PA Regulatory Authority

To ensure informed regulation of the PA profession, avoid unnecessary restrictions that are anticompetitive and limit patient care, PAs must have meaningful participation in the regulation of their profession.

The PA regulatory structure varies state by state. PAs may be regulated by a separate PA Board, have a designated seat on the medical board, and/or have a PA Committee. It is vital that PAs have input on PA licensing, discipline, and regulation, like all other healthcare professions, such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and many more.

This map is intended to be a broad snapshot of the regulatory environment for PAs; please review state specific information in AAPA’s state law profile or contact the state advocacy team.

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Reduced
Moderate
Advanced
Optimal

State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board
State
- Regulatory Structure
- PA Board/Committee Membership
- PA Authority over Licensure
- PA Authority over Discipline
- PA Authority over Regulation/ Rulemaking
- PA(s) on medical board

Please note, several states have both an allopathic and osteopathic medical board. At this time, both boards currently fall into the same category listed above.

Practice Categories

Optimal – Fully autonomous PA board that handles all licensing, discipline, and regulatory functions related to PAs in the state.
- + denotes state(s) with a fully autonomous PA board with a PA-majority membership.

Advanced – PA board with partial autonomy over licensing, discipline, and regulatory functions related to PAs in the state.

Moderate – PA committee with some limited autonomy over licensing, discipline, and regulatory functions or a voting PA member on the medical board.

- * denotes state(s) with a PA on the board that is subject to restrictions

Reduced – PA participation is limited to an advisory capacity only.

How its Calculated:

Regulatory Structure: Shows if PAs serve on a PA Board or a PA Committee. Please note, some states use alternative language such as council or taskforce, which are classified as “Committee” in this map.

PA Membership: Membership may be specified in law or regulation and often includes PAs, physicians, other healthcare providers, and/or public members.

Minority indicates when PA representation is less than half of the total number of members.
Equal indicates when PA representation is exactly half the total number of members.
Majority indicates when PA representation is more than half the total number of members.

Authority over Licensure, Discipline and Regulation/Rulemaking: The primary function of a regulatory body is to license, discipline and regulate the profession. The more authority the PA board/committee has in each category, the more the profession is engaged.

Full: PA board/committee has complete authority.
Partial: PA board/committee has partial input.
Advisory: PA board/committee serves only in an advisory capacity.
None: PA board/committee has no input.