Physician assistant
Physician assistant means a person who meets the applicable State requirements governing the qualifications for assistants to primary care physicians, and who meets at least one of the following conditions: (1) Is currently certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants to assist primary care physicians; or (2) Has satisfactorily completed a program for preparing physician's assistants that: (i) Was at least 1 academic year in length; (ii) Consisted of supervised clinical practice and at least 4 months (in the aggregate) of classroom instruction directed toward preparing students to deliver health care; and (iii) Was accredited by the American Medical Association's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation; or (3) Has satisfactorily completed a formal educational program (for preparing physician assistants) that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (2) of this definition and assisted primary care physicians for a total of 12 months during the 18-month period that ended on December 31, 1986.