Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in District of Columbia means applying through the DC Board of Medicine, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles District of Columbia licensing and credentialing for you.
Official DC boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the DC Board of Medicine websiteHow to get licensed in District of Columbia
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the DC Board of Medicine, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, District of Columbia issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
DC Board of Medicine
The DC board sets District of Columbia's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$230
An estimate; confirm current fees with the DC Board of Medicine. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
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Renewing your District of Columbia PA license
Once you're licensed, the DC Board of Medicine requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month (birth-month cycle since June 16, 2024; odd or even year based on birth year)
- Renewal fee
- Not published by the board; confirm with the board
- Continuing education (CE)
- 100 hours of CE every 2 years (40 Category 1 + 60 Category 1 or 2), or current NCCPA certification; LGBTQ and public health priority hours are required either way
- 2 hours LGBTQ cultural competency (Category 1 or equivalent)
- 10 hours (at least 10% of required hours) in a DC Health-designated public health priority topic
- NCCPA certification substitutes for the general hours but not for the LGBTQ or public health priority hours
- How to renew
- Online through the DC Health licensing portalOpen the renewal portal
- NoteRenewal and late fees are shown in the DC Health licensing portal at renewal
- Note17 DCMR 4901 still states a Dec 31 even-year expiration, but DC Health moved all licenses to birth-month expiration effective June 16, 2024
- NoteDelegation agreement with the supervising physician must be on file with the Board of Medicine (and with the Pharmaceutical Control Division if prescribing)
- NoteDC controlled substance registration and DEA renew separately
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the DC Board of Medicine. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesDC Health - Board of Medicine (birth-month renewal transition)DC Health - Board of Medicine CE requirements17 DCMR 4906 - PA Continuing Education Requirements17 DCMR 4901 - Term of LicenseDC Health - Physician Assistants Licensing
Renewal tracking
Never miss a District of Columbia renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in District of Columbia
A District of Columbia license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your District of Columbia license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your District of Columbia license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in District of Columbia. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with District of Columbia Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles District of Columbia licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your District of Columbia license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the DC Board of Medicine. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire District of Columbia application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
District of Columbia physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in District of Columbia?
Most District of Columbia physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the DC Board of Medicine has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses physician assistants in District of Columbia?
Physician assistants in District of Columbia are licensed by the DC Board of Medicine, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the District of Columbia physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the District of Columbia physician assistant application fee is around $230. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the DC Board of Medicine before you apply.
How do I renew my District of Columbia PA license?
In District of Columbia, renewals are filed with the DC Board of Medicine. How to renew: Online through the DC Health licensing portal. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires on the last day of the licensee's birth month (birth-month cycle since June 16, 2024; odd or even year based on birth year). Continuing education: 100 hours of CE every 2 years (40 Category 1 + 60 Category 1 or 2), or current NCCPA certification; LGBTQ and public health priority hours are required either way. Required topics include 2 hours LGBTQ cultural competency (Category 1 or equivalent); 10 hours (at least 10% of required hours) in a DC Health-designated public health priority topic; NCCPA certification substitutes for the general hours but not for the LGBTQ or public health priority hours. This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a PA license in District of Columbia?
100 CE hours. The DC Board of Medicine publishes the requirement as: 100 hours of CE every 2 years (40 Category 1 + 60 Category 1 or 2), or current NCCPA certification; LGBTQ and public health priority hours are required either way. Required topics include 2 hours LGBTQ cultural competency (Category 1 or equivalent); 10 hours (at least 10% of required hours) in a DC Health-designated public health priority topic; NCCPA certification substitutes for the general hours but not for the LGBTQ or public health priority hours. Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a District of Columbia physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the DC Board of Medicine's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in District of Columbia?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In District of Columbia that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — District of Columbia Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a District of Columbia license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in District of Columbia — including by telehealth — you typically need a District of Columbia license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle District of Columbia physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every District of Columbia license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the District of Columbia application and payer enrollment end to end.