Physician Assistant / Iowa
2026 data Iowa board official source

Iowa Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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

What the Iowa data shows for Physician Assistants

Iowa's path to physician assistant licensure runs through 3,284 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. Iowa folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

The initial price tag is $157, and renewal costs $147 every 2 years. The license also carries an ongoing 100-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For physician assistants, the reciprocity picture is: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
32/100
Physician Assistant · Iowa

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
3,284 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$157
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$74/yr
$147 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 Iowa

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,284 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$157
Renewal Fee
$147
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 Iowa licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Iowa licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Iowa? ▼
Iowa's requirements cover 3284 hours of education or training, the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $157. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Iowa? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in Iowa, you must meet the state's requirements including 3284 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Iowa licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Iowa from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for physician assistants nationally works like this: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Iowa. Verify the specifics with the Iowa licensing board.
Does Iowa require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Iowa does require a background check before issuing a physician assistant license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Iowa? ▼
To stay licensed as a physician assistant in Iowa, plan on 100 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $147.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

  • See how Iowa'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 Iowa's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Iowa overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Iowa 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.