Physician Assistant / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for Physician Assistants

Pennsylvania sets the entry bar for physician assistants at 3,851 training hours and a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Pennsylvania's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

The initial price tag is $270, and renewal costs $242 every 2 years. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 100 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
24/100
Physician Assistant · Pennsylvania

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
3,851 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$270
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$121/yr
$242 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 Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,851 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$270
Renewal Fee
$242
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 Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania, the license path calls for 3851 education/training hours, a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), and a $270 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in Pennsylvania, you must meet the state's requirements including 3851 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Pennsylvania licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Verify the specifics with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the physician assistant licensing process in Pennsylvania. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $242 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

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

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