Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Pennsylvania means applying through the Pennsylvania State 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 Pennsylvania licensing and credentialing for you.
Official PA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine websiteHow to get licensed in Pennsylvania
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Pennsylvania State 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, Pennsylvania issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
The PA board sets Pennsylvania's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$30
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Pennsylvania State 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.
Free PA checklist
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Renewing your Pennsylvania PA license
Once you're licensed, the Pennsylvania State 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
- Biennial renewal period runs January 1 of odd years through December 31 of the next even year; renew by the end of the period
- Renewal fee
- $40 biennial renewal
- Continuing education (CE)
- Current NCCPA certification required to renew, plus Board-mandated child abuse and opioid education
- 2 hours of Board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting education each renewal (provider reports it electronically)
- 2 hours on pain management, identifying addiction, or opioid prescribing/dispensing (ABC-MAP; prescribers/dispensers)
- How to renew
- Online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS)Open the renewal portal
- NoteFirst-time PA licensees are exempt from CME for the renewal period in which they were licensed
- NoteHardship CME waiver requests are due 90 days before the end of the renewal period
- NoteWritten agreement with supervising physician(s) must remain current and on file with the Board
- NoteDEA registration renews separately
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesPA State Board of Medicine - CME Requirements for Physician Assistant License49 Pa. Code 16.13 - Licensing, examination and registration fees
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Pennsylvania renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Pennsylvania license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Pennsylvania State 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 Pennsylvania application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Pennsylvania physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Pennsylvania State 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 Pennsylvania?
Physician assistants in Pennsylvania are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Pennsylvania physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Pennsylvania physician assistant application fee is around $30. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine before you apply.
How do I renew my Pennsylvania PA license?
In Pennsylvania, renewals are filed with the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. How to renew: Online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Biennial renewal period runs January 1 of odd years through December 31 of the next even year; renew by the end of the period. Renewal fee: $40 biennial renewal. Continuing education: Current NCCPA certification required to renew, plus Board-mandated child abuse and opioid education. Required topics include 2 hours of Board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting education each renewal (provider reports it electronically); 2 hours on pain management, identifying addiction, or opioid prescribing/dispensing (ABC-MAP; prescribers/dispensers). 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 do I look up or verify a Pennsylvania physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Pennsylvania?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Pennsylvania 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 — Pennsylvania Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Pennsylvania — including by telehealth — you typically need a Pennsylvania license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Pennsylvania physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania application and payer enrollment end to end.