How to Become a PA in Arizona

Please note that information contained on this website does not represent the Arizona PA Practice Act in its entirety, but rather helpful hints to PAs seeking employment in the state of Arizona. All potential Arizona PAs should review the Arizona Revised Statutes and Rules for PAs, which can be found on the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (ARBoPA or PA Board) website, www.azpa.gov.

Steps to Qualifying for PA Employment in Arizona

Before a PA can work in the state of Arizona, he or she must have a state license and a board approved supervising physician. The Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (ARBoPA) is the body that licenses and regulates all PAs in the state.

Office location: 9545 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone number: 480-551-2700 & 877-255-2212
Website: http://www.azpa.gov/
Email address: questions@azpa.gov

PA License and Notice of Supervision Applications

Basic requirements for PA licensure include, but are not limited to:

Graduation from an approved PA training program.
Successful completion of the PA National Certifying Exam
Additional requirements can be found under the PA Center of the ARBoPA’s website, http://www.azpa.gov/.

A PA license application form can be downloaded from the ARBoPA’s website, www.azpa.gov.
In addition to the license application, a PA must submit a Notice of Supervision form identifying the intended supervising physician. This form must be approved by the PA Board before the PA can begin working. As with the PA license application form, the Notice of Supervision form can be downloaded from the ARBoPA’s website, http://www.azpa.gov/.

Supervisory Requirement for PAs in Arizona

As noted above, the following supervisory requirements are not inclusive of all statutory and regulatory requirements for PAs employed in the state of Arizona. All Arizona PA license applicants should review the Arizona Revised Statutes and Rules for PAs, which can be found on the ARBoPA website, www.azpa.gov.

New and Terminated PA Positions

A PA may not begin practicing until his supervising physician’s “Notice of Supervision” form has been approved by the ARBoPA.
A supervising physician may designate a supervising agent to provide consultation and supervision when the supervising physician is not immediately available. The supervising physician remains responsible for the acts of a PA when the PA is supervised by a supervising physician's agent.
A PA may not work under his supervising agents until the “Supervising Physician Agent Addition” page of the Notice of Supervision application has been approved.
THE PA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING THAT ALL FORMS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED BY THE PA BOARD. For example, if the administrative staff of the PA’s employer submits the PA’s state license application and Notice of Supervision forms, the PA is still responsible for verifying that all forms have been completed accurately, processed accordingly and subsequently approved by the PA Board before commencing with practice duties.
In the event that the supervisory relationship between a PA and his supervising physician ends, the associated Notice of Supervision form is null and void. The supervising physician and the PA must notify the PA Board in writing about the termination. Also, the PA must cease working under the agents listed under the terminated Notice of Supervision form. Finally, the PA may not work until another Notice of Supervision form designating a new supervising physician has been filed with and approved by the PA Board.

Supervisory Guidelines

Arizona Revised Statutes define PA supervision as, “a physician's opportunity or ability to provide or exercise control over the services of a PA. Supervision does not require a physician's constant physical presence if the supervising physician or the supervising physician's agent is or can be easily in contact with the PA by radio, telephone or telecommunication.”
PAs may only perform tasks that are within the scope of practice of their supervising physician. The supervising physician may not delegate tasks to the PA that he cannot or does not perform himself.
All Arizona PAs must meet in person with their supervising physician at least once a week to review patient management issues. If the supervising physician is unavailable to meet due to vacation, illness or continuing education programs, a PA may meet with the supervising physician's agent.
A PA shall not perform health care tasks in a place which is geographically separated from the supervising physician's primary place for meeting patients without the authorization of the supervising physician and the PA Board. The PA Board may approve the performance of health care tasks by a PA in a place which is geographically separated from the supervising physician's primary place for meeting patients if:
- Adequate provision for immediate communication between the supervising physician or supervising physician's agent and the PA exists.
- The PA's performance of health care tasks is adequately supervised and reviewed.
- A printed announcement which contains the names of the PA and supervising physician and states that the facility employs a PA who is performing health care tasks under the supervision of a licensed physician is posted in the waiting room of the geographically separated site.
At all times while the PA is on duty, he or she must wear a nametag designating him or herself a “Physician Assistant”.
A supervising physician may not supervise more than two PAs at the same time and at the same location.

Prescribing Privileges

Supervising physicians may delegate the prescription of non-controlled substances as well as schedule II-V medications to PAs. The prescribing of schedule II-V substances is restricted, as described below.
Before a PA may prescribe, administer or dispense schedule II-V medications, he or she must have an active state license, his or her own DEA number and the task must be delegated to him or her on the approved Notice of Supervision form.
Unless otherwise notified by the PA Board, PAs licensed in the state of Arizona are only able to prescribe schedule II-III medications for up to 72 hours. PAs who wish to prescribe schedule II-III medications for up to 14 days may apply to do so as part of their Notice of Supervision application.
If the PA has been approved for 14-day prescribing privileges of schedule II and III medications, he or she must devise a system for recording and reviewing every prescription written for this timeframe.
All prescription orders issued by the PA shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the Supervising Physician.

For more information on the practical aspects of working as a PA in Arizona, please contact any ASAPA board member or the chair of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee. Click here for the on-line listing of current officer contact information. Visit the ARBoPA website at www.azpa.gov for further information and to download applications for licensure and notice of supervision.