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Pay BillWhy Dermatology Physician Assistants Are a Key Part of Your Care Team
Quick Answer: Dermatology physician assistants (PAs) are highly trained medical providers who diagnose and treat skin conditions, perform procedures, and prescribe medications alongside board-certified dermatologists. They complete a master’s-level education, thousands of hours of clinical training, and national certification before treating patients. Seeing a PA at Schweiger Dermatology Group means faster access to expert care without a drop in quality.
Many patients hear “physician assistant” and aren’t quite sure what that means for their care. It can feel uncertain when you’re not sure whether you’re seeing “the real doctor.” The truth is that dermatology PAs are highly trained members of our care team, and they play a significant role in helping patients get seen faster without sacrificing quality.
This post covers what a PA actually is, how much training they complete, what they can do for your skin, and how our PAs work alongside our board-certified dermatologists.
What Is a Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant, or PA, is a licensed medical provider trained to diagnose conditions, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications, and treat patients, often working in close partnership with a supervising physician. PAs are certified nationally and licensed at the state level, the same way physicians are.
PAs have become an increasingly important part of medicine as patient demand has grown faster than the supply of physicians. As more PAs enter dermatology and other specialties, they help patients access care sooner rather than waiting weeks for an appointment.
How PAs Are Trained in Dermatology
Direct answer: dermatology PAs complete a master’s-level medical education along with thousands of hours of direct patient care experience, then go on to specialize in dermatology through additional hands-on training.
The path to becoming a dermatology PA typically includes:
- A master’s degree in physician assistant studies, which covers medical science, diagnosis, and treatment across specialties
- An average of roughly 3,000 hours of direct patient contact completed before graduation
- National certification and state licensure, required before practicing
- Specialty training in dermatology, often gained through structured programs after graduation
At Schweiger Dermatology Group, incoming PAs can take part in our Advanced Practice Provider Training Program, a yearlong program where they shadow board-certified dermatologists, experienced PAs, and nurse practitioners to build deeper expertise across medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
What Services Can a Dermatology PA Provide?
Dermatology PAs perform many of the same services as the supervising board-certified dermatologist or allergist they work alongside, including:
- Diagnosing and treating common and complex skin conditions
- Ordering and interpreting tests, including biopsies
- Assisting in surgical procedures
- Administering medical and cosmetic treatments
- Prescribing medications for conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis
- Performing skin cancer screenings and other preventive checks
PAs are known for spending time on patient education and preventive care, helping patients understand their skin, not just treat a single visit’s concern.
Dermatology PA vs. Dermatologist: What’s the Difference?
Both dermatology PAs and dermatologists are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat skin concerns, but their training paths and roles are different. A dermatologist is a medical doctor who has completed medical school, residency training in dermatology, and board certification. A dermatology PA completes a master’s-level PA program, national certification, state licensure, and additional dermatology-focused training while working in collaboration with a supervising dermatologist.
| Dermatology PA | Dermatologist |
|---|---|
| Licensed medical provider with master’s-level PA training | Medical doctor with dermatology residency training |
| Diagnoses and treats many common skin, hair, and nail conditions | Diagnoses and treats the full range of medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology conditions |
| Can prescribe medications, order tests, perform biopsies, and provide preventive screenings | Provides direct physician oversight and manages the most complex or specialized cases |
| Commonly manages acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, rashes, warts, skin checks, minor procedures, and follow-up care | Becomes directly involved for complex diagnoses, advanced skin cancers, complicated surgical cases, unusual presentations, or cases that require physician-level review |
| Works in close partnership with a supervising dermatologist | Supervises and collaborates with PAs as part of a team-based care model |
In many cases, a PA can manage the full visit from evaluation to treatment plan. For example, patients may see a PA for acne treatment, eczema flares, psoriasis management, rosacea, mole checks, wart treatment, rashes, medication follow-ups, biopsies, and certain cosmetic or medical procedures.
