Hire a Physician Associate

The NZPAS can help clinics and practitioners recruit and orient qualified PAs

What are New Zealand GPs saying about PAs?

As two small rural practices, we have three PAs working full time in our practices.  The decision to hire PAs was not to save money, it was to be able to continue our services.  After years of advertising and searching for both GPs and NPs, we discovered PAs and we have been exceptionally pleased with the result.  In our practices we function as a team and as such we have GPs, NPs, prescribing nurses, registered nurses, MCAs, HIP, health coach and pharmacist.  

Most of these roles need some sort of supervision at some point by general practitioners, and we have not found the supervision of PAs any more onerous than other roles.  The only issue is that they can’t write prescriptions which hopefully will change with regulation.  

Despite our diverse workforce, we continue to recruit for GPs.  Having the PAs in the practice does not detract from or undervalue other roles in the practice.  Specialist GPs are required to work with PAs, and the relationship between PAs and their GP is a close one.  

As one of these GPs I would appreciate regulation of the PA workforce to give PAs clear guidance in NZ.  I agree with Shelly, current NZPAS president, who commented in a recent article that regulation is not asking whether they should be in NZ, rather if they should be a regulated profession which seems to be a no brainer.   

In our dealings with PAs, we have found them to be hardworking, very skilled, excellent in their clinical skills and knowledge, and as such a very valuable part of our team.  There is enough work in NZ for everyone, and we feel we must embrace all these roles.”

—Dr Haley Scott, Te Aroha, New Zealand

The Benefits of Hiring a PA

Physician Associates are qualified medical practitioners who offer flexibility and benefit amongst healthcare teams. The PA profession is rapidly expanding globally and ranks high on the healthcare professions’ demand scale.  

Physician Associates are a new scope of practice and do not replace doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners or other health professionals or specialists. They complete the team. 

  • Doctors do not need to be on-site while PAs are seeing patients.
  • Collaboration or supervision can occur by electronic or by phone contact when necessary.
  • Their scope of practice varies depending on where they practice and the scope of their supervising doctor(s).

Learn more about PAs working in New Zealand.

Physician seeing a patient

What can a PA do for my clinic?

How can I hire a PA?

Want more information on hiring PAs?

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    Place an opening on our Job Board

    Many clinics are excited about hiring a physician associate. Competition is high for these highly skilled healthcare workers. NZPAS is dedicated to assisting clinics in finding and recruiting a PA and can:

    • Place a job ad on our website and FaceBook page
    • Provide extensive information packets on what to look for in a PA
    • Requirements and sample documentation for the Supervising Physician
    • Up-to-date statistics regarding average salary/compensation packages
    • Helpful tips on incorporating a PA in to the clinic team. 

    We also provide mentoring help to PAs new to NZ via a network of PAs who have been practicing in NZ.

    Check out the NZPAS Job Board to see who else is looking for a PA.

    Filling the Gap in GP Shortages

    The New Zealand Physician Associate Society (NZPAS) was incorporated in 2014 in order to represent and promote physician associates (PAs) employed within New Zealand. The Society’s primary objective is to promote the Physician Associate profession in New Zealand and to provide quality medical care to the people of New Zealand by supporting dedicated, experienced PAs in their work.