21 NCAC 32S .0202          QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSE

(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this Subchapter, an individual shall obtain a license from the Board before practicing as a physician assistant. An applicant for a physician assistant license shall:

(1)           submit a completed application, available at www.ncmedboard.org, to the Board;

(2)           meet the requirements set forth in G.S. 90-9.3 and has not committed any of the acts listed in G.S. 90-14;

(3)           supply a certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate if the applicant was born in the United States or a certified copy of an unexpired U.S. passport. If the applicant does not possess a certified birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport, the applicant shall provide information about the applicant's immigration and work status that the Board shall use to verify applicant's ability to work lawfully in the United States;

(4)           submit to the Board an education form that the applicant completed a Physician Assistant Educational Program. He or she shall also show proof of achieving a passing score of completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination;

(5)           pay to the Board a non-refundable fee of two hundred thirty dollars ($230.00) plus the cost of a criminal background check. There is no fee to apply for a physician assistant limited volunteer license;

(6)           submit National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) reports. These reports shall be requested by the applicant and submitted to the Board within 60 days of the request;

(7)           submit a Board Action Data Bank Inquiry report from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). This report shall be requested by the applicant and submitted to the Board within 60 days of the request;

(8)           submit to the Board, at P. O. Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619, two complete original fingerprint record cards, on fingerprint record cards supplied by the Board upon request;

(9)           submit to the Board, at P. O. Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619 or license@ncmedboard.org, a signed consent form allowing a search of local, state, and national files to disclose any criminal record;

(10)         disclose whether he or she has ever been suspended from, placed on academic probation, expelled, or required to resign from any school, including a PA educational program;

(11)         attest that he or she has no license, certificate, or registration as a physician assistant currently under discipline, revocation, suspension, probation, or any other action resulting from a health care licensing board;

(12)         certify that he or she is mentally and physically able to practice as a physician assistant;

(13)         provide the Board with two original recommendation forms dated within six months of the application, at P. O. Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619, These recommendations shall come from persons under whom the applicant has worked or trained who are familiar with the applicant's academic competence, clinical skills, and character. At least one reference form shall be from a physician and the other reference form must be from a physician assistant peer under whom the applicant has worked or trained. References shall not be from any family member or, in the case of applicants who have not been licensed anywhere, references shall not be from fellow students of the applicant's Physician Assistant Educational Program;

(14)         if two years or more have passed since graduation from a Physician Assistant Educational Program, document that he or she has completed at least 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) during the preceding two years, at least 50 hours of which must be recognized by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants as Category I CME. An applicant who is currently certified with the NCCPA shall be deemed in compliance with this Subparagraph; and

(b)  In the event any of the information required by Paragraph (a) of this Rule indicates a concern about the applicant's qualifications, the applicant shall supply any other information the Board deems necessary to evaluate the applicant's qualifications, including explanation or documentation of the information required in this Rule. In addition, an applicant may be required to appear in person for an interview with the Board, if the Board determines that more information is needed to evaluate the application.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-9.3; 90-11; 90-13.2; 90-14(a); 90-18(c)(13); 90-18.1;

Eff. September 1, 2009;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2016; May 1, 2015; March 1, 2011;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 1, 2016;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2019.