Title BPC — California Bus. & Prof. Code

In its concern with the growing shortage and geographic maldistribution of health care services in California, the Legislature intends to establish in this chapter a framework for another category of health manpower—the physician assistant. The purpose of this chapter is to encou…

This chapter shall be known and cited as the Physician Assistant Practice Act.

As used in this chapter: (a) “Board” means the Physician Assistant Board. (b) “Approved program” means a program for the education of physician assistants that has been formally approved by the board. (c) “Trainee” means a person who is currently enrolled in an approved program. …

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a PA may perform medical services as authorized by this chapter if the following requirements are met: (1) The PA renders the services under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon who is not subject to a disciplinary condition impos…

This chapter or any other provision of law shall not be construed to prohibit a physician assistant from administering or providing buprenorphine to a patient, or transmitting orally, or in writing on a patient’s record or in a drug order, an order to a person who may lawfully fu…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician assistant may perform the physical examination and any other specified medical services that are required pursuant to Section 2881 of the Public Utilities Code and Sections 44336, 49406, 49423, 49455, 87408, 87408.5, and 874…

(a) (1) A practice agreement shall include provisions that address the following: (A) The types of medical services a physician assistant is authorized to perform. (B) Policies and procedures to ensure adequate supervision of the physician assistant, including, but not limited to…

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, in recognition of the vital role physician assistants play in delivering safe, effective, and accessible health care across California, a comprehensive review of practice agreement structures be undertaken in consultation with relevan…

(a) In order to receive authority from the physician assistant’s supervising physician and surgeon to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques pursuant to Section 2253, a physician assistant shall achieve clinical competency by successfully completing requisite training in pe…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician assistant may perform those medical services permitted pursuant to Section 3502 during any state of war emergency, state of emergency, or state of local emergency, as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code, and at th…

No person other than one who has been licensed to practice as a physician assistant shall practice as a physician assistant or in a similar capacity to a physician and surgeon or podiatrist or hold themselves out as a “physician assistant,” or shall use any other term indicating …

(a) A person licensed under this chapter who in good faith renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency that occurs outside both the place and course of that person’s employment shall not be liable for any civil damage as a result of any acts or omissions by that person in…

(a) There is established a Physician Assistant Board. The board consists of nine members. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the Physician Assistant Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the pu…

Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of Section 3504 renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committee of the Legislature.

The members of the board shall include four physician assistants, one physician and surgeon who is also a member of the Medical Board of California, and four public members. Upon the expiration of the term of the member who is a member of the Medical Board of California, that pos…

Each member of the board shall receive a per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103.

The appointing power has power to remove from office any member of the board, as provided in Section 106.

(a) The board may convene from time to time as deemed necessary by the board. (b) Notice of each meeting of the board shall be given at least two weeks in advance to those persons and organizations who express an interest in receiving notification. (c) The board shall receive per…

It shall be the duty of the board to: (a) Establish standards for, and issue licenses to, applicants qualifying for licensure under this chapter as a physician assistant. (b) Require the examination of applicants for licensure as a physician assistant who meet the requirements of…

The board shall elect annually a president and a vice president from among its members.

The board may adopt, amend, and repeal regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. All regulations shall be in accordance with, and not inconsistent with, the provisions of this chapter. Such regulations shall be adopted, amen…

Five members shall constitute a quorum for transacting any business. The affirmative vote of a majority of those present at a meeting of the board shall be required to carry any motion. The physician and surgeon who serves as an ex officio member shall not be counted for purposes…

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 unde…

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

(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 super…

(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…

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…

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 …

(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 supe…

Within 10 days after the beginning of each calendar month, the board shall report to the Controller the amount and source of all collections made under this chapter and at the same time pay all those sums into the State Treasury, where they shall be credited to the Physician Assi…

The fees to be paid by physician assistants are to be set by the board as follows: (a) An application fee charged to each physician assistant applicant shall be sixty dollars ($60) and may be increased to not more than eighty dollars ($80). (b) An initial license fee charged to e…

(a) The board may establish, by regulation, a system for the placement of a license on a retired status, upon application, for a physician assistant who is not actively engaged in practice as a physician assistant or any activity that requires them to be licensed by the board. (b…

All physician assistant licenses shall expire at 12 midnight of the last day of the birth month of the licensee during the second year of a two-year term if not renewed. The board shall establish by regulation procedures for the administration of a birthdate renewal program, incl…

A license or approval that has expired may be renewed at any time within five years after its expiration by filing an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the board and payment of all accrued and unpaid renewal fees. If the license or approval is not renewed within 30 …

(a) The board may require a licensee to complete continuing education as a condition of license renewal under Section 3523 or 3524. The board shall not require more than 50 hours of continuing education every two years. The board shall, as it deems appropriate, accept certificati…

A physician assistant who provides primary care to a patient population of which over 25 percent are 65 years of age or older shall complete at least 20 percent of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of p…

In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in infection-associated chronic conditions, including, but not limited to, long COVID, as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, myalgic encephalomyeli…

A suspended license is subject to expiration and shall be renewed as provided in this chapter. However, such renewal does not entitle such holder, to practice or otherwise violate the order or judgment by which the license was suspended. A revoked license is subject to expiration…

A person who fails to renew their license or approval within five years after its expiration may not renew it, and it may not be reissued, reinstated, or restored after that time has elapsed, but that person may apply for and obtain a new license or approval if they: (a) Have not…

(a) The board may order the denial of an application for, or the issuance subject to terms and conditions of, or the suspension or revocation of, or the imposition of probationary conditions upon a PA license after a hearing as required in Section 3528 for unprofessional conduct …

(a) The board shall not suspend or revoke the license of a physician assistant solely for performing an abortion if the licensee performed the abortion in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Reproductive Privacy Act (Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 123460)…

Any proceedings involving the denial, suspension, or revocation of the application for licensure or the license of a PA or the application for approval or the approval of an approved program under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Secti…

The board may hear any matters filed pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 3527, or may assign the matter to a hearing officer. The Medical Board of California may hear any matters filed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 3527, or may assign the matter to a hearing …

(a) A person whose license or approval has been revoked or suspended, or who has been placed on probation, may petition the board for reinstatement or modification of penalty, including modification or termination of probation, after a period of not less than the following minimu…

A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge of a felony or of any offense that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession to which the license was issued is deemed to be a…

Any person who violates Section 3502, 3503, 3515, or 3516 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.

Whenever any person has engaged in any act or practice which constitutes an offense against this chapter, the superior court of any county, on application of the board, may issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining such conduct. Proceedings under this section sha…

It is the intent of the Legislature that the board shall seek ways and means to identify and rehabilitate physician assistants whose competency is impaired due to abuse of dangerous drugs or alcohol so that they may be treated and returned to the practice of medicine in a manner …

The board shall establish and administer a diversion program for the rehabilitation of physician assistants whose competency is impaired due to the abuse of drugs or alcohol. The board may contract with any other state agency or a private organization to perform its duties under …