Which state has the greatest increase in PAs?

• A. New York
• B. California
• C. Mississippi
• D. Florida

Answer: (C)

Growth of the PA workforce across states is most meaningful when looking at where the increase over time is largest. Mississippi stands out because, in the data shown, its PA numbers rise more rapidly than those of the other states over the measured period. This rapid growth typically reflects a combination of factors: more PA education or affiliating sites within the state, more graduates entering practice, incentives or programs that pull PAs to underserved areas (often a focus in rural states), and practice environments that allow PAs to take on expanding roles. While larger states like New York and California may have higher total PA counts, their growth rate over the same period isn’t as steep as Mississippi’s in this dataset, so they don’t show the greatest increase. Florida’s growth is solid but not as pronounced as Mississippi’s in this context.