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Western Canadian Trained Physician Assistants


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Hello,

 

I am looking at making a career change and doing some research on the PA career. I am hoping to speak to some PA's in Alberta to get their perspective on the market here for their services.

 

-Is there a market for it in Alberta? How hard is it to find jobs? Where do you look for jobs once trained?

-Is there any talk of a PA school coming to Western Canada, or does everyone here have to go out east to get training? I am concerned because if this was a growing profession in high demand there would be more pressure to have a school in Western Canada, which currently does not exist. Any comments here are appreciated.

-How does being a PA here in Alberta compare to being a PA in the states? There is lots of information about the career in the US but not much about the career in Western Canada. What are the in demand practice areas, and what can you/can you not do in a clinical setting here.

 

Thanks in advance for anyone willing to reply.

 

 

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I believe there is only 1-2 PA in Alberta and that there is a program in development but unsure if the program will actually happen.

 

I do not believe there are any PA in BC, and currently they are working more with getting more scope for NPs. That being said CAPA is targeting BC as the next province to raise awareness and hopefully get them integrated into the healthcare system.

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  • 2 months later...

Hello I am a PA working in Alberta, originally under the demonstration project. There are 13 civilian PAs working in AHS, a few working in the oilfields camps, and a few employed by the military. All PAs from the demonstration project are now permanent positions within AHS. There is a working group working with U of C med school developing a PA curriculum but no launch date yet. I expecting within a couple years it will be launched.

 

The demand for PAs is great as resident positions decrease. My department is looking for funding for more PAs and there are new jobs appearing. Last word was 2 in Medicine Hat and 2 more in Calgary ( believe Hospitalist and ortho positions).

 

There are 2 places to look for employment in Alberta 1. AHS job site and 2.CAPA (Canadian association of PAs) website..

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  • 4 months later...

Thanks for the info. It sounds like to much of a risk to go get trained out east with the hopes that there are jobs out west here once your done. I think its safe to say the best approach may be a wait and see approach to see if industry works with the universities to get programs up and running here in Alberta. 

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