Physician Assistant / Ohio
2026 data Ohio board official source

Ohio 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 Ohio data shows for Physician Assistants

To practice as a physician assistant in Ohio, the state licensing board requires 3,770 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 Ohio's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Budget $254 to get started, plus $228 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
25/100
Physician Assistant · Ohio

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
3,770 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$254
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$114/yr
$228 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 Ohio

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,770 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$254
Renewal Fee
$228
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 Ohio licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Ohio licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Ohio? ▼
Ohio requires 3770 education/training hours, passing an exam (PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)), and an initial fee of $254. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Ohio? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in Ohio, you must meet the state's requirements including 3770 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Ohio licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Ohio 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 Ohio. Verify the specifics with the Ohio licensing board.
Does Ohio require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for physician assistant licensing in Ohio. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Ohio? ▼
Ohio ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $228 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

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

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