33-26-504. License required; application; qualifications; consideration of applications.

(a) No person shall practice as a physician assistant or represent that he is a physician assistant without a license granted by the board.

(b) The board may grant a physician assistant license to an applicant who:

(i) Repealed By Laws 2003, Ch. 190, § 3.

(ii) Has graduated from a physician assistant program accredited by CAAHEP or its predecessor or successor organization;

(iii) Has satisfactorily completed a certification examination administered by NCCPA or other national certifying agency established for such purposes which has been reviewed and approved by the board and is currently certified;

(iv) Completes an application form; and

(v) Pays the fees set forth in W.S. 33-26-507.

(c) The board may issue a temporary license to any person who successfully completes a CAAHEP or other board approved program for the education and training of a physician assistant but has not passed a certification examination. To allow the opportunity to take the next available certification examination, any temporary license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year and under conditions as the board determines pursuant to W.S. 33-26-505.

(d) Physician assistants approved by the board prior to the effective date of this act are not required to be currently certified by the NCCPA. Graduation from a CAHEA approved program is considered equivalent to a CAAHEP program for purposes of licensure.

(e) The board shall formulate guidelines for consideration of applications by a licensed physician to supervise physician assistants. Any application shall include:

(i) The qualifications of the physician assistant to be employed, including experience;

(ii) The professional background of the physician, including specialty;

(iii) A description by the physician of his practice and the way in which the physician assistant will be utilized, including method of supervision.

(f) The board, with the concurrence of the advisory committee, shall approve an application by a licensed physician to supervise physician assistants if the board is satisfied that each proposed physician assistant is a graduate of an approved program, has satisfactorily completed a certification examination and is fully qualified to assist in the practice of medicine under the responsible supervision of a licensed physician. The board shall provide by rule for requirements and limitations on the practice by and supervision of physician assistants. However, a physician shall be limited to the supervision of three (3) or fewer physician assistants only for good cause specific to the circumstances of that individual physician.

(g) The board may provide by rule for arrangements for other physicians to serve as back up or on call physicians for multiple physician assistants.