Article 3 - Certification and Approval

California Business and Professions Code — §§ 3513-3519.5

Sections (7)

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 194, Sec. 13. (AB 1501) Effective January 1, 2026.

The board shall recognize the approval of training programs for physician assistants approved by a national accrediting organization. Physician assistant training programs accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the board shall be deemed approved by the board under this section.

§ 3514.1

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 194, Sec. 14. (AB 1501) Effective January 1, 2026.

The board shall formulate by regulation guidelines for the consideration of applications for licensure as a physician assistant.

§ 3516

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 194, Sec. 15. (AB 1501) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, a physician assistant licensed by the board shall be eligible for employment or supervision by a physician and surgeon who is not subject to a disciplinary condition imposed by the Medical Board of California prohibiting that employment or supervision.

(b)Except as provided in Section 3502.5, a physician and surgeon shall not supervise more than eight physician assistants at any one time.

(c)The Medical Board of California may restrict a physician and surgeon to supervising specific types of physician assistants including, but not limited to, restricting a physician and surgeon from supervising physician assistants outside of the field of specialty of the physician

and surgeon.

§ 3517

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 36. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)The board shall require a written examination of physician assistants in the manner and under the rules and regulations as it shall prescribe, but the examination shall be conducted in that manner as to ensure that the identity of each applicant taking the examination will be unknown to all of the examiners until all examination papers have been graded. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, or by regulation, no physician assistant applicant shall receive approval under this chapter without first successfully passing an examination given under the direction of the board.

(b)Examinations for licensure as a physician assistant may be required by the board under a uniform examination system, and for that purpose the board may make those arrangements with

organizations furnishing examination material as may, in its discretion, be desirable. The licensure examination for physician assistants shall be held by the board at least once a year with such additional examinations as the board deems necessary.

§ 3518

Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 707, Sec. 9. (SB 697) Effective January 1, 2020.

The board shall keep a current register for licensed PAs, if applicable. The register shall show the name of each licensee, the licensee’s last known address of record, and the date of the licensee’s licensure. Any interested person is entitled to obtain a copy of the register in accordance with the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code) upon application to the board together with a sum as may be fixed by the board, which amount shall not exceed the cost of this list so furnished.

§ 3519

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 37. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.

The board shall issue a license to all physician assistant applicants who meet all of the following requirements:

(a)Provide evidence of successful completion of an approved program.

(b)Pass any examination required under Section 3517.

(c)Not be subject to denial of licensure under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) or Section 3527.

(d)Pay all fees required under Section 3521.1.

§ 3519.5

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 38. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)The board may issue a probationary license to an applicant subject to terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, any of the following conditions of probation:

(1)Practice limited to a supervised, structured environment where the applicant’s activities shall be supervised by another physician assistant.

(2)Total or partial restrictions on issuing a drug order for controlled substances.

(3)Continuing medical or psychiatric treatment.

(4)Ongoing participation in a specified rehabilitation program.

(5)Enrollment and successful completion of a clinical training program.

(6)Abstention from the use of alcohol or drugs.

(7)Restrictions against engaging in certain types of medical services.

(8)Compliance with all provisions of this chapter.

(b)The board may modify or terminate the terms and conditions imposed on the probationary license upon receipt of a petition from the licensee.

(c)Enforcement and monitoring of the probationary conditions shall be under the jurisdiction of the board. These proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government

Code.