More than one-third of both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) said in surveys conducted on behalf of the AMA that they have switched the specialty in which they provide care at some point during their career.

While most nurse practitioners and physician assistants are trained to practice primary care, overwhelming majorities said additional formal training to gain the knowledge, acumen and skills needed to help provide care in the new specialty area was rarely pursued.

The findings—published last week in conjunction with the 2026 AMA State Advocacy Summit held in Southern California—shed light on a rising trend in U.S. health care that stands in stark relief with the rhetoric often advanced by nonphysician providers in their push to expand their scope of practice in ways that can undermine the physician-led care team.

My latest for the AMA. Read the whole shebang.