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Physician Assistant — Certified
Physician assistant licensing requires a master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited program and passing the PANCE exam. Supervisory requirements range from traditional physician supervision to Optimal Team Practice (OTP). Prescriptive authority, including controlled substance scheduling, varies significantly by state.
51
Total States
19
OTP States
32
Require Supervision
99.4 hrs
Avg CME Hours
PA licensing involves earning a master's degree, passing the PANCE, and meeting state-specific supervisory and prescriptive authority requirements.
All PAs must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), a 300-question computer-based exam administered by the NCCPA. A scaled score of 350 is required to pass. Recertification via PANRE is required every 10 years.
The Optimal Team Practice (OTP) movement allows PAs to practice without a formal supervisory agreement in participating states. OTP states have eliminated mandatory physician supervision requirements, enabling more autonomous PA practice.
All states grant PAs prescriptive authority, but controlled substance scheduling varies. Most states allow Schedule II-V prescribing, while some restrict to Schedule III-V. DEA registration is required for controlled substance prescribing.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Credential | PANCE | OTP | Supervisory Type | Schedule II | CME Hours | Fees | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $650 | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $750 | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $750 | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V (with supervising physician authorization) | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $650 | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $550 | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 20 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $750 | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 150 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule III-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule III-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $850 | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V (under supervision); Schedule III-V (independently for 6,240+ hour PAs) | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $750 | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $800 | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $750 | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | PA-C | Yes | No | Supervisory Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $700 | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | PA-C | Yes | Yes | Collaborative Agreement | Schedule II-V | 100 | $675 | Mar 2026 |
Physician assistants often work alongside other licensed healthcare professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
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