| License Description |
Occupational Description
Physician Assistants provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. They may conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients, and may, in some cases, prescribe medication.
A Physician Assistant may perform medical services that:
A. Are delegated by and provided under the supervision of a licensed Physician;
B. Are appropriate to the level of competence of the Physician Assistant;
C. Form a component of the supervising Physician's scope of practice;
D. Are not otherwise prohibited by law.
A Physician Assistant is considered an agent of his or her supervising Physician in the performance of practice-related activities delegated by the supervising Physician, including, but not limited to, ordering diagnostic, therapeutic, and other medical services.
A Physician Assistant may pronounce death and may complete and sign death certificates and any other forms, if such acts are within the scope of practice of the Physician Assistant, are delegated by his or her supervising Physician, and are not otherwise prohibited by law.
Licensure Requirements
Applicants must:1. Provide proof of graduation from an approved program;2. Provide certified proof of passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA);3. Be at least 19 years of age;4. Submit a completed application form and the required documentation;5. Pass a fingerprint criminal background check.A person who has not yet taken or passed the NCCPA exam may obtain a temporary license. The temporary license will expire one year from the date of issuance, or upon issuance of a license. Reciprocity- Nebraska Revised Statute 38-129.02 outlines a reciprocity pathway for individuals who are moving to Nebraska from another jurisdiction that has a similar license type.
Fees
Initial License Fee- $150.00, or $37.50 if initial license is obtained within 5 months prior to the nextexpiration date.Fingerprint Processing Fee- $45.25 (Paid directly to the Nebraska State Patrol) Patient Safety Cash Fund Fee - establishes 50 added to initial and renewal licenses to support the Patient Safety Cash Fund Fee. Additional information will be made available on the DHHS website: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Medicine-and-Surgery.aspx
Renewal
Renewal is required biennially by October 1 of each odd-numbered year. The renewal fee is $110.00.To qualify for license renewal, a Physician Assistant must meet one of the following:1. Complete 50 hours of category 1 continuing education coursework approved by theAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME ), the American OsteopathicAssociation (AOA ), or the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA ).Hours must have been earned within the 24 months immediately preceding the expiration of thelicense, with the exception that a licensee who has earned more than the 50 hours required forone renewal period may carry over up to 25 hours for the next renewal period.-OR-2. Meet the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA ) re-registrationrequirements within the 24 months immediately preceding the expiration of the license. NEW 2020 CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT:ATTENTION: All Physicians who prescribe controlled substances:Requirement: 3 hours of the 50 hours of Category 1 CE (continuing education) are required to be on thesubject of opioids and .5 hours of the 3 hours are required to be on the subject of the PDMP(Prescription Drug Monitoring Program).You can visit any or all the below links for CE hours regarding opioids and the PDMP:Pain Management Guidance at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Drug-Overdose-Prevention-PainManagement.aspx (The assessments for the section are on this page). Pain Management Guidance Main Video - https://youtu.be/RUEKeP8q4mA. Pain Management Guidance: Acute Pain - https://youtu.be/CqICT-jWZ2M. Pain Management Guidance: The Art of a Difficult Conversation https://youtu.be/544Y_D3t41A. Pain Management Guidance: Benzodiazepine and Opioid Taperinghttps://youtu.be/IGx2bsoz3NQNaloxone at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Drug-Overdose-Prevention-Naloxone.aspx:(The assessments for the section are on this page). Pharmacist Naloxone Education https://youtu.be/oyuTnOHAR_A. Prescriber Naloxone Education https://youtu.be/ghSYPNo1jigNebraska PDMP at: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Drug-Overdose-Prevention-PDMP-Access.aspx. PDMP Access - https://youtu.be/0ELgGSq4MBIBy viewing these videos the prescriber can meet BOTH the requirement for the statute requirements forlicense renewal AND the statute requirement to view the training before accessing the PDMP.Here is a breakdown of the available CMEs available for free at our website:Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Education - 0.5 hours (Required to renew your license)Pain Management - Guidance Main Video 1.0 hoursPain Management - Acute Pain 0.5 hoursPain Management - Difficult Conversations 0.5 hoursPain Management - Tapering Opioids/Benzodiazepines - 0.5 hoursPharmacist Naloxone Education - 0.5 HoursPrescriber Naloxone Education - 0.5 HoursAdd additional Waiver information: Initial License Fee Waiver:Beginning January 1, 2020, the initial licensure fee will be waived for applicants of licenses issued underthe Uniform Credentialing Act who are:1) A Young Worker (between the ages of 18 – 25 (or, 17 – 25 if licensed under the CosmetologyPractice Act));2) Military Family (active duty service members, military spouses, honorably dischargedveterans, spouses of honorably discharged veterans, and un-remarried surviving spouses ofdeceased service members); and,3) Low-Income (enrolled in a state or federal public assistant program like SNAP, TANF, etc orwhose household adjusted gross income is below 130% of the federal income povertyguideline).What Will This Not Affect?This change in statute will not waive the fee for criminal background checks for those professions thatrequire one. It will not waive the fee required for renewal or reinstatement of licensure, even if thelicensee could be classified as a young worker, military family, or low-income. The law will not waive thePatient Safety fee required of physicians, osteopathic physicians, or physician assistants.There is a fee waiver available for active duty military personnel for renewal listed under a separatestatute. |