PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Physician Assistant sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
The requirements come down to a master's degree and a professional license. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $67,312 to $98,503.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the direction and supervision of a New Jersey licensed physician, performs properly delegated medical tasks consistent with the usual and customary practice of the Supervising Physician and the education, training, experience, and skill of the Supervising Physician and the Physician Assistant including those tasks designed to augment data gathering and the therapeutic capacity of the Supervising Physician; assists in reaching decisions and instituting treatment for patients; provides assistance to the Supervising Physician in the delivery of health services to patients; performs related work as required.
Examples of work
- Obtains and records case histories; performs appropriate preliminary physical examinations; presents the resulting data to the Supervising Physician, and records pertinent progress note entries.
- Performs noninvasive laboratory procedures and related studies; assists licensed personnel in the performance of invasive laboratory procedures and related studies.
- Gives injections, administers medications, and requests diagnostic studies that have been ordered, prescribed, or directed by the Supervising Physician.
- Sutures and cares for wounds, removes sutures and clips, and changes dressings.
- Provides patient counseling services and patient education consistent with orders given by the Supervising Physician.
- Assists the Supervising Physician in delivery of services to patients; records progress notes, requests noninvasive diagnostic studies, transcribes or executes studies, transcribes or executes specific orders at the direction of the Supervising Physician, and records detailed narrative case summaries.
- Assists a Supervising Surgeon in the operating room when a qualified first assistant surgeon is not required pursuant to NJAC 13:35-4.1.
- May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Successful completion of a Physician Assistant or Surgeon Assistant program approved by the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
and
Board certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
License
Applicants must possess a current, valid registration certificate as a Physician Assistant issued by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
SPECIAL NOTE
Applicants who meet the above education requirements, but who are not yet Board certified by the NCCPA, and who have applied to take the next available examination or have already taken the examination and are awaiting results, may be issued a temporary registration certificate by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners. Such applicants will be considered to have met the above requirements in their entirety only until such time as they are issued regular New Jersey registration certificates, or their temporary registration certificates expire due to failure to pass the examination.
Each Physician Assistant must meet the NCCPA requirements for continued certification in order to maintain a New Jersey registration certification.
KNOWLEDGES AND ABILITIES
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Code: P22- JMR 07/11/92
Title Reference: 078