Title 36 — PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

Terms as used in this chapter mean: (1) "Board," the State Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners; (2) "Collaboration," the consultation with, or referral to, an appropriate physician or other licensed health care provider by a physician assistant, as indicated by: (a) The pa…

The term "collaborative agreement," as used in this chapter, means a contract that: (1) Is signed by a physician assistant, who has not filed an affidavit with the board attesting to the completion of at least six thousand practice hours, and a physician licensed in accordance wi…

A physician assistant may practice without a collaborative agreement if the physician assistant: (1) Is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; and (2) Files an affidavit with the board attesting to the completion of at least six thousand pr…

The board may license, as a physician assistant in this state, those physician assistants practicing in this state on July 1, 1973. However, such physician assistants are subject to the provisions of this chapter in so far as the chapter provides for a revocation of licenses and …

36-4A-20

36-4A-20.1 Abortion. 36-4A-21 36-4A-21 to 36-4A-26. Repealed by SL 2007, ch 207 , §§ 43 to 48. 36-4A-26.1 Scope of practice--Collaboration. 36-4A-26.2 Natural disaster or state emergency--Scope of practice. 36-4A-26.3 Limited civil liability--Emergency medical assistance--Excepti…

Nothing in this chapter authorizes a physician assistant to effectuate an abortion. Source: SL 2000, ch 189 , § 1; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 10. 36-4A-21 to 36-4A-26. Repealed by SL 2007, ch 207 , §§ 43 to 48.

A physician assistant may provide the following medical and surgical services, for which the physician assistant has been prepared by education, training, and experience, and for which the physician assistant is competent to perform: (1) Evaluate, diagnose, manage, and provide me…

If any physician assistant, licensed in this state, licensed or authorized to practice in any other state or territory of the United States, or credentialed as a physician assistant by a federal employer, is responding to a need for medical care created by a natural disaster or o…

A physician assistant licensed in this state, or licensed or authorized to practice in another state or territory of the United States, is not liable for civil damages for any personal injuries that result from the physician assistant's acts or omissions in rendering emergency ca…

A physician assistant may authenticate any document with the physician assistant's signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement, if the document may be authenticated by the signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement of a p…

Nothing in this chapter authorizes any physician assistant to perform those specific functions and duties delegated by law to those persons licensed as chiropractors under chapter 36-5 , dentists and dental hygienists under chapter 36-6A , optometrists under chapter 36-7 , podiat…

If any physician assistant renders services in a hospital and related institutions as licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 34-12 , the physician assistant is subject to the rules and regulations of that hospital and related institutions. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 4; S…

Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 3; SL 1982, ch 273 , § 5; SL 1990, ch 302 , § 2; SL 1991, ch 301 , § 2; SL 1995, ch 214 , § 1; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 6; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 15; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 20.

Source: SL 1994, ch 292 , § 2; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 4; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 16; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 21.

Source: SL 2007, ch 207 , § 17; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 22.

The board shall appoint a physician assistant council composed of three physician assistants. The term of office for each member is three years. No member may be appointed to more than three consecutive, full terms. If a vacancy occurs, the board must appoint a new member to fill…

A physician assistant is professionally and legally responsible for the care that the physician assistant provides. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 3; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 18; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 15.

Nothing in this chapter limits the employment arrangement of a physician and a physician assistant licensed under this chapter. Source: SL 2007, ch 207 , § 19.

A physician assistant license issued by the board must be renewed annually on a date set by the board. To renew a license, a physician assistant shall: (1) Apply on a form prescribed by the board; (2) Submit the renewal fee established in accordance with § 36-4A-34 ; and (3) Subm…

Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 15; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 6; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 21; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 23.

