PA job titles, practice requirements get changes in four states

Author(s):

Richard Payerchin

Fact checked by:

Todd Shryock

Key Takeaways

Maine and New Hampshire have changed the title from "physician assistant" to "physician associate," reflecting the profession's evolving role in healthcare.
Oklahoma and South Dakota have modified practice rules, reducing physician supervision requirements for experienced PAs, enhancing their autonomy.
Legislative changes aim to clarify PA roles, improve patient care access, and align with broader healthcare modernization efforts.
Advocacy and collaboration with policymakers were crucial in achieving these legislative advancements, demonstrating growing support for PA role evolution.

Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Oklahoma lawmakers approve new rules; PA organization says momentum is building for the profession.

group of four physician assistants: © Iryna - stock.adobe.com

Changes to physician associate (PA) job titles and duties were part of four recent state actions.

This month Maine became the second state and New Hampshire the third to change the formal recognized name of physician assistants to physician associates. In Oklahoma and South Dakota, the respective legislatures changed PA rules of practice, including requirements for working with physicians.

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) announced the changes that “reflect the profession’s true role in health care.”

Name in New Hampshire

AAPA President and Board Chair Jason Prevelige, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA, said the recent success in Maine and New Hampshire shows legislative momentum is building fast.

“With the enactment of title change laws in two additional states this year, we have proven that title change is not just an aspiration for our profession — it’s a change lawmakers can get behind,” Prevelige said in a news release. “When PA advocates build relationships with policymakers and illuminate how the title ‘assistant’ is confusing patients and keeping PAs in a box, we can secure the support we need. I am excited to see how we can build on this progress in 2026.”

In New Hampshire, the state had a bipartisan study committee that reported the title “assistant” created confusion about the role and responsibilities of PAs. “The committee concluded that modernizing PA practice laws and removing supervision requirements would improve access to care and called for legislation to update the title of profession,” the AAPA statement said.

Modernizing the title clarifies provider roles for patients while aligning with broader modernization efforts, said Chantell Taylor, AAPA chief of public affairs and advocacy.

“It’s very hard to convince a lawmaker that PAs have the experience, education and training to practice without physician supervision when their title is ‘assistant,’” Taylor said in the news release. “Moving forward, AAPA will bring explore the lessons learned in New Hampshire to drive strategy and progress in states where the title and practice laws need an update.”

The organization worked with the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates on the effort.

“The NHSPA Legislative Committee took the ball and ran with the fact that the study committee produced no criticisms, except the recommendation of pursuing title change,” NHSPA President Malcolm Hauthaway, MS, PA, said. “There also was a state legislator on the study committee, who went on to strongly support and sponsor the title change bill throughout legislative sessions, while some of the NHSPA’s members executed grassroots efforts in educating their local legislators.”

Maine action

In Maine, the Maine Academy of Physician Associates (MEAPA) had a similar legislative effort, lasting two years there with lawmakers, the Board of Licensure in Medicine, and the University of New England, which has the state’s only PA program.

“It is an exciting time to be a PA, and we can’t wait to see the positive change this has with our patients and with our role in the health care system,” MEAPA Vice President Kathleen Moneghan, DHA, MPAS, PA-C, said in a news release.

Oklahoma changes

In Oklahoma, Gov. J. Kevin Stitt this year vetoed legislation to change work rules for PAs. State representatives and senators voted to override that veto on rules to take effect Aug. 28. The law there removes the requirement for PA-physician practice agreement for PAs with more than 6,240 hours of clinical experience, according to AAPA.

PAs also are allowed to prescribe Schedule 3 through 5 drugs, and now will be allowed to prescribe Schedule 2 drugs if they are practicing under a practice agreement with a physician. The change will offer patients greater flexibility in care, according to AAPA.

“PAs are a vital component of the health care workforce. The passage of this law allows PAs to do what PAs do best, take care of patients,” Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates (OAPA) Jeff Burke, PA-C, said in a news release. “We are excited for the future and can’t wait for what tomorrow brings.”

Burke credited Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton for authoring the bill.

South Dakota practice rules

In South Dakota, legislators this spring eliminated the requirement for PAs to have a collaboration agreement with a specific physician once the PA reaches 6,000 hours, equal to three years of full-time practice. The law takes effect July 1 and the South Dakota Academy of PAs will work with that state’s Board of Medicine and Osteopathic Examiners on implementing the changes, a news release said.

The bill “is the culmination of half a decade’s work of advocacy and education to modernize South Dakota’s PA practice laws to better reflect PA’s education, training, and competencies,” said SDAPA Legislative Chair Kayla Frank, PA-C.