Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Rhode Island means applying through the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, 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 Rhode Island licensing and credentialing for you.
Official RI boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline websiteHow to get licensed in Rhode Island
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, 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, Rhode Island issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
The RI board sets Rhode Island's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$110
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. 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 RI checklist
Get the complete Rhode Island physician assistant licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Rhode Island PA license
Once you're licensed, the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years; file the renewal application and fee on or before June 1 of the odd-numbered year (renewal applications go out by March 1)
- Renewal fee
- $110
- Continuing education (CE)
- 25 hours of approved CME every year (October 1-September 30 accumulation period); the license is not renewed without proof
- 25 hours per year from approved sponsors (e.g. AAPA, ACCME, AAFP, AOA)
- How to renew
- File the renewal application and fee with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) professional licensing
- NoteRI Controlled Substances Registration ($200) and DEA registration renew separately
- NoteA PA out of active practice 2+ years may need CME documentation, NCCPA maintenance and a clinical competency evaluation (e.g. CPEP) to reactivate
- NoteInactive-list PAs pay no renewal fee until restored to active status
- NoteConfirm any late fee and the online renewal option with RIDOH
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources216-RICR-40-05-24 - Licensure of Physician Assistants (24.6 issuance and renewal)216-RICR-10-05-2 - RIDOH fee structure (PA renewal $110)R.I. Gen. Laws 5-54-11 - Issuance and renewal of certificates of licensureR.I. Gen. Laws 5-54-22 - Continuing medical education
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Rhode Island renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Rhode Island
A Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Rhode Island license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. 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 Rhode Island application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Rhode Island physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Rhode Island?
Most Rhode Island physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline 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 Rhode Island?
Physician assistants in Rhode Island are licensed by the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Rhode Island physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Rhode Island physician assistant application fee is around $110. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline before you apply.
How do I renew my Rhode Island PA license?
In Rhode Island, renewals are filed with the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. How to renew: File the renewal application and fee with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) professional licensing. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years; file the renewal application and fee on or before June 1 of the odd-numbered year (renewal applications go out by March 1). Renewal fee: $110. Continuing education: 25 hours of approved CME every year (October 1-September 30 accumulation period); the license is not renewed without proof. Required topics include 25 hours per year from approved sponsors (e.g. AAPA, ACCME, AAFP, AOA). 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 Rhode Island?
50 CE hours. The Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline publishes the requirement as: 25 hours of approved CME every year (October 1-September 30 accumulation period); the license is not renewed without proof. Required topics include 25 hours per year from approved sponsors (e.g. AAPA, ACCME, AAFP, AOA). 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 Rhode Island physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Rhode Island?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Rhode Island 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 — Rhode Island Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Rhode Island license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Rhode Island — including by telehealth — you typically need a Rhode Island license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Rhode Island physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island application and payer enrollment end to end.