States Practice Restrictions On Physician Assistants Vary Widely

State-set practice restrictions on physician assistants (PAs) vary widely according to an analysis by the National Governors’ Association (NGA). As of December 2013, more than 95,000 certified PAs practiced in the United States. PAs represented 10% of the primary care workforce and represented 9% of clinical professionals staffing community health centers. According to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) which is the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States, between 2003 and 2013 , the PA workforce increased by 219%. Between 2012 and 2013, the number of PAs increased by 6%. About 6,000 . . .