Florida Senate - 2023 SB 454
By Senator Avila
39-00788A-23 2023454__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to physician assistant licensure;
3 amending ss. 458.347 and 459.022, F.S.; revising
4 requirements for an applicant for licensure as a
5 physician assistant; providing an effective date.
6
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
10 458.347, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
11 458.347 Physician assistants.—
12 (6) PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE.—
13 (a) Any person desiring to be licensed as a physician
14 assistant must apply to the department. The department shall
15 issue a license to any person certified by the council as having
16 met all of the following requirements:
17 1. Is at least 18 years of age.
18 2. Has completed graduated from an approved program.
19 a. For an applicant who matriculated graduated after
20 December 31, 2020, has received a master’s degree in accordance
21 with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the
22 Physician Assistant or, before 2001, its equivalent or
23 predecessor organization.
24 b. For an applicant who graduated on or before December 31,
25 2020, has received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an
26 approved program.
27 c. For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1994, has
28 graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary
29 health care or surgery.
30 d. For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1983, has
31 received a certification as a physician assistant from the
32 boards.
33 e. The board may also grant a license to an applicant who
34 does not meet the educational requirement specified in this
35 subparagraph but who has passed the Physician Assistant National
36 Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission
37 on Certification of Physician Assistants before 1986.
38 3. Has obtained a passing score as established by the
39 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or
40 its equivalent or successor organization and has been nationally
41 certified. If an applicant does not hold a current certificate
42 issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician
43 Assistants or its equivalent or successor organization and has
44 not actively practiced as a physician assistant within the
45 immediately preceding 4 years, the applicant must retake and
46 successfully complete the entry-level examination of the
47 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or
48 its equivalent or successor organization to be eligible for
49 licensure.
50 4. Has completed the application form and remitted an
51 application fee not to exceed $300 as set by the boards. An
52 application for licensure as a physician assistant must include:
53 a. A diploma from an approved program.
54 b. Acknowledgment of any prior felony convictions.
55 c. Acknowledgment of any previous revocation or denial of
56 licensure or certification in any state.
57 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
58 459.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
59 459.022 Physician assistants.—
60 (6) PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE.—
61 (a) Any person desiring to be licensed as a physician
62 assistant must apply to the department. The department shall
63 issue a license to any person certified by the council as having
64 met all of the following requirements:
65 1. Is at least 18 years of age.
66 2. Has completed graduated from an approved program.
67 a. For an applicant who matriculated graduated after
68 December 31, 2020, has received a master’s degree in accordance
69 with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the
70 Physician Assistant or, before 2001, its equivalent or
71 predecessor organization.
72 b. For an applicant who graduated on or before December 31,
73 2020, has received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an
74 approved program.
75 c. For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1994, has
76 graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary
77 health care or surgery.
78 d. For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1983, has
79 received a certification as a physician assistant from the
80 boards.
81 e. The board may also grant a license to an applicant who
82 does not meet the educational requirement specified in this
83 subparagraph but who has passed the Physician Assistant National
84 Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission
85 on Certification of Physician Assistants before 1986.
86 3. Has obtained a passing score as established by the
87 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or
88 its equivalent or successor organization and has been nationally
89 certified. If an applicant does not hold a current certificate
90 issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician
91 Assistants or its equivalent or successor organization and has
92 not actively practiced as a physician assistant within the
93 immediately preceding 4 years, the applicant must retake and
94 successfully complete the entry-level examination of the
95 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or
96 its equivalent or successor organization to be eligible for
97 licensure.
98 4. Has completed the application form and remitted an
99 application fee not to exceed $300 as set by the boards. An
100 application for licensure as a physician assistant must include:
101 a. A diploma from an approved program.
102 b. Acknowledgment of any prior felony convictions.
103 c. Acknowledgment of any previous revocation or denial of
104 licensure or certification in any state.
105 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.