Physician assistants are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals, and practice on health care teams with physicians and other providers. They are formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses and provide treatment.
The links to the right lead to maps showing a comparison of all states and territories for the following three policy areas:
1) supervision requirements
2) prescriptive authority
3) scope of practice determination
Choose a tab to explore different options. For more detailed information, please click on a state or territory.
Physician Assistants:
Prescriptive Authority for Physician Assistants
Mobile users can use this dropdown of states if the map is too small.
LEGEND
- Prescriptive authority determined at the practice level
- Prescriptive authority excludes certain medications
- Prescriptive authority determined by the State Medical Board or law
- Information is not currently available
Prescriptive authority refers to whether a physician assistant can prescribe medications. Some states do not allow physician assistants to prescribe certain controlled substances.
Policy areas for Physician Assistants
Scope of Practice Determination
Prescriptive Authority for Physician Assistants
Practitioner Scope of Practice
- Behavioral Health Providers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Oral Health Providers
- Pharmacists
- Physician Assistants