Information is compiled from the following webpage: A Patient’s Guide to the Physician Assistant. Please note that these are just some notable differences among the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| CATEGORY | NURSE PRACTITIONER (NP) | PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) |
ALLOPATHIC OR OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (MD/DO)
|
| Total Post High School Education | 6-8 years | 4-6 years | 8 years |
| Prerequisite Education | B.S. in Nursing (some exceptions) and clinical hours |
B.A. or B.S. and clinical hours (for most) |
B.A. or B.S.
(strongly recommended) |
| Entrance Exams | May or may not be required | GRE or PACAT (some may accept MCAT) | MCAT |
| Application Timeline | Varies | Standard | Accelerated |
| Time in Classroom* | 500 hours | 1000 hours | 2 years |
| Time in Clinic* | 500-700 hours | 2000 hours | 2 years |
| Residency | None | Optional (1-2 years depending on specialty) | 3-8 years |
| Degree or Certification Awarded | Master's Degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | Physician Assistant Certified (PA-C) |
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or
Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) |
| Recertification | 1000 professional and practice hours AND ~15 CE credits/year OR exam every 5 years |
100 education hours every 2 years AND exam every 10 years |
MD: 50 education hours every year & ABMS certification recommended
DO: 120 education hours every 3 years & ABMS certification recommended |
| Salary Range | $80,122 - $167,752 | $47,944 - $163,363 |
$122,325 - $547,018 (varies greatly by specialty)
|
| Job Growth | 37.10% | 34.60% | 9.20% |
| Independent Practitioner |
MOST STATES
|
X | |
| Complicated or High Risk Cases | VARIES | ASSIST | X |
| Perform Surgery | ASSIST | ASSIST | X |
| Deliver Babies | X | VARIES BY STATE | X |
| Write Prescriptions | X | X | X |
| Conduct Physical Exams | X | X | X |
| Diagnose | X | X | X |
| Treat Illness | X | X | X |
| Order and Interpret Tests | X | X | X |
| Patient Counseling | X | X | X |
*Varies from school to school or program to program
Information is compiled from the following webpage: all Allied Health Schools. Please note that these are just some notable differences between the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| CATEGORY | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT) | |
| Total Post High School Education | 6-7.5 years | 7+ years |
| Prerequisite Education | B.A. or B.S. if applying to doctoral-level programs; some master-level programs also require it; nonetheless, a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended |
B.A. or B.S. is highly recommended
|
| Direct Contact with Patients | May be required or recommended |
Required (30 - 200+ hours) and letters of recommendation may be required from licensed PTs
|
| Entrance Exam | GRE | GRE |
| Application Timeline | Standard | Accelerated |
| Residency | Optional (0.75 -1 year) |
Optional (0.75 - 3 years)
|
| Fellowship | None |
Optional (0.5 - 3 years)
|
| Degree or Certification Awarded | Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) |
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
|
| Salary | $73,070 - $127,109 |
$37,190 - $127,150
|
| Job Growth | 19% | 20.10% |
| Financial Aid | WICHE-eligible |
WICHE-eligible
|
| Job Duties | Help patients with daily living skills and self-care tasks (i.e., "occupations") such as getting dressed Support patients with memory loss or other cognitive issues Make recommendations about adaptive equipment Advise architects and contractors about patients' accessibility needs |
Diagnose physical problems restricting movement because of an illness or injury
Use exercises and other techniques to ease pain and boost mobility and muscle strength Develop fitness and wellness programs aimed at preventing injuries and encouraging a more active lifestyle |
Information is compiled from the following webpage: Explore Health Careers. Please note that these are just some notable differences among the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| CATEGORY | DENTISTRY | PHARMACY | OPTOMETRY |
| Total Post High School Education | 8-10 years | 6-10 years | 8+ years |
| Prerequisite Education | B.A. or B.S. is highly recommended | Minimum 2 years of UG prerequisite coursework; B.A. or B.S. is highly recommended |
B.A. or B.S. is highly recommended
|
| Degree Conferred | D.M.D. or D.D.S. | Pharm.D. | O.D. |
| Residency | Optional (1-2 years) | Optional (1-2 years) |
Optional (1+ year)
|
| Curriculum | 2 years of coursework + 2 years of clinical training (and business instruction) |
3 years of coursework + 1 year of clinical internship |
2 years of basic health and visual sciences + 2 years of diagnostic and treatment techniques in clinical settings
|
| Job Growth | 16.9% | 5.4% | 13.9% |
| Salary | $100,672 - $329,746 (varies greatly depending on specialty) |
$101,338 - $164,611 | $100,194 - $167,710 |
| Financial Aid | WICHE-eligible | WICHE-eligible | |
| Application Timeline | Accelerated | Accelerated | Accelerated |
| Entrance Exam | DAT | PCAT
PCAT will be ending Fall 2024 cycle! |
OAT |
| Work Setting | Most dentists become general practitioners and work in private practice, group practices, or hospitals | Public or Private |
Most optometrists work in private practice, either solo, in an associate partnership, or as part of a group
|
| Working Conditions | 10% of dentists are either engaged in teaching, research, or related positions; they typically work the regular 40-hour weeks.
