ICRob0351 Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Hey guy, I'm just curious if anyone has ever worked or currently works as a PA in Virginia. I'm from CT, and I just can't stand the state anymore, and I'm thinking about moving closer to my family in VA after I graduate and pass my boards. Does anyone know if Virginia is PA friendly, or how it compares to other PA friendly states in terms of salary and scope of practice? Any info would be appreciated, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tain Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Here in Roanoke I know a good bit of PA's especially with Carilion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICRob0351 Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 So what's your opinion? I'm quite curious... As much as I despise the State of CT, it has the best PA salaries in the country, a lot of opportunity, and very PA friendly.... What has been your experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tain Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Well I don't know to much about it. I believe the median salary for PA's in Va is in the low 80's. Cost of living here is pretty cheap so that salary goes along way. Also, VA is pretty rural so of course they need PA's for those more rural clinics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tain Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 I'm actually going to be shadowing a PA in internal medicine soon, I'll let you know what I see as far as how they operate in a clinic setting here in Roanoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICRob0351 Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 Thanks, I appreciate it. My brother lives down there, and I need to get the hell out of CT... it's just a cesspool of taxes and misery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tain Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Check out Roanoke, good size town, cost of living is low, great town for health care providers because of Carilion, and the city is developing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilo Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 I've worked in Emergency Medicine in Virginia Beach and Norfolk for the past 14 years. PA salaries are lower than the national average and I think the Military prescence has a lot to do with that. They keep the cost of living lower than other coastal communities. The laws are pretty liberal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FBIDoc Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 I spent the past 4 years practicing in VA - CVICU and ER. As far as PA rules/regs it's a good state-you can do just about anything. Salaries I guess are statistically lower but I moved here from Washington State to double my salary. It also depends where you are looking...I am in Northern VA where salaries are higher, but so is the COL. Where is your family/where are you looking? There are lots of jobs here as well if you are able to go anywhere. That being said I just moved to Idaho where salaries and opportunities are even better =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meaux Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Samll world FBIDoc, as I too relocated from WA state to VA for higher pay. Im currently in the ED in Northern VA. There are plenty of jobs in VA and my scope of practice is pretty remarkable. However, I am in a pretty small town and three isnt too much to do, but; I can drive N and hit DC in about an hour or S and be in Richmond (tons of jobs there btw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drholmes Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I was recently having a conversation about practicing in VA and I understand that PAs are mainly being hired for specialties and NPs are being hired for Primary Care. Don't know if that weighs into your decision about moving to VA. From an outsider researching and confirmed by those practicing and responding to this thread; the scope seems pretty open-door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICRob0351 Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Thanks for all the helpful info guys... I plan on specializing for sure... Ideally I'd like to work on a surgical trauma team, work in the ED, or CT surgery. I would love to work in Northern Virginia, ideally near a larger, level-1 trauma center. It's really nice to hear that practice laws are permissive, that was one of my biggest concerns. Connecticut is just a suffocating state for so many reasons, and I really want out. My brother lives in Maryland just over the border, So I would like to live somewhere close to him. Does anyone know general salary figures for specialties in Virginia? Just curious. Thanks again for all the advice... it's really making me want to move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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