Top Benefits All Advanced Practitioners Should Ask For

• Malpractice Insurance — Medical liability insurance is a common Advanced Practitioner benefit, with 91% of surveyed PA employers⁽¹⁾ endorsing it as part of their incentive packages. While some Nurse Practitioners are self-employed and cover their own insurance, 72% of NPs⁽¹⁾ surveyed report that their medical liability insurance was covered by their employers as part of their Nurse Practitioner benefit package.
• Paid Vacation — Many APs are offered paid time off as part of their compensation package. According to the AANP, 77% of NPs surveyed report receiving paid vacation as part of their employment agreements⁽²⁾.
• Retirement — Retirement benefits are a popular incentive offered to many Advanced Practitioners. Whether it be a 401K or employer percentage matching program, retirement benefits were offered to 69% of NPs⁽²⁾ and 91% of PAs⁽¹⁾ seeking employment opportunities as part of their benefit packages.
• Allowances for Continuing Education & Licensure — Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowances help Advanced Practitioners keep abreast of medical changes while also meeting licensure requirements. 71% of Nurse Practitioners endorse receiving compensation for the purposes of CME, with over half of those also endorsing employer compensation of their licensure/certification expenses⁽²⁾. This Nurse Practitioner benefit can go a long way in offsetting the continually increasing costs of licensure, saving you thousands of dollars long-term.
• Professional Leave — Employer covered time off to attend professional conferences or educational meetings is an increasingly popular physician assistant benefit. This incentive is offered to around 66% of Nurse Practitioners seeking employment⁽²⁾. Incorporating professional leave options allows Advanced Practitioners to continue their education without sacrificing personal time off. This increasing education is helpful to both the practitioner and their employer as a way to stay on top of new trends and capabilities.
• Disability Insurance — Disability insurance is an additional insurance option to consider asking for along with standard health insurance. It has become increasingly popular, with 60% of PAs⁽¹⁾ and 45% NPs⁽²⁾ surveyed, as part of their incentive package.

Signing Bonuses — Many employers have added signing bonuses to their Advanced Practitioner benefit packages to entice new hires. According to a 2017 National PracticeMatch survey of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, "11% of NPs and PAs reported that they received a signing bonus for their current position." These bonuses are often sizable, averaging $11,000 for NPs, and around $8,000 for PAs. In total, both Advanced Practitioner groups averaged $9,000 in signing bonuses. When pursuing an Advanced Practitioner position, it is critical that you have a clear understanding of the standard benefits that are offered to your peers. Before you accept a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner benefits plan, review the options thoroughly and be prepared to negotiate.