely won't be commonplace for you. Becoming a PA takes hard work and learning never ends, but it's a rewarding career. You might find this article about how to become a PA, on the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) websites, helpful:
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Hwal
It might seem like the two careers are very different and perhaps they are in many ways, but I hope you know that you aren't the only one with this dilemma. I have also considered both career options, although not at the same time. Your concerns about teachers being underpaid are real and I can relate. As someone who is a PA and comes from Australia where the PA profession as we know it in the US doesn't exist, I can share that I would choose to become a PA if I had a choice between a k-12 teaching career and becoming a PA. PAs practice medicine in all specialties and in all clinical settings, so direct contact with blood likely won't be commonplace for you. Becoming a PA takes hard work and learning never ends, but it's a rewarding career. You might find this article about how to become a PA, on the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) websites, helpful:
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Hwal
Updated
Colleen’s Answer
It's clear that you've discovered two promising career routes, and gaining as much practical exposure in both areas will undoubtedly help you make a more informed choice. Both professions offer remarkable job stability. As a person who has navigated through three different career transitions, I assure you that shifting from one career to another is always a feasible choice. So, if you ever find yourself craving a change, remember that it's always within your reach. While I may not be well-versed with the ins and outs of a physician assistant career, I can vouch for the fulfilling nature of working as an educator, based on my personal experience. The role of an educator can be demanding as it involves juggling multiple responsibilities, but the joy of working with children makes it all worthwhile. As life progresses and you consider starting a family, being an educator can be an ideal career choice, given the ample time off it offers for family bonding. Depending on your place of work, you could also enjoy substantial retirement benefits. The field of education opens up numerous advancement opportunities, including administration and curriculum design. Wishing you all the best on your journey!