Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Massachusetts means applying through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants, 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 Massachusetts licensing and credentialing for you.
Official MA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants websiteHow to get licensed in Massachusetts
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants, 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, Massachusetts issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants
The MA board sets Massachusetts's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$225
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants. 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 Massachusetts PA license
Once you're licensed, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Renew on or before March 1 of every odd-numbered year
- Renewal fee
- $150 (biennial) (late fee: $57 (if the renewal is received after the license expiration date))
- Continuing education (CE)
- 100 hours CE per 2-year renewal period, including at least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I
- At least 4 hours in pharmacology or pharmacokinetics
- At least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I
- PAs who prescribe controlled substances: training under M.G.L. c. 94C §18(e) on pain management, non-opioid alternatives, opioid misuse/addiction risk, identifying at-risk patients, patient counseling and overdose prevention
- Domestic and sexual violence training (one-time unless the Board requires a repeat, 263 CMR 3.08)
- How to renew
- Renew online through the Health Professions Licensing Portal by attesting, under penalty of perjury, to good moral character, the CE requirement, c. 94C section 18(e) prescriber training (if prescribing controlled substances) and domestic/sexual violence training; renewals are processed immediately and show on Check a License. Keep CE proof for Board audit.Open the renewal portal
- NoteYou cannot practice on an expired license; renewal help desk (617) 973-0800
- NoteLapsed under 2 years: reinstate with renewal application, all renewal and late fees, and NCCPA authorization; over 2 years also needs initial-application documentation
- NoteProof of CE is submitted only on Board request
- NoteRenewal does not require proof of current NCCPA certification (263 CMR 3.05)
- NoteMassachusetts Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) and DEA registration renew separately; the MCSR is prorated to expire with the PA license
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources263 CMR 3.05 - License Renewal (via Cornell LII)263 CMR 3.06 - Lapsed licenses (via Cornell LII)801 CMR 4.02 - Fee schedule (Board of Registration of Physician Assistants, via Cornell LII)M.G.L. c. 94C §18 - controlled-substance prescriber trainingMass.gov - Renew your physician assistant licenseMass.gov - Fees and License Renewal Schedules for Physician Assistants
Comparing states? See how often physician assistants renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: physician assistant license renewal requirements by state.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Massachusetts renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Massachusetts
A Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Massachusetts 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Massachusetts? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Massachusetts licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Massachusetts license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants. 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 Massachusetts application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Massachusetts physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Massachusetts?
Most Massachusetts physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants 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 Massachusetts?
Physician assistants in Massachusetts are licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Massachusetts physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Massachusetts physician assistant application fee is around $225. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants before you apply.
How do I renew my Massachusetts PA license?
In Massachusetts, renewals are filed with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants. How to renew: Renew online through the Health Professions Licensing Portal by attesting, under penalty of perjury, to good moral character, the CE requirement, c. 94C section 18(e) prescriber training (if prescribing controlled substances) and domestic/sexual violence training; renewals are processed immediately and show on Check a License. Keep CE proof for Board audit. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Renew on or before March 1 of every odd-numbered year. Renewal fee: $150 (biennial) (late fee: $57 (if the renewal is received after the license expiration date)). Continuing education: 100 hours CE per 2-year renewal period, including at least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I. Required topics include At least 4 hours in pharmacology or pharmacokinetics; At least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I; PAs who prescribe controlled substances: training under M.G.L. c. 94C §18(e) on pain management, non-opioid alternatives, opioid misuse/addiction risk, identifying at-risk patients, patient counseling and overdose prevention; Domestic and sexual violence training (one-time unless the Board requires a repeat, 263 CMR 3.08). This is as published by the board (last verified November 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 Massachusetts?
100 CE hours. The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants publishes the requirement as: 100 hours CE per 2-year renewal period, including at least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I. Required topics include At least 4 hours in pharmacology or pharmacokinetics; At least 40 hours AMA/AAPA Category I; PAs who prescribe controlled substances: training under M.G.L. c. 94C §18(e) on pain management, non-opioid alternatives, opioid misuse/addiction risk, identifying at-risk patients, patient counseling and overdose prevention; Domestic and sexual violence training (one-time unless the Board requires a repeat, 263 CMR 3.08). Last verified November 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 Massachusetts physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Massachusetts?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Massachusetts 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 — Massachusetts Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Massachusetts license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Massachusetts — including by telehealth — you typically need a Massachusetts license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Massachusetts physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts application and payer enrollment end to end.