36-4A-8. Issuance of license--Qualifications.

The board may grant a license to an applicant who:

(1)    Is of good moral character;

(2)    Has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor agency, or, prior to 2001, either by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program;

(3)    Has passed the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination administered by the National Committee on Education for Physician Assistants; and

(4)    Has submitted verification that the physician assistant applicant is not subject to any disciplinary proceeding or pending complaint before any medical or other licensing board unless the board considers such proceedings or complaint and agrees to licensure.

Source: SL 1973, ch 250, § 12; SL 1982, ch 273, § 2; SL 1999, ch 192, § 2; SL 2007, ch 207, § 6.

36-4A-8.1. Temporary license--Expiration.

The board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who has successfully completed an approved program and has submitted evidence to the board that the applicant is a candidate accepted to write the examination required by § 36-4A-8 or is awaiting the results of the first examination for which the applicant is eligible after graduation from an approved physician assistant program. A temporary license may be issued only once and is effective for a term of not more than one hundred twenty days. A temporary license expires on the occurrence of the following:

(1)    Issuance of a regular license;

(2)    Failure to pass the licensing examination; or

(3)    Expiration of the term for which the temporary license was issued.

Source: SL 1991, ch 301, § 1; SL 1999, ch 192, § 6; SL 2007, ch 207, § 7.

36-4A-8.2. Criminal background investigation of applicants for licensure and licensees under disciplinary investigation--Fees.

Each applicant for licensure as a physician assistant in this state shall submit to a state and federal criminal background investigation by means of fingerprint checks by the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon application, the board shall submit completed fingerprint cards to the Division of Criminal Investigation. Upon completion of the criminal background check, the Division of Criminal Investigation shall forward to the board all information obtained as a result of the criminal background check. This information shall be obtained prior to permanent licensure of the applicant. The board may require a state and federal criminal background check for any licensee who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation by the board. Failure to submit or cooperate with the criminal background investigation is grounds for denial of an application or may result in revocation of a license. The applicant shall pay for any fees charged for the cost of fingerprinting or the criminal background investigation.

Source: SL 2012, ch 193, § 2.