Physician assistants, also referred to as physician associates, are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals, and practice on health care teams with physicians and other providers. Generally, PAs can take medical histories, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illness, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, prescribe medication, counsel on preventative care, assist in surgery and perform procedures.
The links to the right lead to maps showing a comparison of all states and territories for the following policy areas:
1. Supervision requirements, practice and prescriptive authority (shown below).
2. Scope of practice determination.
3. Adaptable proximity requirements.
4. Chart co-signatures.
5. Number of PAs supervised.
Choose a tab to explore different options. For more detailed information, please click on a state or territory.
Mobile users can use this dropdown of states if the map is too small.
Practice authority for physician assistants (PAs) includes the legally required relationship that a PA must have with a physician or other health care provider in order to practice or prescribe. Some states require a PA to be supervised by a physician or other health care provider to practice and prescribe. In some states, collaboration with a physician or other health care provider is allowed for practice and prescriptive authority. In other states, PAs can practice or prescribe without supervision or collaboration once certain requirements are met.