PRINTER'S NO. 954
No. 880 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, MARKOSEK, GORDNER, MICOZZIE, VANCE,
HARHAI, READSHAW, BARRAR, DeLUCA, TRUE, MELIO, TRICH, SAYLOR,
DALLY, GLADECK, HERMAN, ALLEN, TULLI, BARD, STEELMAN AND
YEWCIC, MARCH 15, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 15, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
2 entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
3 and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
4 reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
5 Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
6 its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
7 issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
8 revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties;
9 and making repeals," further providing for physician
10 assistant certificates.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. Section 36 of the act of December 20, 1985
14 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
15 amended to read:
16 Section 36. Physician assistant certificate.
17 (a) General rule.--A physician assistant certificate
18 empowers the holder to assist a medical doctor in the provision
19 of medical care and services under the supervision and direction
20 of that medical doctor as provided in this act.
21 (b) Requirements.--No physician assistant certificate may be
1 issued to the applicant unless the requirements set forth by
2 this act and such rules and regulations issued by the board are
3 met, including requirements for the physician assistant
4 certificate of training and educational programs which shall be
5 formulated by the board in accordance with such national
6 criteria as are established by national organizations or
7 societies as the board may accept.
8 (c) Criteria.--The board shall grant physician assistant
9 certificates to applicants who have fulfilled the following
10 criteria:
11 (1) Satisfactory performance on the proficiency
12 examination to the extent that a proficiency examination
13 exists.
14 (2) Satisfactory completion of a certified program for
15 the training and education of physician assistants.
16 (3) For candidates for initial certification after
17 January 1, 2002, a baccalaureate or higher degree from a
18 college or university and have completed not less than 60
19 clock hours of didactic instruction in pharmacology or other
20 related courses as the board may approve by regulation.
21 (d) Biennial renewal.--A physician assistant certificate
22 shall be subject to biennial renewal by the board.
23 (e) Description of manner of assistance.--The application
24 shall include a written request from the applicant's supervising
25 medical doctor who shall file with the board a description of
26 the manner in which the physician assistant will assist the
27 supervising medical doctor, which description shall be subject
28 to the approval of the board.
29 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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