While there are many benefits that come with choosing locum tenens as a career path, one of the most popular reasons is the flexibility that comes with picking and choosing where and when you want to work. But there is one major obstacle that can hold a locum tenens provider back from working in new areas around the country: state licenses. In this blog, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about getting a physician assistant (PA) license, including some of the easiest states where it’s easiest to get approval to provide care.
How to Get a Physician Assistant (PA) License
PAs are licensed by the state they are practicing in, which means you must obtain a new license for each state in which you will be caring for patients. Every state has different requirements for PA licensure, but there are some prerequisites that are the same across the board. To become a licensed PA in any state, you must:
- Graduate from an accredited PA program.
- Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
In addition, some states require you to also have a current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), which is automatically given to you after you pass the PANCE. However, to maintain a NCCPA certification, you must earn 100 CME credits every two years and take a recertification exam once every decade.
Others require a minimum number of continuing medical education (CME) hours for licensure; many require both a specific number of CME hours and a current NCCPA certification. If you’re confused, don’t worry—we’ll take a look at PA license requirements by state in the next section.
Physician Assistant (PA) License Requirements by State
As mentioned earlier, each state has its own requirements for initial PA licensure and renewals. Here is a list of each state and its requirements, according to information provided by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA):
NOTE: Make sure to check the medical licensing board requirements for your state, as this information may not include everything you need to know.
PA License Requirements in Alabama
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
PA License Requirements in Alaska
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Arizona
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: 40 CME Hours, including 3 hours of substance abuse/addiction CME
PA License Requirements in Arkansas
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 20 CME hours per renewal period
PA License Requirements in California
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification or 50 hours of approved Category 1 (Preapproved) CME during the current renewal period
PA License Requirements in Colorado
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: N/A
PA License Requirements in Connecticut
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA Certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Delaware
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: CME hours
PA License Requirements in Florida
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 100 CME hours
PA License Requirements in Georgia
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 20 CME hours
PA License Requirements in Hawaii
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Idaho
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Illinois
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: N/A
PA License Requirements in Indiana
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Iowa
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: CME credits
PA License Requirements in Kansas
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, or certain military training
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 50 hours with a minimum of 20 hours of Category I and at least one hour from Category III, Two-year update: 100 hours with minimum of 40 hours of Category I and at least two hours from Category III.
PA License Requirements in Kentucky
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Louisiana
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Maine
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: 40 Category I CME hours
PA License Requirements in Maryland
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree or at least 120 credit hours of education at the college level
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: Minimum of 8 hours of Category 1 education on pharmacology topics
PA License Requirements in Massachusetts
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: Completion of 100 contact hours with a minimum of 40 in Category 1 of continuing education for the current registration period
PA License Requirements in Michigan
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: CME credits
PA License Requirements in Minnesota
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification or CME Credits
PA License Requirements in Mississippi
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and master’s degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: 100 CME hours over 2 years
PA License Requirements in Missouri
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and master’s degree for those graduating after 1/1/2008
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Montana
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: N/A
PA License Requirements in Nebraska
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Nevada
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: CME hours
PA License Requirements in New Hampshire
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in New Jersey
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 50 Category I continuing education credit hours
PA License Requirements in New Mexico
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in New York
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: Infection control training every four years
PA License Requirements in North Carolina
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 50 hours of National Commission On Certification Of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Category I continuing medical education (CME)
PA License Requirements in North Dakota
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Ohio
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and master’s degree (waived if PA has a current, valid PA license from another jurisdiction issued prior to 1/1/2008, or if the PA can provide evidence of graduating from an accredited program or any experience practicing as a PA for at least three consecutive years in the military)
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Oklahoma
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 20 hours of Category I approved continuing medical education
PA License Requirements in Oregon
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification for Schedule 2 drug prescription authority
PA License Requirements in Pennsylvania
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and baccalaureate degree
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: 25 hours of approved CME hours annually
PA License Requirements in South Carolina
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in South Dakota
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Tennessee
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: CME hours
PA License Requirements in Texas
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: CME hours
PA License Requirements in Utah
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Vermont
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Virginia
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in Washington
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
PA License Requirements in West Virginia
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program, and a baccalaureate or master’s degree from said PA program or graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary health care or surgery prior to July 1, 1994; or was certified by the Board as a “Type B” PA prior to July 1,1983
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: CME hours
PA License Requirements in Wisconsin
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: N/A
PA License Requirements in Wyoming
- Graduation from an accredited PA Program
- Passage of the PANCE
- Current NCCPA certification
- Renewal requirements: NCCPA Certification
How To Get a Physician Assistant License In Another State
PA programs and degrees are designed to fulfill the requirements of national certification, making it fairly easy to achieve for an out-of-state physician assistant to get a license in a second state once they’ve already achieved the core certification and education requirements to become a PA.
Additionally, some states offer PA-friendly processes for achieving temporary or permanent licensure, such as the PA License Compact.
What is the PA License Compact?
States that join the PA License Compact streamline the process for PAs in participating states to practice in another compact state. States that join the compact agree to recognize a valid PA license from other compact states.
As of March 2024, only Delaware, Utah, and Wisconsin are PA License Compact members. States that have filed legislation to enact the compact, but are not yet part of the compact, are: Colorado, Maine, Michigan. Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
What are the easiest states to get a PA license?
Based on our research, Virginia, Montana, Maryland, Kansas, Iowa take around six or less weeks to get a physician assistant (PA) license. In Utah, this process could take a certified physician around four weeks total.
Please be aware that your experience obtaining a license in these states could take longer than the time listed here, as application volumes and other factors may delay issuing a license. It’s important that if you’re seeking licensure in any state, you should start as early as possible in order to give yourself more time to ensure you’re licensed.
Physician Assistant Licensure Cost by State
States set different costs to initial and renewal of PA licenses, with fees ranging from as low as $35 to as high as over $1,000.
The Federation of State Medical Boards put together a handy list of licensure cost by state, which you can find here.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally written in May 2022 by Chris Keeley and was updated in March 2024 by Mike Connors with new information.
