State-by-State Variations in PA Licensure: A Policy Analysis

State licensure procedures for PAs (physician assistants) vary significantly, as does the average time necessary for states to process a PA license. This article discusses these variations and presents evidence that states with the highest number of extra requirements for PA licensure tend to have longer license processing times. It also includes an analysis showing that states with modernized PA practice laws (e.g., laws that allow PAs to practice to the full extent of their education and experience) tend to have fewer extra licensure requirements. Finally, this article discusses potential benefits of reducing extra PA licensure requirements, including mitigation of health care practitioner shortages without compromising patient safety and greater adoption of the Uniform Application (UA) for PAs.