Physician Assistant / Massachusetts
2026 data Massachusetts board official source

Massachusetts Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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

What the Massachusetts data shows for Physician Assistants

Becoming a licensed physician assistant in Massachusetts means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,953 training hours, a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Massachusetts regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Upfront cost is $291, with renewal running $259 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
23/100
Physician Assistant · Massachusetts

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
3,953 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$291
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$130/yr
$259 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 Massachusetts

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,953 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$291
Renewal Fee
$259
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 Massachusetts licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Massachusetts licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts requires 3953 education/training hours, passing an exam (PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)), and an initial fee of $291. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Massachusetts? ▼
Certification as a physician assistant in Massachusetts means clearing the state's checklist: 3953 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Massachusetts licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Massachusetts require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Yes, Massachusetts requires a criminal background check as part of the physician assistant licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Massachusetts? ▼
To stay licensed as a physician assistant in Massachusetts, plan on 100 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $259.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

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

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