Certification & Licensure

Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure in all 50 states including the District of Columbia and U. S. Territories (see link below). Licensure procedures for PAs vary widely from state to state. PAs applying for a license must typically meet several core licensure requirements, including graduating from an accredited PA educational program, passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and providing proof of national certification, providing information regarding prior practice (if applicable), and paying associated fees. Many states also require PAs to undergo fingerprinting and/or a background check. However, PA applicants may be required to complete additional actions prior to licensure. There is also a significant variation (between 2-16 weeks) in the time it takes for state licensing boards to process, approve, and issue a license.

Students are strongly advised to review the PA licensure requirements for any jurisdiction they are intending to become licensed in by contacting the state authority responsible for PA licensure and/or reviewing the licensing authority’s website.

Licensure is dependent upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE), administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Only students who have graduated from programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) may sit for the PANCE.

Licensing Eligibility Adapted From AAPA Licensure by State

State

Program Meets Requirements of Licensing Eligibility

Alabama

Yes

Alaska

Yes

Arizona

Yes

Arkansas

Yes

California

Yes

Colorado

Yes

Connecticut

Yes

Delaware

Yes

District of Columbia

Yes

Florida

Yes

Georgia

Yes

Hawaii

Yes

Idaho

Yes

Illinois

Yes

Indiana

Yes

Iowa

Yes

Kansas

Yes

Kentucky

Yes

Louisiana

Yes

Maine

Yes

Maryland

Yes

Massachusetts

Yes

Michigan

Yes

Minnesota

Yes

Mississippi

Yes

Missouri

Yes

Montana

Yes

Nebraska

Yes

Nevada

Yes

New Hampshire

Yes

New Jersey

Yes

New Mexico

Yes

New York

Yes

North Carolina

Yes

North Dakota

Yes

Ohio

Yes

Oklahoma

Yes

Oregon

Yes

Pennsylvania

Yes

Rhode Island

Yes

South Carolina

Yes

South Dakota

Yes

Tennessee

Yes

Texas

Yes

Utah

Yes

Vermont

Yes

Virginia

Yes

Washington

Yes

West Virginia

Yes

Wisconsin

Yes

Wyoming

Yes

U.S Territories

American Samoa

Yes

Guan

Yes

Northern Mariana Islands

Yes

Puerto Rico

Yes

US. Virgin Islands

Yes

 

PA Resource Links

Physician Assistant History SocietyPhysician Assistant Education Association‌‌American Academy of PAsNational Commission on Certification of Physician AssistantsNew York State Society of Physician AssistantsAccreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant