PA Licensure Compact Gains Momentum, Streamlining Multi-State Practice
by Greg P. Thomas, PA-C Emeritus, MPH

An initiative to simplify the process for Board Certified PAs to practice in various states continues to gain traction.

Since 2019, NCCPA has collaborated with key organizations, including the AAPA, the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Center for Interstate Compacts, a division of the Council of State Governments, to develop a PA Licensure Compact.

The Compact aims to make state PA licenses more portable. As more states join, it will become easier for PAs to practice across state lines.

For the PA Compact to be activated, a minimum of seven states must pass the appropriate legislation. That threshold was recently met with Utah, Delaware, Wisconsin, Washington, West Virginia, Nebraska and Virginia having passed such laws. At least eleven more states are considering similar legislation.

Now that seven states are on board, an oversight Commission will be formed to launch the PA Licensure Compact.

Currently, a PA who opts to practice in multiple states must apply for a license in each state individually – a process that can be time-consuming and expensive. A Compact simplifies this process. It establishes standard requirements for PAs and member states, enabling multi-state practice and centralizing the application process.

Preparations for the Compact Commission are underway, with the expectation that more states will pass the required legislation. PAs will only be able to participate in the Compact once the Commission is operational, which is expected to happen in 2025.

The pending Compact offers an additional benefit for PAs who incorporate telemedicine into their practice. Because there can be licensing challenges for PAs managing patients in multiple states via telemedicine, a Compact can help alleviate those concerns specifically for patients in included states.

NCCPA research on the profession suggests that since 2018, the number of PAs who use telemedicine in the U.S. increased to 40% from 9%, according to the 2022 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs by State.

There are similar Compacts for other health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. While the PA Compact shares some similarities with these other compacts, it was developed specifically for the PA profession through the referenced partnership.

A dedicated website for the PA Licensure Compact has been established and is regularly updated as new legislation is introduced and passed.

The site offers comprehensive details to assist PAs in understanding what the Compact implications are for them, the participation requirements and how the process will work. Additionally, it contains useful tools for PAs who may be interested in advocacy efforts for their state’s inclusion in the Compact.

As a vital partner in this effort, NCCPA will continue to inform PAs of the progress being made through our various communications channels.

Visit PACompact.org to learn more.

Greg P. Thomas, PA-C Emeritus, MPH, is a strategic advisor for NCCPA.