Physician Assistant / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington 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 Washington data shows for Physician Assistants

Washington sets the entry bar for physician assistants at 4,216 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 Washington's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Budget $343 to get started, plus $303 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
21/100
Physician Assistant · Washington

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
4,216 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$343
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$152/yr
$303 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 Washington

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
4,216 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$343
Renewal Fee
$303
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 Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Washington? ▼
Washington's requirements cover 4216 hours of education or training, the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $343. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Washington? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in Washington, you must meet the state's requirements including 4216 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Washington licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Washington 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 Washington. Verify the specifics with the Washington licensing board.
Does Washington require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Yes, Washington 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 Washington? ▼
Washington ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $303 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

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

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

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