Editing Physician assistant (section)

===Canada===
As of 2024, there are approximately 1000 physician assistants working in healthcare settings in Canada.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://capa-acam.ca/pa-profession/pa-facts |title=PA Facts |publisher=Canadian Association of Physician Assistants |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> The first formally trained physician assistants graduated in 1984 from the [[Canadian Forces Medical Service|Canadian Forces Medical Services School]] at Borden, Ontario.<ref name="CAPA history">{{cite web |url=http://capa-acam.ca/about-pas/history/ |title=About PAs: History |publisher=Canadian Association of Physician Assistants |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> The [[Canadian Medical Association]] (CMA) recognized physician assistants as a health professional in 2003.<ref name="CAPA history" /> Physician assistants are able to perform medical functions such as ordering tests, diagnosing diseases, prescribing medications, treating patients, educating patients and performing various medical and surgical procedures. Physician assistants are labeled under the federal government national occupational classification code 3124: allied primary health practitioners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Error/ServerError404/2ac8f9140b764c69bd149542760a8e0e|title=Error 404 - Canada.ca|website=noc.esdc.gc.ca}}</ref>

==== Education and certification (Canada) ====
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}
The first civilian physician assistant education programs were launched in 2008 at the [[University of Manitoba]] and [[McMaster University]].<ref name="CAPA history" /> In 2010, a third civilian program was launched by the consortium of physician assistant education ([[University of Toronto]], [[Northern Ontario School of Medicine]], and [[The Michener Institute]]) while further programmes were added in 2024 at [[Dalhousie University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-training-program-at-dalhousie-will-help-address-health-workforce-challenges-867151453.html |title=New Training Program at Dalhousie will help address Health Workforce Challenges |publisher=Cision |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> and at the [[University of Calgary]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/albertas-first-training-program-physician-192334373.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFI6sGSl_w7JOLbrfKCrLprWRaRedTMHF72A88UAXwlj765Not7i2QBUhCzQos_2d7_BthX_XP4aN_o9xyCggy8Yo7uZBSD_qs3m0N8yUyJel9IAqfV3L3Q8uOw_vxcEHB9ADG69KKEx_vjPNEzeYElp6wyz3EMtvOm-lvodvETB |title=Alberta's first training program for physician assistants launches in Calgary
 |date=26 March 2024
 |publisher=Yahoo News |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref> A new programme has been announced to be housed at the [[University of Saskatchewan]] to start in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/1097243/usask-s-college-of-medicine-launches-master-of-physician-assistant-studies-program.html |title=USask's College of Medicine launches Master of Physician Assistant Studies program
 |publisher=Education News Canada |date=23 August 2024|access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>

In Canada, the education of a physician assistant generally consists of three years of professional post-graduate university education. The education is delivered over a two calendar year time-frame by completing fall, winter and summer semesters for both years of the program in either a master level university physician assistant program or post-graduate professional university bachelor level physician assistant program. Physician assistant graduates become eligible for the certification exam by being a graduate of a Canadian physician assistant program that is recognized by the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (Canadian Armed Forces physician assistant program, University of Manitoba, McMaster University and the consortium of physician assistant education all of which are accredited by the Canadian Medical Association).<ref name="auto1"/>

