Full Applications for Physician Assistants

The application process will take roughly four months. Processing time will take longer during the months of February through August, due to the increased number of residents and relocating physicians. We recommend you allow four months of total processing time if you wish to be granted a license during these months.

All physician assistants must receive a license from the Board prior to practicing medicine in NC. There are several pathways to licensure.

Physician Assistant Full License Application

90% of PAs apply using this license type.

NOT appropriate for any PA applicant with a completed FCVS profile. These applicants should use the full license application WITH FCVS (immediately below).
Applicants must first establish an account using the Licensure Gateway.

Physician Assistant Full License Application using FCVS

Applicants should NOT submit this application until their FCVS profile is complete.
May be used by any other PA applicants, though applicants who do not have a completed FCVS profile will find that this pathway takes significantly longer than the non-FCVS application (above).

Physician Assistant Full License Application – Expedited Requirements

About 10 percent of all PA applicants qualify for this license application

Available ONLY to PA applicants who meet strict eligibility requirements.
This application has fewer requirements than other full license applications but does not necessarily have a shortened time frame.
Applications from PAs who do not meet the eligibility requirements will be directed to reapply using the correct application type, which will delay the licensure process.

Who should complete this application?

Only those physician assistants who meet specific criteria may complete the expedited license application. A physician assistant must meet ALL FOUR of the requirements outlined below to apply.

1. Currently certified by NCCPA;
2. Currently holds a full unrestricted active license in one other state, or the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory or Canadian province for the previous five years immediately preceding the application;
3. Have been active in clinical practice providing patient care for an average of 20 hours or more per week for the last two years;
4. Have a clean license application (Click “Show More” for details)

If the Board determines, upon receipt of the application, that the applicant does not qualify, the applicant will need to notify the Board in writing requesting withdrawal of the application and a refund if payment was made.

Physician Assistant Military Relocation License

This application is available to PAs who are military service members or the spouse of a military service member who is relocating to North Carolina on military orders. View the eligibility requirements.
License is time-limited to the dates specified on the military orders.
The licensee is required to notify the Board when the military orders locating them in North Carolina have ended.

Reactivation of Physician Assistant License

Physician Assistants previously licensed in NC but have had the license made inactive within the past calendar year. NOTE: If the license was made inactive more than one year ago OR as a result of disciplinary action, the applicant MUST use the reinstatement application immediately below.

Reinstatement of Physician Assistant License

Physician Assistants previously licensed in NC who have been inactive for more than one year must submit this application OR were made inactive as a result of disciplinary action must submit this application.

Licensing and Registration