Can I go from physician assistant to a full-fledge physician?

I'm really interested in working in the medical field, working with patients, diagnosing problems/diseases, writing prescriptions, ect etc.

It would seem becoming a physician would be the perfect choice, but right now in my life I'm not committed to going to school for 11+ years. So I'm looking into becoming a Physician assistant. They do all the things physicians can with practically no supervision (most work without a physician on site), can earn over 100k+ a year, and go to college for 6 years at the most.

I'm wondering, though, if later on down the line I want to become a true physican, would my education up to that point count towards med school or would I have to start the full 11+ years over?

Also, if you have any experience with nurse practitioners/ physician assistants, any advice/comments on this career choice would be fantastic! Thanks much

While some PAs do go on to medical school (and they certainly have an edge there--already can do physical exams, have a sound medical background, etc) most stay as PAs--that is the career they want (and PA school does not trim any time off of med school). I would NEVER advise going to PA school as a stop-gap career until you can get into Med school--you would be depriving someone of a scare slot in a career they truly want. On the other hand, you might really love being a PA (BTW/ if a MD is a "true" physician, are you implying a PA is a "false" one? Loose that thought--they are separate entities and PAs tend to be insulted when asked by patients about the "real doctor".)
Now, about that assistant thing...really I don't assist anyone--I see my own patients, order my own tests, do my own procedures, make my own diagnosis. If I have questions, then I ask the MD--a wonderful resource & I wouldn't have it any other way. And the others are incorrect, in that depending on state law, MDs do not have to be on site at all (its nice tho). In Cal and Maryland (the states I wok in) they only need to be available by electronic . communication. Healthcare is a team approach, in my opinion, not a competition. I have also had plenty of MDs ask my opinion over the years as well....
Look at this career as a career for what it is, not a stepping stone. Good luck

I think that you are confused. Listen to the name: Physician's ASSISTANT. That means what? C'mon, I know you know.....they assist.......the......the what?.......they assist the ..........physician. Good! In order to do that you must...........what must you do?......C'mon.....what must you do in order to assist someone?.......that's right! You must work with them. Physicians Assistants require the supervision of a licensed physician. Yes, they can make good money if they get into a good specialty. Again, this depends on the physician.
Getting into a competitive and quality PA program is just a hard as getting into med school sometimes (although, funny story, I got into med school and was turned down for a PA program, go figure...) so you are better off shooting for both and taking the better offer.

You are obviously under a delusion of what a physician's assistant does...they DO NOT do everything a physician does.

PA school and medical school is not the same thing..if you ever wanted to switch over, you would have to go to medical school and complete a residency just like anyone else that has a Bachelor Degree. You do not get extra points in medical school, other than for admission purposes.

PA's DO NOT work with no supervision...they must work, in every state, by law, under the supervision of a doctor. Most DO NOT work without a physician on site...they work in hospitals where there is ALWAYS a physician on site.

You seem to be under the impression that PA school is easy, and it's not.

I would highly encourage you to talk to someone that has been in the practice for a number of years and not rely what's on Y!A's