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.
Physician Assistants:
Chart Co-Signatures
Mobile users can use this dropdown of states if the map is too small.
LEGEND
- Chart co-signatures required by statute for PA to practice or prescribe.
- Chart co-signatures may be required at the practice level.
Chart review and co-signatures may be required by state statute, a practice facility, or by a supervising physician in order for a physician assistant (PA) to practice or prescribe. Some states require chart review and co-signatures through statute, but specific state requirements may vary by the percentage of charts that must be co-signed or only requiring it for certain elements of practice or prescribing. Some states specify that chart review and co-signature requirements can be determined at the practice level based on the competency of the physician assistant.
Policy areas for Physician Assistants
Supervision Requirements (Practice and Prescriptive Authority)
Adaptable Proximity Requirements
Scope of Practice Determination
Practitioner Scope of Practice
- Behavioral Health Providers
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- Optometrists
- Oral Health Providers
- Pharmacists
- Physician Assistants