Certifications and Licensure
Certification and National Examination
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) accredits the Stanford Primary Care Associate Program. Graduate of the Program are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), which is offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). All Program graduates are expected to take the PANCE. Information is available at the NCCPA web site: www.nccpa.net
Licensure for Physician Assistants
Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine with physician supervision. PA legislation was adopted in California in 1971. The current law gives joint authority to regulate the practice of PAs to the Allied Health Division of the Medical Board of California and to the Physician Assistant Committee (PAC).
The PAC has the responsibility to approve PA training programs and to license PAs in California. Practice as a PA in California requires the following:
- Graduation from an accredited PA program
- Passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
- Approval of license application and required supporting, including identification of supervising physician(s)
Information about California licensure is available at the PAC website: http://www.pac.ca.gov/
