Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Kentucky means applying through the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, 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 Kentucky licensing and credentialing for you.
Official KY boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure websiteHow to get licensed in Kentucky
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, 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, Kentucky issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
The KY board sets Kentucky's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$100
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. 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.
Free KY checklist
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Renewing your Kentucky PA license
Once you're licensed, the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Board emails renewal notice on or about February 1 of the renewal year; renew on or before March 31; late renewal (with penalty) through April 30, after which the license becomes inactive
- Renewal fee
- $150 (biennial renewal) (late fee: $50 penalty for late renewal; $150 to reregister an inactive license)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 100 hours CE in the previous 2 years (AMA, AOA, AAFP, AAPA or board-approved) plus proof of current NCCPA certification
- 7.5 hours on controlled substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders and/or KASPER use if authorized to prescribe Schedule II-V
- 12 hours addiction medicine for buprenorphine authorization (per 201 KAR 9:360)
- 1.5 hours pediatric abusive head trauma (first 2 years of licensure / before first renewal)
- 1 hour one-time course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal)
- 1 hour every 3 years on recognition and prevention of pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances
- How to renew
- Renew by the March 31 deadline in response to the Board's emailed renewal notice, through the KBML licensee profile (eBusiness portal)Open the renewal portal
- NoteCheck your license expiration date for your renewal year (odd or even)
- NotePracticing after April 30 without renewal is unlicensed practice
- NoteKASPER registration and a valid DEA registration are required to prescribe controlled substances (201 KAR 9:230)
- NoteRenew through the KBML eBusiness portal
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesKBML - Physician AssistantKBML - PA Fee ScheduleKRS 311.844 - Licensing of physician assistants, renewal, CE201 KAR 9:086 - PA license renewal; reregistration of inactive license201 KAR 9:360 - CE requirements for physician assistants
Renewal tracking
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Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Kentucky
A Kentucky 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 Kentucky license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Kentucky 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 Kentucky. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Kentucky 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 Kentucky licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Kentucky license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. 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 Kentucky application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Kentucky physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Kentucky?
Most Kentucky physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure 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 Kentucky?
Physician assistants in Kentucky are licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Kentucky physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Kentucky physician assistant application fee is around $100. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure before you apply.
How do I renew my Kentucky PA license?
In Kentucky, renewals are filed with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. How to renew: Renew by the March 31 deadline in response to the Board's emailed renewal notice, through the KBML licensee profile (eBusiness portal). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Board emails renewal notice on or about February 1 of the renewal year; renew on or before March 31; late renewal (with penalty) through April 30, after which the license becomes inactive. Renewal fee: $150 (biennial renewal) (late fee: $50 penalty for late renewal; $150 to reregister an inactive license). Continuing education: 100 hours CE in the previous 2 years (AMA, AOA, AAFP, AAPA or board-approved) plus proof of current NCCPA certification. Required topics include 7.5 hours on controlled substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders and/or KASPER use if authorized to prescribe Schedule II-V; 12 hours addiction medicine for buprenorphine authorization (per 201 KAR 9:360); 1.5 hours pediatric abusive head trauma (first 2 years of licensure / before first renewal); 1 hour one-time course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal); 1 hour every 3 years on recognition and prevention of pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances. 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 Kentucky?
100 CE hours. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure publishes the requirement as: 100 hours CE in the previous 2 years (AMA, AOA, AAFP, AAPA or board-approved) plus proof of current NCCPA certification. Required topics include 7.5 hours on controlled substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders and/or KASPER use if authorized to prescribe Schedule II-V; 12 hours addiction medicine for buprenorphine authorization (per 201 KAR 9:360); 1.5 hours pediatric abusive head trauma (first 2 years of licensure / before first renewal); 1 hour one-time course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal); 1 hour every 3 years on recognition and prevention of pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances. 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 Kentucky physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Kentucky?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Kentucky 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 — Kentucky Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Kentucky license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Kentucky — including by telehealth — you typically need a Kentucky license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Kentucky physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Kentucky 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 Kentucky application and payer enrollment end to end.