National PA Day Date in the current year: October 6, 2026

A physician assistant or physician associate (PA) is a type of medical practitioner in the United States and some other countries. Although PAs are not physicians, they are qualified to perform many of the routine tasks that physicians do. These tasks include examining patients, taking medical histories, diagnosing common illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and performing medical procedures. The exact scope of PA practice varies by jurisdiction.

The father of the PA profession was American physician and educator Eugene A. Stead. He was inspired by the accelerated training program for physicians that emerged in the United States during World War II due to a shortage of qualified medical personnel. Stead believed that many general physician skills could be performed by other health professionals trained in a shorter amount of time, which would allow to improve access to healthcare by addressing the shortage of primary care physicians.

Stead developed his PA training program while teaching at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The first class of PAs graduated in 1967, and the American Association of Physician Assistants was established the following year. The profession was initially named “physician assistant” because Stead envisioned PAs working under the direct supervision of physicians. However, since PAs are not literal assistants to physicians and have been given more autonomy over the years, some professional associations have adopted the name “physician associate” instead.

In the United States, one must first earn a bachelor’s degree to become a PA. While there are no requirements regarding the specific major, future PAs must complete prerequisite science courses in subjects such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, and more. Many PA programs also require prior healthcare experience that includes hands-on patient care, such as working as an EMT, paramedic, or CNA.

Most accredited PA programs take approximately three academic years and award master’s degrees. These programs combine classroom instruction with over 2,000 hours of clinical rotations, focusing on primary care. After graduating from a PA program, one must pass a certification exam and obtain a license in the state or states where they intend to practice.

In 1987, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA, now known as the American Academy of Physician Associates) established National PA Day. October 6 was chosen as the date to commemorate two significant events. First, it is the birthday of Eugene A. Stead, who was born on this day in 1908. Second, the first class of physician assistants graduated from Duke University on Stead’s birthday in 1967.

National PA Day in the United States should not be confused with Canadian National Physician Assistant Day, celebrated on November 27.