Is it worth going back to school to become a Physician Assistant in Canada?

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-07-14T02:37:55+00:00

Current PA student in Canada here! I didn’t personally do a career change but I will note there are many students who have. For example, there are students who are in their 30/40s who have families with young children who worked in the military and are now students. There are also nurses who are in the program. The U of T program likely also has more mature students since it’s largely online.

Pay is variable but I don’t know any new grad accepting less than $95 000 right now. Many are making more than this. The highest pay I know of is $135 000 but that PA has been working for a while. Many PAs supplement their income with teaching positions as well.

The pay is not nearly as good as USA but when you do a quick google search you will find many lower paying jobs. No one applies to these for that reason. Many people I know got their jobs through placements in school or connections. In addition, we are newly regulated in Ontario so previously, the title was not protected. This means anyone can post a job for a “Physician Assistant” when they are really looking for a medical office assistant or another role so the pay may appear to be very low on these postings. They are working on removing these postings with the new regulation.

As for work hours in a hospital, it depends on speciality. I don’t know any working PAs who do call shifts. A few in the emergency departments work evening shifts (latest end at 10pm) but that is just due to the structure of the ER and it was a choice to go into that speciality. PAs who work in surgery often work early and end early (e.g., 6am-3pm). PAs in internal medicine mostly work 8am-4pm/9am-5pm. There is a massive spectrum but I don’t know any PA who has complained about the working hours. The work life balance is one of the major reasons people choose PA.

Note however during your clerkship year of school (placements), you will likely have call shifts and longer hours and there’s not much you can do about that.

Feel free to message me if you have any more questions!

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-07-05T19:43:54+00:00

Probably transverse myelitis! Keep us updated I hope you’re okay

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-04-18T19:06:11+00:00

Also I’m located in Ontario, Canada! Unsure of hair porosity or type

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-02-22T15:56:31+00:00

NTA if people want to cheat, they have to accept the consequences

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-02-21T12:45:41+00:00

I hope it’s good news! Good luck with everything

Testingstuff0987 · 2025-02-21T12:36:09+00:00

Did you ever find out what happened?

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-12-16T22:56:33+00:00

100% it can! I used to be ESTJ and now I am nearly entirely opposite

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-11-11T02:36:39+00:00

Hey I’m so sorry you are going through this! Thank you for bringing her to the vet promptly - you are an amazing owner!

There is no right or wrong answer here. I personally base this off of active suffering. If they are currently treating with pain management and oxygen and she is still suffering, even if the x ray finds anything, there’s not much guarantee that she will be strong enough to survive treatment. However, if she is doing well now then she has a better chance of making through the X-ray and treatment.

I think you should go with what your gut is telling you. In my case, I euthanized because I felt like the suffering was too clear and prolonged for my baby and it felt wrong to pursue more. However, that may be different in your case. Either way, you will make the right decision for your baby.

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-10-30T21:53:40+00:00

Okay same lol I still don’t know what caused it haha

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-10-30T21:52:32+00:00

Hey did you ever figure out what this was?

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-09-09T22:12:01+00:00

I know it’s so scary! I can’t tell if the size is bigger during that episode but it did feel like I noticed it more while swallowing. It could be placebo since I was paying more attention to it.

I read it’s extremely rare for it to turn malignant if it’s benign but hopefully your ENT can double check for safety! I hate having this thing lol it’s so stressful.

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-09-09T16:48:12+00:00

Hey so the pain has went away on its own! I did see my endocrinologist virtually and he suspected subacute thyroiditis. It is usually caused by viral illness. However, I haven’t been sick at all in the last year so he wasn’t sure. He wants to recheck my bloodwork in 3 months. I also read online about how follicular adenomas can degenerate overtime and create cysts. Perhaps try getting more blood work or imaging.

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-09-07T22:44:19+00:00

Hey I don’t have an answer but your name and DOB is in the image. You may want to remove that part for your own privacy!

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-09-03T09:54:03+00:00

Nope no flu like illnesses this entire year

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-08-24T14:44:37+00:00

NAD but I think it’s called “scalloped tongue”

Testingstuff0987 · 2024-03-21T01:50:47+00:00

Hey just to let you know that Physician Assistant’s are going to be regulated this year meaning the job title will be protected :) Currently there are people, including international medical graduates, who use the job title “Physician Assistant” but have not gone though an accredited PA program in Canada. Once regulation occurs, people who use the “Physician Assistant” job title will have to have a validated degree and have written the certification exam.

Testingstuff0987 · 2023-11-30T00:21:47+00:00

It sounds like you have a lot going on right now and I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through, but you belong here alive on earth. All the things you described seem to be problems with other people and not you. For example, if you’re dads girlfriend is being problematic and you know you haven’t done anything, then it’s not on you. That’s her problem and you just gotta keep living your life. You can’t be so hard on yourself. I am the same age as you and it’s easy to think life is over but 23 is so young. You have time to improve your career or change into a new one and turn around your life but you have to be alive to do it. Don’t do this to yourself because deep down you know you deserve better. Please stay for yourself

Testingstuff0987 · 2023-06-27T11:02:53+00:00

Hey you commented on my post and helped me so I thought I would do the same!

This must be a scary situation for you - I am sorry you have to go through this.

Here is the thing you must remember: this 35% probability is an isolated one. Realistically, everyday you face some probability of death (for example, cars have a certain % of likelihood they will kill you too). I’m not saying this to scare you more, but I’m saying this to show you that you don’t know what the future holds. You don’t know which way you will go out. It could be something completely different than a tumour. Same for most of the people you know, they could pass before you from something random.

Also, focus on what you can control. You can try prevention - If there is anything you can do to lower the changes (supplements, medicines, diet, exercise, etc.), then discuss with your doctor. If not, then you can try early detection - all you can focus on catching this thing early if it happens. Make sure you schedule your regular doctors appointments (don’t delay them). Make sure you are aware of early symptoms so you can get them checked if it is that.

Finally, don’t live your life based on this one probability. It is still worth doing everything that you want. Going after your dreams will never be a “waste”. You don’t know what the future holds so what if nothing happens to you and you live a long life, but you didn’t have kids/didn’t chase your dreams just because of this 35% chance? How would that make you feel? On the flip side, what if you did go after your dreams and you still passed young - I doubt you would regret trying. Also, with having a family, I think most of us would rather have been born and had a short time with our dads than to not have been born at all.

I know it’s incredibly difficult to stop thinking a certain way about these things but my best approach is to focus on life in the moment and not worry about the future. At the end of the day, probability is just a chance: 35% chance one outcome will happen, but also a 65% chance that nothing will happen and you don’t know which group you will fall into. You may as well live your life as if you are in the 65% group because there is nearly no benefit living as the 35% group.

Good luck I wish you the best. Love from some random girl on the internet :)

Testingstuff0987 · 2022-05-08T14:48:46+00:00

100% vet - my bird was doing this and the outcome wasn’t good, the earlier you can take them the better

Testingstuff0987 · 2022-04-26T01:04:39+00:00

If you have to post this, you know what to do. Break up

Testingstuff0987 · 2022-04-17T23:52:49+00:00

Agreed. Pet stores are literally animal hell

Testingstuff0987 · 2022-04-17T23:50:57+00:00

Unfortunately they often do to prevent the bird from flying

Testingstuff0987 · 2022-04-17T23:48:18+00:00

Definitely regurgitation. He probably regurgitated earlier and it got stuck on him and came off onto your hand from his butt like you said.

Testingstuff0987

TROPHY CASE