(A) To be eligible to receive a certificate 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 be of good moral character.
3. (3) 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.

4. (4) 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.

(B) Effective January 1, 2008, for purposes of division (A)(4)(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 the accreditation review commission on education for the physician assistant or a predecessor or successor 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 the accreditation review commission on education for the physician assistant or a predecessor or successor 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 council for higher education accreditation.

(C) For purposes of division (A)(4)(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 prior to January 1, 2008.
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 meet both of the following educational and military experience requirements:

   1. (a) Hold a degree obtained from a program accredited by the accreditation review commission on education for the physician assistant;
   2. (b) Have experience practicing as a physician assistant for at least three consecutive years 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.

(D) This section does not require an individual to obtain a master's or higher degree as a condition of retaining or renewing a certificate to practice as a physician assistant if the individual received the certificate 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.