Frequently Asked Questions for Licensees

When do I renew my license?
How much is the renewal fee?
If I don't receive the renewal notice, do I have to pay the renewal fee?
Is a renewal notice required to renew my license?
Can I renew my license on line?
Am I required to complete CME to renew my license?
Am I required to maintain certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)?
My license has been renewed but I have not received my renewed wallet certificate. How can I obtain proof that I've renewed my license?
How do I change my address of record?
How do I change my name?
How do I request a license verification?
My wallet certificate was lost, stolen, or destroyed. How do I get a replacement license?
Does my supervising physician need approval to supervise me?
How many PAs can a physician supervise?
What documents are required before I can practice?
What is the scope of my practice?
Can I practice independently?
How much supervision must my supervising physician provide?
Is my supervising physician required to be on-site when I'm practicing?
Am I allowed to write drug orders?
What information must be on my drug order?
Am I allowed to issue drug orders for controlled substances?
Can I use my supervising physician's DEA number on drug orders for controlled substances?
Am I required to have my own DEA number?
Is my supervising physician required to sign all of my patient's medical records?
Can I perform surgery?

1. When do I renew my license?

Physician assistant licenses are renewed every two years on the last day of your birth month. A courtesy renewal notice is sent to your address of record approximately ten weeks prior to the expiration date. Verify your current address of record and expiration date on-line, or call (916) 561-8780. Processing time for license renewals is six to eight weeks.

2. How much is the renewal fee?

$300.00. A $25.00 delinquency fee will be assessed if payment is not post-marked thirty days after the expiration date. However, if your license is not renewed by the expiration date, you may not legally practice in California.

3. If I don't receive the renewal notice, do I have to pay the renewal fee?

Yes. Failure to receive the renewal notice does not relieve you of your responsibility to renew your license prior to the expiration date. If your license is not renewed by the expiration date, you may not legally practice in California.

4. Is a renewal notice required to renew my license?

No. You may renew your license without the renewal notice by mailing a personal check, money order, or cashier check in the amount of $300 made payable to Physician Assistant Committee to the Physician Assistant Committee, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1100, Sacramento, CA 95815. Add $25.00 for the delinquency fee if you are renewing thirty days past the expiration date. Be sure to include your name, license number, and change of address if applicable. Renewals are accepted for licenses expiring within the next 90 days.

5. Can I renew my license on line?

No, we are unable to accept credit card payments or provide on-line renewals at this time.

6. Am I required to complete CME to renew my license?

No. California does not currently require Continuing Medical Education for renewal of your physician assistant license.

7. Am I required to maintain certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)?

No. California does not currently require that you maintain your national certification for renewal of your physician assistant license.

8. My license has been renewed but I have not received my renewed wallet certificate. How can I obtain proof that I’ve renewed my license?

Verify your renewed license on-line, or call (916) 561-8780. You may also request that a license verification be faxed or mailed by submitting your request for license verification with the $10 processing fee to the Physician Assistant Committee, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1100, Sacramento, CA 95815. We are unable to accept credit card payments at this time.

9. How do I change my address of record?

Address changes must be submitted to the committee in writing via fax or US mail. You can obtain an address change form on-line, or call (916) 561-8780. Remember that your address of record is available to the public. You are required to notify the committee of an address change within 30 days pursuant to California Code of Regulations section 1399.511.

If you want a replacement wallet certificate with the new address, you must submit a Request for a Duplicate License form with the $10 fee to the committee. To obtain a duplicate license request form, click HERE or call (916) 561-8780.

10. How do I change my name?

Name changes must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation, such as copy of marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal name change or naturalization papers. There is a $20 fee for replacement certificates, $10 each for the wallet and wall certificates. You can request a name change form on-line, or call (916) 561-8780.

11. How do I request a license verification?

You can verify your license status on-line, or call (916) 561-8780. You may request that a license verification be faxed or mailed by submitting a written request for license verification with the $10 processing fee to the Physician Assistant Committee, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1100, Sacramento, CA 95815. The fee should be paid by check or money order. We are unable to accept credit card payments at this time.

12. My wallet certificate was lost, stolen, or destroyed. How do I get a replacement license?

You should submit a Request for Duplicate License form with a $10 fee. You can obtain a duplicate license request form on-line, or call (916) 561-8780. We are unable to accept credit card payments at this time.

13. Does my supervising physician need approval to supervise me?

No. Any physician (either M.D. or D.O.) may supervise a PA if they have a current medical license and there are no disciplinary or probationary conditions on the physician's license prohibiting the physician from supervising a PA.

14. How many PAs can a physician supervise?

Current law limits a physician to supervising no more than four PAs at any moment in time.

15. What documents are required before I can practice?

Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations section 1399.540 requires the supervising physician to delegate in writing those medical services that the PA may provide. This document is often referred to as a Delegation of Services Agreement.

The Delegation of Services Agreement defines exactly what tasks and procedures a physician is delegating to the PA. These tasks and procedures must be consistent with the supervising physician's specialty or usual and customary practice and with the patient's health. The agreement must be completed before you start practicing. The document does not need to be submitted to the committee.

