Nomenclature

The occupational title of physician assistant and physician associate originated in the United States in 1967 at Duke University in North Carolina.

• In the United States, a certified PA may add "C" at the end of their credentials (PA-C). This credential is awarded upon the successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) administered by the national commission on certification of physician assistants and subsequently certification with the respective medical board or equivalent in the state which the physician assistant intends to practice. In a few select states, the title (PA-R) is used as an equivalent of (PA-C).

• In Canada, a certified PA may add "CC" at the beginning of their credentials (CCPA) which refers to Canadian Certified Physician Assistant. This credential is awarded upon the successful completion of the Canadian physician assistant entry to practice certification examination administered by the physician assistant certification council of Canada (PACCC) and subsequently certification with the respective college of physicians and surgeons in the province which the physician assistant intends to practice if applicable.

• In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, they are referred to as physician associates, a change that came from previously being known as physician assistants. Certified physician associates in the United Kingdom may add "R" at the end of their credential. (PA-R) is the credential awarded upon successful completion the United Kingdom physician associate national certification examination administered by the faculty of physician associates of the royal college of physicians.

• Students undertaking physician assistant or associate training may refer to themselves as a physician assistant student, physician associate student in applicable countries, student physician assistant or student physician associate in applicable countries. PA students may add "S" at the end of their student designation (PA-S). Students may also use the corresponding year of their training in their student designation. For example, students in the second year of their physician assistant or physician associate training may use (PA-S2) as their student designation.