<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56449</law_id><section_number>54.1-2951.1</section_number><catch_line>Requirements for licensure and practice as a physician assistant; licensure by endorsement</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-2951.2</reference><reference>54.1-2952</reference><reference>54.1-2952.1</reference><reference>54.1-2953</reference><reference>54.1-3300.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="29">Medicine and Other Healing Arts</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Licensure and Certification of Other Practitioners of the Healing Arts</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements for licensure as a <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> that shall include the following: <a id="paragraph-206661" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Successful completion of a <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> program or surgical <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the <span class="dictionary">Physician Assistant</span>; <a id="paragraph-206662" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Passage of the certifying examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of <span class="dictionary">Physician Assistants</span>; and <a id="paragraph-206663" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Documentation that the applicant for licensure has not had his license or certification as a <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> suspended or revoked and is not the subject of any disciplinary proceedings in another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. <a id="paragraph-206664" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a license by endorsement to an applicant for licensure as a <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> if the applicant (i) is the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Commonwealth, (ii) holds current certification from the National Commission on Certification of <span class="dictionary">Physician Assistants</span>, and (iii) holds a license as a <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> that is in good standing, or that is eligible for reinstatement if lapsed, under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of another state. <a id="paragraph-206665" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except as provided in subsection E, every <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> shall practice as part of a <span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> and shall provide care in accordance with a written or electronic practice agreement with one or more <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> physicians</span> or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> podiatrists</span>.
			A practice agreement shall include acts pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Role of patient care team physician or patient care team podiatrist on patient care teams; services that may be performed by physician assistants; responsibility of licensee; employment of physician assistants" href="/54.1-2952/">54.1-2952</a>, provisions for the periodic review of patient charts or electronic health records, guidelines for <span class="dictionary">collaboration</span> and <span class="dictionary">consultation</span> among the parties to the agreement and the patient, periodic joint evaluation of the services delivered, and provisions for appropriate physician input in complex clinical cases, in patient emergencies, and for referrals.
			A practice agreement may include provisions for periodic site visits by a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> physician</span> or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> podiatrist</span> who is part of the <span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> at a location other than where the licensee regularly practices. Such visits shall be in the manner and at the frequency as determined by the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> physician</span> or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> podiatrist</span> who is part of the <span class="dictionary">patient care team</span>. <a id="paragraph-206666" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as provided in subsection E, <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of a practice agreement shall be maintained by the <span class="dictionary">physician assistant</span> and provided to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> upon request. The practice agreement may be maintained in writing or electronically and may be a part of credentialing documents, practice protocols, or procedures. <a id="paragraph-206667" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> <span class="dictionary">Physician assistants</span> employed by a hospital as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective January 1, 2026) Definitions" href="/32.1-123/">32.1-123</a> or employed in (i) a state facility as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-100/">37.2-100</a> operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or (ii) a federally qualified health center designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may practice without a separate practice agreement if the credentialing and privileging requirements of the applicable facility include a practice arrangement that incorporates the components of a practice agreement set forth in the provisions of subsection C, including requiring and designating a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> physician</span> or podiatrist, and the <span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> requirements of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Role of patient care team physician or patient care team podiatrist on patient care teams; services that may be performed by physician assistants; responsibility of licensee; employment of physician assistants" href="/54.1-2952/">54.1-2952</a>. Such <span class="dictionary">physician assistants</span> shall continue to practice as part of a <span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> in <span class="dictionary">collaboration</span> and <span class="dictionary">consultation</span> with <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> physicians</span> or <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">patient care team</span> podiatrists</span>. <a id="paragraph-206668" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2951.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1998, c. 319; 2011, c. 390; 2013, c. 144; 2016, c. 450; 2019, cc. 92, 137, 338; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 210; 2024, c. 116.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
