Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Texas means applying through the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board, 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 Texas licensing and credentialing for you.
Official TX boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board websiteHow to get licensed in Texas
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board, 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, Texas issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board
The TX board sets Texas's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$270
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board. 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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Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Texas PA license
Once you're licensed, the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board 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 registration expiration date printed on the license (biennial); online renewal opens 60-90 days before expiration, reminders sent at least 60 days ahead. No grace period.
- Renewal fee
- $576.48 (24-month registration: $535 agency fee + $2 Office of Patient Protection + $21 NPDB + $7 PHP + $11.48 PMP); ~$13.23 extra for credit card (late fee: Penalty of one-half the registration fee once expired; increases to a full registration fee after 90 days; license automatically cancelled after 1 year expired)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 hours CME every 24 months (at least 20 hours Category I from AAPA-approved sponsors); NCCPA certification exempts some CME requirements
- Minimum 20 hours Category I (AAPA-approved sponsors); remaining 20 may be Category II (informal)
- Human trafficking prevention course approved by Texas HHSC, every renewal
- 2 hours opioid/pain management for PAs who prescribe opioids or have PMP access
- 2 hours forensic evidence collection for PAs practicing in an emergency room setting (renewals on or after Sept 1, 2026)
- 1 hour nutrition and metabolic health for licenses expiring on or after May 30, 2027
- Up to 80 excess hours may carry forward for up to two years (human trafficking excluded)
- How to renew
- Online through the TMB Physician Assistant Online Registration/Renewal system: log in, review/update information, complete registration, pay fees, print receiptOpen the renewal portal
- NoteNCCPA certification is required for initial licensure but not for renewal of an active Texas PA license
- NoteIf online renewal is unavailable within 60 days of expiration, email Registrations@tmb.state.tx.us (subject 'PA renewal')
- NotePrescribing/supervision and delegation arrangements must stay current with TMB
- NoteCheck the expiration date printed on your license to plan the renewal window
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesTMB - Physician Assistant RenewalTMB - Continuing Education Requirements for Physician Assistants
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Texas renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Texas
A Texas 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 Texas license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Texas 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 Texas. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Texas 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 Texas licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Texas license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board. 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 Texas application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Texas physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Texas?
Most Texas physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board 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 Texas?
Physician assistants in Texas are licensed by the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Texas physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Texas physician assistant application fee is around $270. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board before you apply.
How do I renew my Texas PA license?
In Texas, renewals are filed with the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board. How to renew: Online through the TMB Physician Assistant Online Registration/Renewal system: log in, review/update information, complete registration, pay fees, print receipt. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires on the registration expiration date printed on the license (biennial); online renewal opens 60-90 days before expiration, reminders sent at least 60 days ahead. No grace period. Renewal fee: $576.48 (24-month registration: $535 agency fee + $2 Office of Patient Protection + $21 NPDB + $7 PHP + $11.48 PMP); ~$13.23 extra for credit card (late fee: Penalty of one-half the registration fee once expired; increases to a full registration fee after 90 days; license automatically cancelled after 1 year expired). Continuing education: 40 hours CME every 24 months (at least 20 hours Category I from AAPA-approved sponsors); NCCPA certification exempts some CME requirements. Required topics include Minimum 20 hours Category I (AAPA-approved sponsors); remaining 20 may be Category II (informal); Human trafficking prevention course approved by Texas HHSC, every renewal; 2 hours opioid/pain management for PAs who prescribe opioids or have PMP access; 2 hours forensic evidence collection for PAs practicing in an emergency room setting (renewals on or after Sept 1, 2026); 1 hour nutrition and metabolic health for licenses expiring on or after May 30, 2027; Up to 80 excess hours may carry forward for up to two years (human trafficking excluded). 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 Texas?
40 CE hours. The Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board publishes the requirement as: 40 hours CME every 24 months (at least 20 hours Category I from AAPA-approved sponsors); NCCPA certification exempts some CME requirements. Required topics include Minimum 20 hours Category I (AAPA-approved sponsors); remaining 20 may be Category II (informal); Human trafficking prevention course approved by Texas HHSC, every renewal; 2 hours opioid/pain management for PAs who prescribe opioids or have PMP access; 2 hours forensic evidence collection for PAs practicing in an emergency room setting (renewals on or after Sept 1, 2026); 1 hour nutrition and metabolic health for licenses expiring on or after May 30, 2027; Up to 80 excess hours may carry forward for up to two years (human trafficking excluded). 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 Texas physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Texas Medical Board — Physician Assistant Board's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Texas?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Texas 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 — Texas Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Texas license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Texas — including by telehealth — you typically need a Texas license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Texas physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Texas 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 Texas application and payer enrollment end to end.