What is the PA Compact?
The PA Compact is an interstate occupational licensure compact for physician assistants (PAs). Interstate compacts are a constitutionally authorized, legally binding, legislatively enacted contract among participating states.
States joining the compact agree to recognize a valid, unencumbered license issued by another compact member state via a compact privilege. Licensed PAs utilizing the compact can obtain a privilege in each compact member state where they want to practice. PAs using a compact privilege to practice in another state must adhere to laws and regulations of practice in that state and are under the jurisdiction of the state’s regulatory board in which they are practicing.
How the PA Compact Works
1. PAs licensed in a participating state
- A PA with an active, unencumbered license in a compact state wants to practice in another participating state.
- The PA notifies the compact commission that they want a compact privilege in another state (remote state).
2. Background check
- The PA submits information for an FBI background check.
3. Application reviewed
- The PA’s license and eligibility are verified.
- The PA completes jurisprudence requirements (if required).
4. Compact privilege issued
- The commission issues the compact privilege on behalf of the remote state.
- The practitioner now has legal authorization to practice in the remote state where they hold a compact privilege.
Who Can Use the PA Compact?
A PA is eligible to participate in the compact if they:
- Have graduated from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. or other programs authorized by the commission.
- Hold current NCCPA certification.
- Have no felony or misdemeanor convictions.
- Have never had a controlled substance license or permit suspended or revoked.
- Have a unique identifier as determined by the compact commission.
- Hold an unrestricted license issued by a participating compact state to provide medical services as a PA.
- Have no limitation or restriction on any state license or compact privilege in the previous two years.
- Notify the compact commission of their intent to seek the compact privilege in a remote state.
- Meet any jurisprudence requirements in the remote state and pay any fees.
- Report to the commission any adverse action taken by a non-member state within 30 days after the action is taken.
For more information on the PA Licensure Compact, click here.