• Tools
• Quick Links

Completion of the master’s degree does not ensure the ability to practice as a physician assistant. Following graduation from an accredited program (such as Gannon) students must pass a national certification examination. The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), commonly known as "boards," is offered nearly year-round by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Successful completion of the exam entitles the PA to write "Physician Assistant-Certified" or "PA-C" after their name. All states require PA's to be certified. To retain certification, a PA-C must log 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years with NCCPA. Every six years a PA must be recertified by taking the Physician Assistant National Recertification Exam (PANRE). Each state has differing laws governing PA's, but all require the PA to register with the state medical board. You may not begin working as a Physician Assistant in any state until you have been licensed/registered by the state.

Individuals with certain types of criminal records (felonies) may be barred from practicing as physician assistants. Individuals with records should contact the NCCPA and the state medical board of the state where the student would like to practice prior to applying for admission to any PA program. Both of these organizations will do early evaluations of the record and let the individual know if they would be allowed to practice and any restrictions which may apply.