The other 90% of dentists are engaged in private practice. There is great flexibility in establishing their office hours and work schedules. Full-time dentists spend approximately 36 hours per week in their practices, of which 33 hours/week is spent treating patients. |
Most full-time pharmacists work 43 hours per week and some, including self-employed pharmacists, work 50-hour work weeks.
Many pharmacists spend most of their workday on their feet. Many community and hospital pharmacies are open for extended hours or around the clock, so pharmacists may work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Consultant pharmacists may travel to nursing homes or other facilities to monitor patients' drug therapy. |
Optometrists work in settings (usually their own offices) that are clean, well-lit and comfortable. Most full-time optometrists work about 40 hours a week. Many work Saturdays and evenings to suit the needs of patients. Emergency calls, once uncommon, have increased with the passage of therapeutic drug laws expanding optometrists' ability to prescribe medications. |
Information is compiled from the following webpage: Explore Health Careers. Please note that these are just some notable differences among the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| Category | Dental Hygienist | Dentist |
| Total Post High School Education | 2-6 years | 8 years |
| Prerequisite Education | B.A. or B.S. | |
| Degree Conferred | Associate's or Bachelor's | Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) |
| Residency | Optional (~1-6 years) | |
| Curriculum | Accredited dental hygiene program | Medical School |
| Salary | $61,339 - $101,254 | $100,672 - $329,746 |
| Job Growth | 16.40% | 16.90% |
| Entrance Exam | DAT | |
| Job Duties | - Assess oral tissue and overal health - Remove plaque and stains from teeth - Preform/process dental x-rays |
- Maintain health of oral cavities and adjacent structures - Preventative diagnositic care - Perform medical procedures |
Information is compiled from the following webpage: Explore Health Careers. Please note that these are just some notable differences among the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| Category | Optician | Optometrist | Ophthalmologist |
| Total Post High School Education | 0 | Optometry School (~4 years) | Medical School (~4 years) |
| Prerequisite Education | minimum high school degree; some colleges offer a certificate or associate's degree | B.A. or B.S. | B.A or B.S. |
| Degree Conferred | Doctor of Optometry (OD) | Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) | |
| Residency | Optional (~1+ year) | ~ 3-4 years | |
| Curriculum | 2 years of coursework + 1 year of clinical examinations + 1 year of clinical training | 2 years of coursework + 2 years of clinicals | |
| Salary | $22,214 - $92,414 | $100,194 - $167,710 |
$122,325 - $547,018 (varies greatly by specialty)
|
| Job Growth | 12.30% | 13.90% | 9.20% |
| Entrance Exam | OAT | MCAT | |
| Job Duties | Fit, supply, and adjust eyewear prescribed by optometrists or ophthalmologists | -Primary healthcare providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eyes and related structures. -Prescribe and fit prescription glasses and contact lenses. -Scope of surgical practice is more limited. |
- Medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and defects, including surgery. -Licensed to perform a wider variety of surgeries compared to optometrists. -Referred to optometrists for follow-up treatments. |