How to Apply for a Physician Assistant - Full Licensure

To complete the application process, the Physician Assistant Board (Board) must receive the items below. Contact the appropriate program or organization to proceed with the items you are not responsible for submitting:

• The physician assistant (PA) training program must submit a completed Physician Assistant Training Program Certification directly to the Board by mail or by email. This form is mandatory and cannot be substituted. If you were previously licensed by the Board, the form will be pulled from your licensing file; a new form is not required. Transcripts are not required and should not be requested or submitted to the Board.
• Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Score. You are required to log into your National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) account and authorize the electronic release of your PANCE score. The Board does not require physician assistants to maintain NCCPA certification; therefore, licensing is based on a passing PANCE score. Do not authorize the release of a letter verifying certification or the PANRE score as they do not fulfill this requirement. If you were previously licensed by the Board, the PANCE score will be pulled from your licensing file.
• National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query Report.
  Applicants are required to place a Self-Query order with the Federation of State Medical Boards’ (FSMB) Practitioner Direct portal by visiting https://fsmb.org. Practitioner Direct allows applicants to submit an NPDB report electronically to a state medical board. From the top of the FSMB home page, select “For Physicians” option. Under Licensure Services, select the “Practitioner Direct” option. Create an FSMB account and select the California Physician Assistant Board (Board) as the recipient to receive the NPDB Direct Report. Please be advised that you will be required to enter information pertaining to your education including the date of graduation. You will receive an error message if you enter a future date or leave this field blank; please use the current date to complete this field. The Board will receive notification when an electronic report is ready for download. For assistance regarding the process, please contact the FSMB directly by calling (817) 868-4010 or emailing pdc@fsmb.org.
• Regardless of the status, individuals who have been licensed, certified, or otherwise registered in any state, country, and/or with any federal agency as a health care provider (e.g., PA, RN, EMT (state), EMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians), CNA, CPT, etc.) are required to request a verification. You are not required to use the Board’s Verification of Licensure form when requesting a verification as the Board accepts other agencies’ verification forms. The Board will not accept verifications submitted by applicants.
• Business and Professions Code section 144 requires applicants to complete a criminal history background check by submitting a full set of fingerprints and the fingerprint processing fees established by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You are required to submit fingerprints for the Board to complete a criminal history background check, even if you were previously fingerprinted for another California employer or regulatory body.
  • If living in, or visiting California, please fulfill this requirement by completing a Request for Live Scan Service form (PDF) before visiting an authorized Live Scan operator. Applicants are responsible for paying for all Live Scan fees at the time of service. The Board will not accept a Live Scan completed in another state. Typically, the results of the Live Scan are transmitted electronically to the Board within 1-3 business days.
  • If you live outside of California and cannot access a Live Scan site in this state, you will need to complete your criminal history background check using the hard card fingerprint method.
    1. Obtain two (2) fingerprint cards (FD-258) directly from your local law enforcement agency, authorized agency, or contact the Board by email at paboard@dca.ca.gov or call (916) 561-8780. When submitting requests by email, please include your name and address. Fingerprint cards are typically mailed within 1-3 business days.
    2. Complete all areas on both cards as indicated in the example (PDF).
    3. Visit a local law enforcement agency or agency authorized to provide fingerprint rolling services. The fingerprint impressions must be distinct from each other as the DOJ and/or FBI may reject fingerprint cards containing identical impressions.
    4. If the fingerprint card processing fee was not paid when applying for licensure, please a include check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to the Physician Assistant Board for $49.
    5. Mail completed fingerprint cards to the Physician Assistant Board for processing. Do not fold the cards: Physician Assistant Board
       2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2250
       Sacramento, CA 95815

  Fingerprint cards are submitted on a weekly basis to the DOJ/FBI for processing. The results of your background check are electronically transmitted to the Board within 2-4 weeks.

  You are personally responsible for all information disclosed on your application, including any responses completed on your behalf. An application may be denied based upon falsification or misrepresentation of any item or response on the application or any attachment.

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