1. (A) To be eligible to receive a license to practice as a physician assistant, all of the following apply to an applicant:

   1. (1) The applicant shall be at least eighteen years of age.
   2. (2) The applicant shall hold current certification by the national commission on certification of physician assistants or a successor organization that is recognized by the state medical board.

   3. (3) The applicant shall meet either of the following requirements:

      1. (a) The educational requirements specified in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section;
      2. (b) The educational or other applicable requirements specified in division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

2. (B) For purposes of division (A)(3)(a) of this section, an applicant shall meet either of the following educational requirements:

   1. (1) The applicant shall hold a master's or higher degree obtained from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the board.

   2. (2) The applicant shall hold both of the following degrees:

      1. (a) A degree other than a master's or higher degree obtained from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the board;
      2. (b) A master's or higher degree in a course of study with clinical relevance to the practice of physician assistants and obtained from a program accredited by a regional or specialized and professional accrediting agency recognized by the board.

3. (C) For purposes of division (A)(3)(b) of this section, an applicant shall present evidence satisfactory to the board of meeting one of the following requirements in lieu of meeting the educational requirements specified in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section:

   1. (1) The applicant shall hold a current, valid license or other form of authority to practice as a physician assistant issued by another jurisdiction and either have been in active practice in any jurisdiction throughout the two-year period immediately preceding the date of application or have met one or more of the following requirements as specified by the board:

      1. (a) Passed an oral or written examination or assessment, or both types of examination or assessment, that determined the applicant's present fitness to resume practice;
      2. (b) Obtained additional training and passed an examination or assessment on completion of the training;
      3. (c) Agreed to limitations on the applicant's extent, scope, or type of practice.
   2. (2) The applicant shall hold a degree obtained as a result of being enrolled on January 1, 2008, in a program in this state that was accredited by the accreditation review commission on education for the physician assistant but did not grant a master's or higher degree to individuals enrolled in the program on that date, and completing the program on or before December 31, 2009.

   3. (3) The applicant shall hold a degree obtained from an organization recognized by the board and meet either of the following experience requirements:

      1. (a) Either have experience practicing as a physician assistant for at least two consecutive years immediately preceding the date of application while on active duty, with evidence of service under honorable conditions, in any of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard of any state, including any experience attained while practicing as a physician assistant at a health care facility or clinic operated by the United States department of veterans affairs or have met one or more of the following requirements as specified by the board:

         1. (i) Passed an oral or written examination or assessment, or both types of examination or assessment, that determined the applicant's present fitness to resume practice;
         2. (ii) Obtained additional training and passed an examination or assessment on completion of the training;
         3. (iii) Agreed to limitations on the applicant's extent, scope, or type of practice;

      2. (b) Either have experience practicing as a physician assistant for at least two consecutive years immediately preceding the date of application while on active duty in the United States public health service commissioned corps or have met one or more of the following requirements as specified by the board:

         1. (i) Passed an oral or written examination or assessment, or both types of examination or assessment, that determined the applicant's present fitness to resume practice;
         2. (ii) Obtained additional training and passed an examination or assessment on completion of the training;
         3. (iii) Agreed to limitations on the applicant's extent, scope, or type of practice.

4. (D) This section does not require an individual to obtain a master's or higher degree as a condition of retaining or renewing a license to practice as a physician assistant if the individual received the license without holding a master's or higher degree as provided in either of the following:

   1. (1) Before the educational requirements specified in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section became effective January 1, 2008;
   2. (2) By meeting the educational or other applicable requirements specified in division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation. Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:06 AM