Any license not renewed pursuant to § 36-4A-31 is suspended. A license so suspended may be reinstated during the following twelve months by application to the board and payment of the renewal fee and a reinstatement fee as fixed by the board pursuant to §

The board shall set, by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 , and shall collect in advance the following nonrefundable fees from applicants: (1) For an initial license, not more than seventy-five dollars; (2) For renewal of a license, not more than one hundred dollars; (3)…

36-4A-36 Collection and disposition of fees--Refunds not permitted. 36-4A-37 Disciplinary action--Grounds. 36-4A-38 Repealed. 36-4A-39 Right of appeal from board. 36-4A-40 Suspension of license for mental incompetence. 36-4A-41 Reissuance of canceled, revoked, or suspended licens…

All fees received by the board and moneys collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in a bank as authorized by the board. No fee may be refunded. The funds are subject to withdrawal as authorized by the board. A report of all receipts and expenditures shal…

The board may deny the issuance or renewal of a physician assistant license, or suspend or revoke a license, or impose other disciplinary action on a licensee, upon satisfactory proof, in compliance with chapter 1-26 , of the applicant's or licensee's: (1) Professional incompeten…

Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 22; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 24.

Any party feeling aggrieved by any acts, rulings, or decision of said board acting pursuant to § 36-4A-37 , shall have the right to appeal the same under the provisions of chapter 1-26 . Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 25.

Except as provided in §§ 36-4A-5 and 36-4A-6 , any individual who practices as a physician assistant in this state, without a license issued by the board, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each violation is a separate offense. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , §§ 19, 20; SL 1977, ch 19…

Except as provided in § 36-4A-6 , an individual who is not licensed under this chapter, but meets the qualifications for licensure under this chapter, may use the title of physician assistant, but may not practice as a physician assistant. Source: SL 2025, ch 149 , § 5.

The provisions of § 36-4-32 shall apply to physician assistants. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 23; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 8.

Upon application, the board may reissue a license to practice to any person whose licensure has been canceled, suspended, or revoked. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 26; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 6; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 26.

The board shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 pertaining to the licensure of physician assistants. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 28; SL 1986, ch 302 , § 56; SL 1999, ch 192 , § 6; SL 2007, ch 207 , § 27; SL 2021, ch 168 , § 17; SL 2025, ch 149 , § 18. 36-4A-43 to 36-4A-…

Nothing in this chapter limits the activities and services of a student enrolled in a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Source: SL 1973, ch 250 , § 21 (1); SL 1999, ch 192 , § 6; SL 2007, ch 207…

A physician assistant may bill for and receive direct payment for any medically necessary service delivered. Source: SL 2025, ch 149 , § 19.

Nothing in this chapter limits the activities of a physician assistant employed by the federal government in the performance of their duties, nor to the Christian Scientists as such who do not practice medicine, surgery, or obstetrics by the use of any material remedies or agenci…

36-4A-8 License--Issuance--Qualifications. 36-4A-8.1 Temporary license--Issuance--Expiration--Exceptions. 36-4A-8.2 Criminal background investigation of applicants for licensure and licensees under disciplinary investigation--Fees. 36-4A-8.3 Licensure by endorsement--Temporary li…

The board may grant a license to an applicant who: (1) Is of good moral character; (2) Has completed an educational program for physician assistants accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor agency, or, prior to 20…

The board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who has completed an accredited program, as referenced in § 36-4A-8 , and has submitted evidence to the board that the applicant is a candidate accepted to write the examination required by § 36-4A-8 or is awaiting the resul…

Each applicant for licensure as a physician assistant in this state shall submit to a state and federal criminal background investigation by means of fingerprint checks by the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon application, the board …

Upon application and payment of the fee established by the board in accordance with § 36-4A-34 , the board may issue a license to practice, as a physician assistant, to an individual licensed under the laws of another state or territory, if the requirements for licensure of that …

36-4A-10 Assistants practicing when chapter enacted. 36-4A-11 36-4A-11 to 36-4A-19. Repealed by SL 2007, ch 207 , §§ 32 to 41. 36-4A-19.1