Physician Assistant Subjects List 2025: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus

Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

As healthcare members, physician assistants help doctors and other healthcare professionals in their roles. They usually offer primary medical care. A physician assistant consults patients, collaborates on treatment plans and networks with other medical professionals. Students with a background in EMS or medicine want to become Physician Assistants because of decent salaries and various opportunities.

A UG degree in Physician Assistant (BSc) requires three years of study. Students learn how to gather patient records, examine them, and aid physicians in making diagnoses to prescribe the right treatments and drugs. They will be well-prepared to support physicians by the time they graduate.

Graduate study in any medical speciality is an option after earning a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant. There are different specialisations where students can do their M.Sc. in their higher studies. The M.Sc. Physician Assistant program is a 2-year PG program that provides training to improve the communication between staff nurses and specialists or super-specialist doctors. Students pick one general speciality (medicine or surgery) and three subspecialties in this syllabus.

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List of Subjects in Physician Assistant

Typical Core Subjects for Physician Assistant

Subject Title

Subject Details

Anatomy

 

Anatomy is the study of the human body and anatomical regions.

  • Organisation of the human body

  • Skeletal system, Muscular system

  • Nervous system, endocrine system

  • Maintenance of cardiovascular and other systems of the body

  • Anatomical regions

Physiology

It includes the working and composition of the body.

  • Blood: composition, properties and functions of blood, etc.

  • Cardiovascular system: Functions, Functional Anatomy of Heart & their functions, Cardiac cycle, etc.

  • Digestive system: Functions, anatomy, the composition of digestive juices, etc.

  • Respiratory system: function, anatomy, mechanism, etc.

  • Nervous system: reflexes, histology, nerve conduction, etc.

  • Special senses: vision, blindness, smell, taste, etc.

  • Skin, excretory system, reproductive system, etc.

Biochemistry

It includes studying the body's building blocks and the balance of various elements inside our body.

  • Introduction to Apparatus, Chemical Balance

  • The Chemistry of Carbohydrates and Lipids

  • The Chemistry of Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Pathology

Haematology: Study of blood

  • Blood collection

  • Anticoagulants used in Haematology

  • Normal values in Haematology

  • Basic haematological techniques

  • The morphology of red cells

  • The morphology of leukocytes and platelets

  • Bone marrow

 

Clinical Pathology: Examination of body fluids

  • Urine examination

  • Examination of body fluids

  • Semen analysis

  • CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)

  • Stool Examination

Medical and Pharmacology

It includes learning about the medicines and the working of the medicines.

  • Infectious diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, GIT, immune system, etc.

  • Endocrinology

  • Principles of drug administration

  • Basic drug effects and classification of drugs

  • Common drugs

Surgery anesthesiology

 

It includes the concepts of surgical processes and the anaesthetic techniques to be used during surgery.

  • Metabolic response to injury

  • Wound healing

  • Electrolyte and acid-base balance, bleeding and blood transfusion

  • Benign Hypertrophy of the Prostate and Hydrocele

  • The Classification of Anaesthesia, anaesthetic agents, etc.

Microbiology

  • General Bacteriology

  • Immunology

  • Virology

  • Mycology & Parasitology

  • An outline of common bacterial diseases, their treatment, and prevention

Environmental Science and Community Medicine

Students learn about humans and their environment, which play a major role in body functioning.

  • The multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies

  • The Concept of an Ecosystem, Structure and Functions

  • Biodiversity

  • Pollution

  • "Health and disease"

  • Epidemiology

Paediatrics and Geriatrics

It deals with the study of children and elderly people.

  • Definition, population, morbidity and mortality in children, maternal, perinatal, neonatal, infant and preschool

  • Nutrition

  • Immunisation

  • Paediatric emergencies

  • Geriatrics - physiological and psychological fundamentals of the ageing process

  • Disorders of major geriatric ailments and their management

  • Degenerative joint diseases, effects of immobility

 

Detailed Syllabus for Physician Assistant

The syllabus for B.Sc. in Physician Assistants may differ from one college to another but the subjects are more or less the same. Here is a general overview of the core subjects taught from the first to eighth semesters of the course -

Semester

Subject Title

Subject Details

1 and 2.