You can obtain the sample delegation of services agreement on-line, or call (916) 561-8780.

16. What is the scope of my practice?

Article 4 of the Committee's regulations addresses PA practice. You may want to review Title 16, California Code of Regulations sections 1399.540 through 1399.546 for information regarding the supervision of PAs.

The scope of a given PA's practice is limited by his/her supervising physician. Whatever medical specialty a physician practices (e.g., general practice, cardio-thoracic surgery, dermatology, etc.) limits your scope of practice. The Delegation of Services Agreement between you and your supervising physician then further defines exactly what tasks and procedures are being delegated to you. These tasks and procedures must be consistent with your supervising physician's specialty or usual and customary practice and with the patient's health and condition.

Before authorizing a PA to perform any medical procedure, the physician is responsible for evaluating your education, experience, knowledge, and ability to perform the procedure safely and competently.

A PA may not perform any of the following medical services pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 3502 (c):

• The determination of the refractive states of the eye, or the fitting or adaptation of lenses or frames.
• The prescribing or directing the use of, or using any optical device in connection with ocular exercises, visual training or orthoptics.
• The prescribing, fitting or adaptation of contact lenses.
• The practice of dentistry or dental hygiene or the work of a dental auxiliary.

A PA may perform a routine visual screening defined pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 3501 (i) as an uninvasive nonpharmacological simple testing for visual acuity, visual field defects, color blindness, and depth perception.

17. Can I practice independently?

No, you cannot practice independently. Every PA must be supervised by a licensed physician (either M.D. or D.O.). The supervising physician is responsible for all medical services provided by a PA under his/her supervision and for following each patient's progress.

18. How much supervision must my supervising physician provide?

You and your supervising physician must establish written guidelines for your supervision. Your supervising physician may choose one or more of the following four mechanisms to provide supervision as required by Section 1399.545 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

1. The physician sees the patients the same day that they are treated by the PA.
2. The physician reviews, signs and dates the medical record of every patient treated by the physician assistant within thirty days of the treatment.
3. The physician adopts written protocols which specifically guide the actions of the PA. The physician must select, review, sign and date at least 10% of the medical records of patients treated by the physician assistant according to those protocols within 30 days.
4. Or, in special circumstances, the physician provides supervision through another mechanism approved in advance by the PAC.

19. Is my supervising physician required to be on-site when I'm practicing?

No, your supervising physician is not required to be on site but must be available in person or by electronic communication at all times when you are caring for patients.

20. Am I allowed to write drug orders?

Yes. Business and Professions Code section 3502.1 authorizes PAs to issue a drug order. PAs may also administer or provide medication to a patient. The supervising physician must authorize that authority to you in the delegation of services agreement. When issuing a drug order, you are acting on behalf of and as an agent for your supervising physician.

Before you can issue drug orders, your supervising physician must first prepare and adopt a written, practice specific, formulary and protocols that specify all criteria for the use of a particular drug or device and any contraindications. The drugs listed constitute the formulary and may only include drugs that are appropriate for use in the practice.

Any variations require advance approval from your supervising physician for the particular patient before issuing a drug order.

21. What information must be on my drug order?

Business and Professions Code section 3502.1 (d) requires that a PA's written drug order contain the printed name, address, and phone number of the supervising physician, and the signature, printed or stamped name, and license number of the PA. If the drug order is for a controlled substance, it must also include your DEA number.

22. Am I allowed to issue drug orders for controlled substances?

Yes, you may issue drug orders for Schedule II through V controlled substances if your supervising physician delegated that authority to you. However, you may not administer, provide, or issue a drug order for Schedule II through V controlled substances, including refills, without advance approval by your supervising physician for the particular patient. The medical record of any patient for which you issued a Schedule II drug order must be reviewed, countersigned, and dated by your supervising physician within 7 days.

If you are authorized to issue drug orders for controlled substances, you must register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and obtain a DEA number.

23. Can I use my supervising physician's DEA number on drug orders for controlled substances?

PAs that are authorized to issue drug orders for controlled substances must register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and obtain their own DEA number.

24. Am I required to have my own DEA number?

Yes, if your supervising physician has delegated you the authority to issue drug orders for controlled substances, you must register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and obtain a DEA number.

25. Is my supervising physician required to sign all of my patient's medical records?

It depends on the method of supervision used by the physician.

If your supervising physician adopts written protocols that specifically guide the action of the PA, the physician must select, review, sign and date at least 10% of the medical records of patients treated by you within 30 days.

If protocols are not in place, then your supervising physician must either:

1. examine the patient the same day as the care is provided by you, or;
2. countersign and date all medical records of all patients cared for by you within 30 days.

26. Can I perform surgery?

Yes. If your supervising physician delegates the authority to you, you may perform surgical procedures under local anesthesia without the personal presence of your supervising physician. You may perform surgical procedures requiring other forms of anesthesia only in the personal presence of your supervising physician. You may act as first or second assistant in surgery under the supervising of the supervising physician.