A dermatologist may become directly involved when a condition is especially complex, when a diagnosis is unclear, when advanced surgical treatment is needed, or when a patient has a more serious concern such as melanoma, aggressive skin cancer, severe inflammatory disease, or a condition that is not responding as expected. This collaboration helps patients get timely care while still having access to physician expertise whenever it is needed.
How PAs Work Alongside Board-Certified Dermatologists
Direct answer: dermatology PAs work in close partnership with a supervising physician dermatologist, consulting on complex cases and ensuring every patient’s care meets the same clinical standard.
This team-based model means a PA isn’t working in isolation. If a case needs a dermatologist’s direct involvement, whether that’s a complicated diagnosis or a surgical procedure, our PAs coordinate with the supervising dermatologist to make sure patients get the right level of care. This structure is part of how our medical dermatology team is able to see more patients without compromising quality.
Benefits of Seeing a PA for Your Skin Care
Choosing to see a PA for a dermatology visit comes with real advantages:
- Faster appointment availability, since PAs help expand capacity across a practice
- Highly trained, personalized care, with PAs equipped to treat most dermatologic concerns, discuss each patient’s needs, and recommend an individualized treatment plan
- The same clinical oversight as a physician-led visit, since PAs work under a supervising dermatologist
- A team-based approach, meaning your case can be escalated to a dermatologist whenever needed
National research on patient experiences with PAs across specialties has found that patients broadly report that PAs improve access to care, add value to their healthcare team, and contribute to better health outcomes. That reflects what we see in our own practice every day.
Meet the Physician Assistants at Schweiger Dermatology Group
Our PAs bring real expertise and genuine care to every patient interaction. Here’s a glimpse of what motivates two of our team members:
Elliot Backer, PA-C, who sees patients in Edina and Plymouth, Minnesota, says forging meaningful relationships with patients is what inspired his career as a PA. His advice for anyone considering the field: shadow as many providers as you can, since there’s a wide range of settings to practice in.
Kendra Joseph, PA-C, who practices in Flatiron, New York, says the most fulfilling part of her role is educating patients about their conditions and seeing their reaction to visible improvement over time. Her top skin care tip: keep your routine simple and consistent.
You can find PAs like Elliot and Kendra across our full list of providers.
The Bottom Line
Dermatology PAs are highly trained, board-supervised providers who play a real role in getting patients seen faster without sacrificing quality of care. Whether you’re booking a routine skin check or dealing with a persistent condition, a visit with one of our PAs means expert attention backed by a full care team.
Book a Visit With Our Dermatology Care Team
At Schweiger Dermatology Group, our board-certified dermatologists and dermatology providers, including our PAs, work together to give every patient personalized, timely care. Learn more about us and our approach to patient care, or explore our providers to find the right fit for your visit. We have locations across multiple states with same- and next-day appointments available.
Schedule an appointment today, or call 844-DERM-DOC to see one of our providers.
FAQs
What is the difference between a PA and a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a physician who completed medical school and a dermatology residency, while a PA completes a master’s-level PA program and practices under a supervising physician. Both can diagnose and treat many of the same skin conditions.
Can a PA prescribe medication for skin conditions?
Yes. Licensed PAs can prescribe medications for conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis as part of their scope of practice.
How much training do dermatology PAs have?
PAs complete a master’s degree along with an average of roughly 3,000 hours of direct patient care experience before graduating, plus national certification and state licensure.
Will I always see a dermatologist, or could I see a PA?
It depends on the visit and the practice’s scheduling. At Schweiger, both dermatologists and PAs see patients, and PAs work closely with a supervising dermatologist on more complex cases.
Are PAs qualified to perform skin cancer screenings?
Yes. Dermatology PAs are trained to perform skin cancer screenings and other preventive skin checks as part of their regular scope of care.
Do PAs work under the supervision of a dermatologist at Schweiger?
Yes. Our PAs work in close partnership with a supervising board-certified dermatologist to make sure every patient’s care meets the same clinical standard.
How do I know if my appointment will be with a PA?
Your booking confirmation or provider profile will list who you’re scheduled to see. You can also review provider bios on our providers page before booking.
