Florida Senate - 2023 SB 454 By Senator Avila 39-00788A-23 2023454__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to physician assistant licensure; 3 amending ss. 458.347 and 459.022, F.S.; revising 4 requirements for an applicant for licensure as a 5 physician assistant; providing an effective date. 6 7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8 9 Section 1.Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 10 458.347, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 11 458.347Physician assistants. 12 (6)PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE. 13 (a)Any person desiring to be licensed as a physician 14 assistant must apply to the department. The department shall 15 issue a license to any person certified by the council as having 16 met all of the following requirements: 17 1.Is at least 18 years of age. 18 2.Has completed graduated from an approved program. 19 a.For an applicant who matriculated graduated after 20 December 31, 2020, has received a masters degree in accordance 21 with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the 22 Physician Assistant or, before 2001, its equivalent or 23 predecessor organization. 24 b.For an applicant who graduated on or before December 31, 25 2020, has received a bachelors or masters degree from an 26 approved program. 27 c.For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1994, has 28 graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary 29 health care or surgery. 30 d.For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1983, has 31 received a certification as a physician assistant from the 32 boards. 33 e.The board may also grant a license to an applicant who 34 does not meet the educational requirement specified in this 35 subparagraph but who has passed the Physician Assistant National 36 Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission 37 on Certification of Physician Assistants before 1986. 38 3.Has obtained a passing score as established by the 39 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or 40 its equivalent or successor organization and has been nationally 41 certified. If an applicant does not hold a current certificate 42 issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician 43 Assistants or its equivalent or successor organization and has 44 not actively practiced as a physician assistant within the 45 immediately preceding 4 years, the applicant must retake and 46 successfully complete the entry-level examination of the 47 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or 48 its equivalent or successor organization to be eligible for 49 licensure. 50 4.Has completed the application form and remitted an 51 application fee not to exceed $300 as set by the boards. An 52 application for licensure as a physician assistant must include: 53 a.A diploma from an approved program. 54 b.Acknowledgment of any prior felony convictions. 55 c.Acknowledgment of any previous revocation or denial of 56 licensure or certification in any state. 57 Section 2.Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 58 459.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 59 459.022Physician assistants. 60 (6)PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE. 61 (a)Any person desiring to be licensed as a physician 62 assistant must apply to the department. The department shall 63 issue a license to any person certified by the council as having 64 met all of the following requirements: 65 1.Is at least 18 years of age. 66 2.Has completed graduated from an approved program. 67 a.For an applicant who matriculated graduated after 68 December 31, 2020, has received a masters degree in accordance 69 with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the 70 Physician Assistant or, before 2001, its equivalent or 71 predecessor organization. 72 b.For an applicant who graduated on or before December 31, 73 2020, has received a bachelors or masters degree from an 74 approved program. 75 c.For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1994, has 76 graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary 77 health care or surgery. 78 d.For an applicant who graduated before July 1, 1983, has 79 received a certification as a physician assistant from the 80 boards. 81 e.The board may also grant a license to an applicant who 82 does not meet the educational requirement specified in this 83 subparagraph but who has passed the Physician Assistant National 84 Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission 85 on Certification of Physician Assistants before 1986. 86 3.Has obtained a passing score as established by the 87 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or 88 its equivalent or successor organization and has been nationally 89 certified. If an applicant does not hold a current certificate 90 issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician 91 Assistants or its equivalent or successor organization and has 92 not actively practiced as a physician assistant within the 93 immediately preceding 4 years, the applicant must retake and 94 successfully complete the entry-level examination of the 95 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or 96 its equivalent or successor organization to be eligible for 97 licensure. 98 4.Has completed the application form and remitted an 99 application fee not to exceed $300 as set by the boards. An 100 application for licensure as a physician assistant must include: 101 a.A diploma from an approved program. 102 b.Acknowledgment of any prior felony convictions. 103 c.Acknowledgment of any previous revocation or denial of 104 licensure or certification in any state. 105 Section 3.This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.