====Scope of practice (Canada)====
As of 2023 PAs in Canada may:
:
Physician assistants resemble and provide many of the functions of physicians. Physician Assistants (PA) are academically prepared health care professionals who provide a broad range of medical services. PAs are physician extenders and not independent practitioners; they work with a degree of autonomy, negotiated and agreed on by the supervising physician(s) and the PA. PAs can work in any clinical setting to extend physician services. PAs complement existing services and aid in improving patient access to health care. A relationship with a supervising physician is essential to the role of the PA. "<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Association canadienne des adjoints au médecin |url=https://capa-acam.ca/about-pas/ |website=web page |access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref> Physician assistants may be compared to the role of nurse practitioner by the general public and may be confused as the same profession. Nurse practitioners in Canada practice under an advanced nursing model.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.longwoods.com/content/22268/nursing-leadership/a-historical-overview-of-the-development-of-advanced-practice-nursing-roles-in-canada|title=A Historical Overview of the Development of Advanced Practice Nursing Roles in Canada|first1=Sharon|last1=Kaasalainen|first2=Ruth|last2=Martin-Misener|first3=Kelley|last3=Kilpatrick|first4=Patricia|last4=Harbman|first5=Denise|last5=Bryant-Lukosius|first6=Faith|last6=Donald|first7=Nancy Carter and Alba|last7=DiCenso|date=December 1, 2010|journal=Nursing Leadership (Toronto, Ont.)|volume=23 Spec No 2010 |pages=35–60 |doi=10.12927/cjnl.2010.22268 |pmid=21478686 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Physician assistants practice under a medical model, similarly modeled after medical school (physician) education.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2009|title=Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Scope of Practice and National Competency Profile|url=https://capa-acam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/NCP_en_sept20092.pdf|access-date=2021-04-03|website=capa-acam.ca}}</ref> Nurse practitioners practice within their defined specific scope of practice autonomously and sometimes collaboratively. The defined scopes of a nurse practitioner include the areas of (family care, adults and paediatrics). Physician assistants are permitted to practice in all medical specialties by mirroring the practice of a physician with a full range of skills and scope by practicing both autonomously as a clinician and collaboratively with physicians when required. Some examples of practice areas for physician assistants include (emergency medicine, critical care medicine, cardiology, psychiatry, community and family medicine, neurology, surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, oncology, gastroenterology, military medicine, respirology, dermatology, women's health and many more specialities). Physician assistants may perform certain roles which have been traditionally only provided by physicians in clinical practice, making the PA's medical training over other providers unique in this regard.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

{{Disputed|date=April 2023}}

==== Compensation (Canada) ====
Physician assistant salaries in civilian practice in Canada are relatively new and can range from approximately $80,000 CAD for entry level positions to $142,000 CAD a year for experienced providers which are not on call and up to $178,000 CAD for experienced providers which are on call.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pcam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Collective-Agreement-between-WRHA-and-PCAM-FULLY-EXECUTED.pdf|title=COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT |date= 2017|website= www.pcam.ca|access-date=2021-04-04}}</ref> The physician assistant profession is newer to civilian practice in Canada. The compensation report published in 2019 by the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants outlines the typical salaries across Canada being an entry median salary of approximately $80,000 CAD and an experienced median salary of approximately $105,000 CAD.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019|title=The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants - Compensation Report - 2019|url=https://capa-acam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PA-Compensation-2019.pdf|access-date=2021-04-03|website=capa-acam.ca}}</ref>

==== Regulation (Canada) ====
Physician assistants are currently practicing across Canada in the Canadian Armed Forces as commissioned officers in domestic and international environments and have been in practice since the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2016/06/canadian-armed-forces-creates-new-officer-occupation-for-physician-assistants.html|title=Canadian Armed Forces creates new officer occupation for Physician Assistants|first=National|last=Defence|date=June 3, 2016|website=gcnws}}</ref> Physician assistants outside of the Canadian Armed Forces practice usually in the public health care system in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Alberta.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} Physician assistants have been regulated in Manitoba since 1999 and in New Brunswick since 2009<ref>{{cite web |url= https://capa-acam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Historical-Events_Sept_2017_FINAL.pdf|title= Canada's Physician Assistant Historical Timeline|date=2017 |website=capa-acam.ca |access-date=2021-04-04}}</ref> and are registrants of their respective provincial college of physicians and surgeons. Physician assistants in Ontario were introduced in 2007 to the public health system as a joint venture between the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Ontario Medical Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.healthforceontario.ca/en/Home/Health_Providers/Physician_Assistants?_ga=2.196839212.1021625597.1593876282-472451766.1593876282|title=Physician Assistants|website=www.healthforceontario.ca}}</ref> In PEI, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, PA is a regulated profession.
Physician assistants are represented by the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, which originally was formed in October 1999.<ref name="CAPA history" />
As of 2023, PAs scope of practice in Canada is described at their website:
:The PA's scope of practice is determined on an individual basis and formally outlined in a practice contract or agreement between the supervising physician(s), the PA and often the facility or service where the PA will work. Activities may include conducting patient interviews, histories and physical examinations; performing selected diagnostic and therapeutic interventions or procedures; and counseling patients on preventive health care.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}