Physician Assistant / Kentucky
2026 data Kentucky board official source

Kentucky Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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

What the Kentucky data shows for Physician Assistants

To practice as a physician assistant in Kentucky, the state licensing board requires 3,405 documented education or training hours, a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Kentucky's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Budget $181 to get started, plus $168 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 100 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
30/100
Physician Assistant · Kentucky

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
3,405 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$181
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$84/yr
$168 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 Kentucky

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,405 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$181
Renewal Fee
$168
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 Kentucky licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Kentucky licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Kentucky? ▼
Kentucky requires 3405 education/training hours, passing an exam (PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)), and an initial fee of $181. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Kentucky? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in Kentucky, you must meet the state's requirements including 3405 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Kentucky licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Kentucky from another state? ▼
Physician Assistant licenses generally reciprocate as follows: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Kentucky licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Kentucky require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for physician assistant licensing in Kentucky. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Kentucky? ▼
Kentucky ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $168 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

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

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