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Physiology

Microbiology

Pathology

English

  • It focuses on identifying and describing the internal makeup of living organisms.
  • It deals with how human bodies function in a healthy state and otherwise.
  • The focus is on microorganisms and the structures, body mechanisms, and diseases they cause.
  • Pathology uses surgical specimens to research and treat diseases.

3 and 4

Medicine

Pharmacology

Surgery

Anesthesiology

Practicals

  • Medicine involves preventing, treating and improving a patient's health.
  • Pharmacology studies medication effects on biological processes and how the body reacts to them.
  • Surgery investigates and treats pathological conditions using manual and instrumental procedures.
  • Anaesthesia allows painless treatments that otherwise cause a lot of discomfort or be technically impossible.

5 and 6

Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

Neurology

Nephrology

Gastroenterology

  • Surgical treatment of diseases connected to the heart.
  • Focuses on diagnosing and treating all illnesses and diseases that affect the nervous system.
  • Studying kidney disease, transplantation and treatment.

7 and 8

Internship- 12 months

Students have the opportunity to fulfil a PA intern's responsibilities in several medical facilities, including a hospital or clinic.

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Specialisations Offered in Physician Assistant

Students in a specialised course serve as house officers to deliver patient care and gain expertise. Students learn diagnostic, curative and preventative care. As coworkers, they gather patient histories, do clinical exams, request lab tests and provide support to physicians. Some of the specialisations in Physician Assistant are:

Specialisation

Specialisation Subjects

Paediatrics

Paediatrics

Oncology

Cancer Studies

Mental Health

Psychiatry

Pathology

Pathology

Surgery

Surgery and Anaesthesiology

Emergency Care

Trauma and ER

Books and Authors Related to Physician Assistants

As Physician Assistant is a highly versatile field with many specialisations, students read a wide range of books during their graduation. Listed below are some books that are highly referred to:

Subject

Book Title

Author(s)

Physiology

Human Physiology

C.C. Chatterjee

Anatomy

Regional and Applied Human Anatomy

B.D. Chaurasia

Pathology

Practical Pathology

P. Chakraborty

Gargi Chakraborty

Paediatrics

A Textbook of Paediatrics

Orient Longman

Surgery

A Manual on Clinical Surgery

Dr S. Das

Microbiology

Textbook of Microbiology

Ananthanarayan & Panicker's

 

Physician Assistant Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Who is a Physician Assistant?

A. Physician Assistant is a member of the medical community who collaborates with physicians to deliver medical care. It's possible to locate a physician's assistant in practically every primary care and specialised medical sector. The tasks of a PA vary based on the needs of the supervising physician.

Q. How is the exam pattern for the PANCE exam divided?

A. The examination is categorised into two dimensions: • Knowledge of the diseases and disorders physician assistants encounter • Knowledge and skills related to tasks physician assistants perform when treating patients

Q. What are the subjects in B.Sc. in Physician Assistant programs?

A. The subjects in B.Sc. in Physician Assistant programs are: • Anatomy • Physiology • Biochemistry • Pathology • Clinical Microbiology • Clinical Pharmacology • Hospital Management • Medical Ethics • Anaesthesia for Specialty Surgeries • Principles of Anaesthesia • Basics of Surgery • Gastroenterology • Biostatistics • Psychiatry • Nephrology • Medicine and Pharmacology • Pulmonology • Radiology • Paediatrics

Q. Is it possible to take a Physician Assistant course after completing a B.S. in nursing?

A. Students interested in becoming physician assistants should enrol in a bachelor's degree program in biological or chemical science. After completing a B.Sc. in Nursing/B.A. in Nursing, you may also pursue a Physician Assistant degree.

Q. What are the duties of a Physician Assistant?

A. Physician assistants are often responsible for the following: • Review medical histories of patients. • Examine patients. • Arrange and analyse diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and blood tests, if necessary. • Diagnose patients' injuries and illnesses. • Set broken bones and immunise patients as needed.

