Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) may be engaged in education and research.

PA/NP workforce surveys do not address academic rank for those employed at academic medical centers.

A PA/NP survey of an academic medical enterprise found that most regard academic rank as important.

Few PA/NPs had achieved academic rank.

Lack of time was the most common barrier to attaining academic rank.

Interventions are needed to help PA/NPs overcome barriers to obtaining academic career goals.