Physician Assistant / Alabama
2026 data Alabama board official source

Alabama Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Practices medicine under physician supervision. Requires PANCE exam and masters degree.

What the Alabama data shows for Physician Assistants

Alabama's path to physician assistant licensure runs through 3,466 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Alabama folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Budget $193 to get started, plus $178 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 100-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

On reciprocity, physician assistants should know: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
29/100
Physician Assistant · Alabama

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,466 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$193
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$89/yr
$178 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
50.0 hrs/yr
100 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Alabama

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,466 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$193
Renewal Fee
$178
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
100 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physician Assistant All Alabama licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Alabama licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Alabama? ▼
In Alabama, the license path calls for 3466 education/training hours, a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), and a $193 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Alabama? ▼
Alabama licenses physician assistants who complete its requirements (3466 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Alabama licensing board.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Alabama from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for physician assistants: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Alabama licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Alabama require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for physician assistant licensing in Alabama. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Alabama? ▼
Alabama ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $178 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

Physician Assistant in Alabama, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a physician assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Alabama's physician assistant requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physician Assistant in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physician assistant license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Alabama's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Alabama overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Alabama licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.