Q. Is it possible to take this course online?

A. Yes, Vinayaka Mission University offers a distance-learning option for this program. It is a 3-year course. The syllabus is the same as the regular course.

Q. Which is better—B.Sc. Physician Assistant or B.Sc. Nursing?

A. B.Sc. in Nursing is a 4-year undergraduate program for medical aspirants. After completing a B.Sc. in Nursing, students may work or pursue further education. A B.Sc. Physician Assistant is a 3-year plus 1-year medical undergraduate program. Physician Assistants are trained academically and clinically to offer treatment under the supervision of specialists. One cannot claim the better course among the two as it depends on the candidate’s preferences.

Q. Does a Physician Assistant require a NEET?

A. NEET is not required to get admission into B.Sc. PA. A minimum score of fifty per cent on the 10+2 exam or its equivalent is required. They must have completed the university’s entrance test with a primary focus on Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. In some circumstances, applicants are also expected to show up for the admission test that will be given by the educational establishment.

Q. Which type of Physician Assistant is the best?

A. Cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery Physician Assistant is the best specialisation with a much wider scope. PAs complete cardiovascular and thoracic surgery practices by handling perioperative care, daily rounds, and invasive procedures.

Q. Is there any entrance exam for a Physician Assistant course?

A. The entrance examinations may be at either the national or the state level. The admissions processes at various educational institutions, such as universities and colleges, are governed by a variety of distinct norms and regulations. The following are examples of some of the most competitive admission exams: • CUCET • CPNET • PANCE DUNET • BHU NET, etc. Some colleges also provide merit-based admission on the basis of 12th board examination results.

Q. Is a licence required to practise as a Physician Assistant in India?

A. The Physician Assistant profession in India does not have an official certification yet.

Q. Do you need Maths for a Physician Assistant?

A. No. The entry criteria for the B.Sc. Physician Assistant course is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. Maths is not a requirement.

Q. Is biology compulsory for a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant?

A. Yes, the students must take Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their subjects on 10+2 boards and have a minimum grade of 55% in their board examination.

Q. What is the B.Sc. Physician Assistant Course Structure?

A. The course is designed for 3 years with 1-year internship. The subjects are divided into 6 semesters. The last two semesters are entirely dedicated to a compulsory internship in which students are given training at hospitals for better understanding. The assessment of the students is done based on annual examinations, workbooks, labs, and their behaviour over the entire session.

Table of content
  • Popular Physician Assistant Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Physician Assistant Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Physician Assistant UG Courses
  • Popular Physician Assistant PG Courses

Popular Physician Assistant Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant Colleges in India. Learn more about these Physician Assistant colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
4 L
8.15 LPA

#47 NIRF

9 Courses
2.4 L - 6 L
3.0
1 Course
3.75 L
5.0

#18 NIRF

1 Course
3.73 L
5 LPA

Physician Assistant Applications open. Apply Now

2 L
1 Course
3 L
9.8 LPA

#39 NIRF

Popular Private Physician Assistant Colleges in India

4 L
2.42 L
4.8 LPA
1 Course
1.65 L
6 LPA

#20 NIRF

8 L

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Physician Assistant. Students interested in pursuing a career on Physician Assistant, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

16 Oct ' 25

NEET 2025 Counselling Round 3 Choice Locking

30 Sep ' 25 - 16 Oct ' 25

NEET 2025 Counselling Round 3 Choice Filling

19 Aug ' 25 - 25 Aug ' 25

AIIMS BSc Paramedical Counselling: Online Accepta...

18 Aug ' 25

AIIMS BSc Paramedical Counselling: Seat allocatio...

Oct '25

Registration for NEET PG 2025 counselling round-1

TENTATIVE

Oct '25

Choice filling for NEET PG 2025 counselling round-1

TENTATIVE

15 Oct ' 25 - 24 Oct ' 25

AIAPGET 2025 counselling round-2 reporting

14 Oct ' 25

AIAPGET 2025 counselling round-2 result

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Physician Assistant.

Popular Physician Assistant UG Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Physician Assistant PG Courses

Following are the most popular Physician Assistant PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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