29-1071.00 · Task explorer
Physician Assistants: reported tasks and exploration worksheet
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Use the skill profile to plan your next practice →
Read the task inventory
This source lists 12 tasks, including 12 marked Core and 0 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.
Task source dates: 08/2021.
12 tasks shown
Core · Task 4075 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
Core · Task 4074 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
Core · Task 4078 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
Core · Task 4076 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
Core · Task 4073 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
Core · Task 4077 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
Core · Task 4080 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
Core · Task 4079 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
Core · Task 4083 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Visit and observe patients on hospital rounds or house calls, updating charts, ordering therapy, and reporting back to physician.
Core · Task 4081 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.
Core · Task 4082 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Supervise and coordinate activities of technicians and technical assistants.
Core · Task 4084 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert
Order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment.
Make the shortlist useful
- Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
- For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
- Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.
The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.