02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 2 - UNIFORM QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE

1. License Required

An individual must hold an active license issued by the Board in order to render medical services as a physician assistant in the State of Maine.

2. Uniform Application for Licensure

A. The Boards shall develop a uniform application form for licensure.

B. Applicants for physician assistant licensure shall complete the Board-approved application forms and submit them to the Board together with all required fees and required documentation.

3. Uniform Requirements for Temporary/New Graduate License

A. The Board, or if delegated, Board staff may issue a one-time, non-renewable temporary license to practice as a physician assistant to an applicant who:

(1) Submits an administratively complete application;

(2) Pays the appropriate uniform licensure fee;

(3) Has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants accredited by the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, or the Commission for Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs, or their successors;

(4) Has no license, certification or registration as a physician assistant, or any other type or classification of health care provider license, certification or registration under current discipline, revocation, suspension, restriction or probation;

(5) Has no cause existing that may be considered grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as provided by law;

(6) Passes, at the time of license application, a jurisprudence examination administered by the Board; and

(7) Is currently scheduled to take, but has not yet taken, the national certifying examination administered by the NCCPA (NCCPA examination) or its successor organization or has taken the NCCPA examination and is awaiting the results.An applicant who has taken the NCCPA examination and failed to pass is not eligible to apply for a temporary license.

B. In the event that the Board delegates licensing decisions to Board staff and there is any question regarding the applicant's qualifications, Board staff shall consult with the Board Secretary, Board Chair, or their designee who may approve the application or defer action on the application to the full Board.

C. A temporary license is valid until one of the following occurs:

(1) A period not to exceed six (6) months from the date of issuance has elapsed;

(2) The Board and/or physician assistant receive notice of the failure to pass the NCCPA examination; or

(3) Board staff receives notice of the passage of the NCCPA examination, upon which Board staff shall issue a full license so long as all other qualifications have been met and no cause exists that may be considered grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as provided by law.

D. Incomplete Application

Any application for a temporary license that has been on file without action for three (3) months shall be deemed administratively incomplete and shall be discarded. The applicant must restart the application process in order to proceed to licensure.

4. Uniform Requirements for Full License

A. The Board, or if delegated, Board staff may issue a full license as a physician assistant to an applicant who:

(1) Submits an administratively complete application form;

(2) Pays the appropriate uniform licensure fee;

(3) Has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants accredited by the American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, or the Commission for Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs, or their successors;

(4) Has no license, certification or registration as a physician assistant, or any other type or classification of health care provider license, certification or registration under current discipline, revocation, suspension, restriction or probation;

(5) Has no cause existing that may be considered grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as provided by law;

(6) Passes, at the time of license application, a jurisprudence examination administered by the Board; and

(7) Has passed the NCCPA certification examination and holds a current certification issued by the NCCPA that has not been subject to disciplinary action by the NCCPA at the time the license application is acted upon by the Board.

(8) Demonstrates current clinical competency as required by this rule.

(9) A new licensee who is scheduled to renew three (3) months or less from the date of original licensure will be issued a license through the next renewal cycle.

B. In the event that the Board delegates licensing decisions to Board staff and there is any question regarding the applicant's qualifications, Board staff shall consult with the Board Secretary, Board Chair, or their designee who may approve the application or defer action on the application to the full Board.

C. Incomplete Application

Any application that has been on file without action for one (1) year shall be deemed administratively incomplete and shall be discarded. The applicant must restart the application process in order to proceed to licensure.

Notes

02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 2