Rhode Island Becomes 25th State in PA Licensure Compact, Marking Major Moment in Compact Adoption
June 15, 2026
On June 12, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed HB 7127 into law, making Rhode Island the 25th member of the PA Licensure Compact. This officially brings the PA Licensure Compact to half the nation, a major achievement since the compact’s model language was finalized and states began introducing language in December 2022.
This also fulfills a promise made by the state as part of its Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application, marking another RHTP-driven win for the PA profession.
“This milestone affirms our state’s commitment to strengthening patient access, modernizing licensure mobility, and supporting a resilient healthcare workforce. The Compact will help ensure that physician assistants can respond more rapidly to workforce shortages, fill critical gaps in primary care, and support continuity of care for the more than 100,000 patient encounters Rhode Island PAs deliver each year,” said Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants Director of Advocacy and Government Relations and Associate Executive Director Jim Carney, PA, DFAAPA. “It also positions Rhode Island as a leader in adopting forward‑thinking policies that reflect the growth of the PA profession, which has expanded from a small group of 25 early practitioners in our state to more than 800 licensed PAs today.”
The PA Licensure Compact creates a streamlined pathway for PAs to practice in participating states without needing to undergo duplicative, state-by-state licensure processes. The aim is to not only reduce administrative burdens for practicing PAs, but to improve workforce mobility and access to high-quality, timely care for patients across the country.
With 25 states now participating, and several compact bills still active in various legislatures, the PA Licensure Compact continues to make headway. It is anticipated that compact privileges will be available for PAs to use in early to mid-2027.
For more information about the PA Licensure Compact, visit AAPA’s website.
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