Physician Assistant
$126KHigh match
Very high demand
Live · Guide v1.0600A · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 600ACareer Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.600A.R.04
600A · ARMY · WarrantPhysician
Physician
Assistant.
Army 600A (Physician Assistant). 2,200 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $45K–$126K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours2,200DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 60 semester hours recommended
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage4/8direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 600A background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 600A training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have11
- 01EHR→ Electronic Health Record (EHR) - such as Epic, Cerner, or Meditech
- 02Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) guidelines and equipment→ Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and related emergency medical equipment
- 03Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4)→ Telemedicine platforms and remote patient monitoring systems
- 04Joint Medical Workstation (JMeWS)→ Medical data analysis and visualization software
- 05Army Medical Department Information Management/Information Technology (AMEDD IM/IT) systems→ Hospital information systems and healthcare IT infrastructure management
- 06MODS (Medication Ordering and Dispensing System)→ Pharmacy management systems
- 07Rapid Prioritization→ Quickly assessing situations and prioritizing tasks
- 08Situational Awareness→ Keen awareness of environment and ability to anticipate potential issues
- 09Procedural Compliance→ Following established procedures and maintaining meticulous records
- 10Team Synchronization→ Coordinating with diverse teams and communicating effectively
- 11Resource Optimization→ Managing resources efficiently
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Healthcare data standards (e.g., HL7, FHIR)+HIPAA and healthcare privacy regulations+IT infrastructure basics: servers, networks, cloud+Business analysis fundamentals
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Registered Nurse
$82KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — NCLEX-RN exam
Medical and Health Services Manager
$110KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Healthcare Management degree
- — Project Management certification
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Paramedic
$45KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — EMT/Paramedic certification
- — Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Clinical Research Coordinator
$68KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Clinical Research certification
- — Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 600A training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Rapid Prioritization
As a 600A, you constantly assess and prioritize patients based on the severity of their conditions, especially in high-pressure environments like field units or clinics with limited resources. You make quick decisions on who needs immediate attention and how to allocate available resources effectively.
Transfers to
Your ability to quickly assess situations and prioritize tasks translates to civilian roles where critical decision-making under pressure is essential. You can efficiently manage multiple responsibilities and ensure the most urgent matters are addressed promptly.
Situational Awareness
You maintain a high level of awareness of your surroundings, including patient conditions, resource availability, and potential risks in various medical settings. This allows you to anticipate problems and make informed decisions to ensure patient safety and effective treatment.
Transfers to
Your keen awareness of your environment and ability to anticipate potential issues makes you highly valuable in roles requiring vigilance and proactive problem-solving. You can quickly adapt to changing circumstances and maintain control in dynamic situations.
Procedural Compliance
Adherence to strict medical protocols and regulations is paramount. As a 600A, you ensure all procedures, treatments, and documentation meet established standards, minimizing errors and ensuring patient safety.
Transfers to
Your dedication to following established procedures and maintaining meticulous records is an asset in any regulated industry. You understand the importance of accuracy and consistency, making you reliable and trustworthy.
Team Synchronization
You often work as part of a multidisciplinary medical team, coordinating with nurses, medics, and physicians to provide comprehensive patient care. Effective communication and collaboration are essential for seamless operations and positive patient outcomes.
Transfers to
Your experience in coordinating with diverse teams and communicating effectively makes you a valuable team player. You can foster collaboration and ensure everyone is working towards common goals.
Resource Optimization
Whether in a field unit or a clinic, you are responsible for managing and allocating medical supplies, equipment, and personnel effectively. This ensures optimal patient care with limited resources.
Transfers to
Your ability to manage resources efficiently translates to civilian roles where budget and resource management are critical. You can make the most of available resources and find innovative solutions to achieve desired outcomes.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Clinical Research Coordinator
SOC 13-1041You've been conducting medical examinations, prescribing treatments, and documenting patient outcomes, which provides a solid foundation for managing clinical trials. Your experience in adhering to medical protocols and regulations is directly applicable to ensuring compliance in research settings. You're also adept at managing resources and coordinating with medical personnel.
Adjacent · MatchHealthcare Consultant
SOC 11-9111You've been providing medical advice, managing healthcare facilities, and optimizing resource allocation. Your leadership experience and understanding of healthcare operations make you well-suited to advise healthcare organizations on improving efficiency, quality of care, and patient outcomes.
Adjacent · MatchHealth and Safety Manager
SOC 11-9199You've been responsible for the health and welfare of troops. Your experience in preventive medical programs, hazard recognition, and training personnel in safety procedures translates directly to ensuring workplace safety and compliance with health regulations in civilian industries.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP)
Fort Sam Houston2,200hHours
104wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 60 semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Medical Ethics
- Primary Care Procedures
- Emergency Medicine
- Behavioral Health
- General Surgery
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)70%
Requires additional study on medical coding and billing, insurance procedures, and some administrative tasks specific to civilian medical offices.
- Registered Nurse (RN)40%
Requires completing an accredited nursing program (ADN or BSN) and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Military experience provides a strong foundation in patient care, but formal nursing education covers additional theory and skills.
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)80%
Requires a refresher on the most current guidelines and algorithms, and successful completion of the ACLS exam.
Recommended next · 04
- Certified Healthcare Professional (CHP)Adjacent
- Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA)Adjacent
- Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM)Adjacent
- Diplomate in Hospital MedicineAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Health Record (EHR) - specifically MHS GENESIS | Electronic Health Record (EHR) - such as Epic, Cerner, or Meditech | Data |
| Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) guidelines and equipment | Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and related emergency medical equipment | Operations |
| Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) | Telemedicine platforms and remote patient monitoring systems | Networking |
| Joint Medical Workstation (JMeWS) | Medical data analysis and visualization software | Medical |
| Army Medical Department Information Management/Information Technology (AMEDD IM/IT) systems | Hospital information systems and healthcare IT infrastructure management | Medical |
| MODS (Medication Ordering and Dispensing System) | Pharmacy management systems | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 600A into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.