Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Temporary Certificate for Physician Assistants to Practice in an Area of Critical Need.
General Licensure Requirements
Requirements for a physician assistant to practice in an approved area of critical need include the following:
- Complete and submit an application for licensure.
- Complete a background screening with an approved Livescan provider. Visit flhealthsource.gov/background-screening for additional information.
- Hold a current and valid license to practice as a physician assistant in any jurisdiction of the United States.
- Must practice medicine only in approved areas of critical need. Review section 458.315, Florida Statutes, for additional information.
- Must demonstrate the active licensed practice of medicine as a physician assistant during the three-year period immediately preceding the application for licensure.
Applicants with Health History
If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the health history questions on your application for licensure, provide the following documents:
A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.
A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.
Applicants with Disciplinary History
If you have ever been denied a license, had disciplinary action taken against a license, or have had other action taken against you by a licensing agency, you will need to submit the following for each denial and action:
- Written self-explanation describing in detail the circumstances surrounding the circumstances of the action.
- Agency records of that action, including all administrative complaints and final orders.
If you are currently under investigation or prosecution in any jurisdiction for an act that would constitute a violation under section 456.072, Florida Statutes or section 458.331, Florida Statutes, please submit the following:
- Written self-explanation describing in detail the circumstances surrounding the investigation or prosecution.
- A letter from the state board/entity explaining the results of the investigation or prosecution.
Failure to disclose disciplinary history on your application may result in the denial of your application for licensure.
All actions are reviewed by the Chair of the Council on Physician Assistants to determine whether a personal appearance is required at a council meeting. If you are required to appear, you will be notified in writing by Board staff within 30 days of the scheduled meeting.
Applicants with Criminal History
If you have ever been found guilty of or had adjudication withheld for, or pled guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to a crime in any jurisdiction other than a minor traffic offense, submit the following for each conviction:
- Written self-explanation describing in detail the circumstances surrounding the arrest and conviction.
- Arrest records from the arresting jurisdiction.
- Final disposition of the case.
- Documents showing completion of sentence (probation, parole, sanctions, fines, etc.).
If arrest, disposition, or completion of sentencing records are unavailable, the clerk of courts or other agency responsible for those records may submit documentation attesting to the unavailability of those records.
Failure to disclose criminal history on your application that impacts the practice of medicine or your ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety may result in the denial of your application for licensure.
Some criminal history may require a review by the Chair of the Council on Physician Assistants to determine whether a personal appearance is required at a council meeting. If you are required to appear, you will be notified in writing by Board staff within 30 days of the scheduled meeting.
Applicants with Criminal and Medicaid/Medicare Fraud History
Important Notice: Applicants for licensure, certification, or registration and candidates for examination may be excluded from licensure, certification, or registration if their felony convictions fall into certain timeframes as established in section 456.0635(2), Florida Statutes.
If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the criminal and Medicaid/Medicare fraud questions on your application for licensure, provide the following documents:
- Written self-explanation for each question including the county and state of each termination or conviction, date of each termination or conviction, and copies of supporting documentation.
- Supporting documentation including court dispositions or agency orders where applicable.
Electronic Fingerprinting
Effective January 1, 2013, applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to the applicant. The results of the search will be returned to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse and made available to the Department of Health for consideration during the licensure process. The fingerprints submitted by the applicant will be retained by FDLE and the Clearinghouse. All costs for conducting a criminal history background screening are borne by the applicant.
Please ensure that the Originating Agency Identification (ORI) number is provided to the Livescan service provider when you submit your fingerprints. If you do not provide an ORI number or if you provide an incorrect ORI number to the Livescan service provider, the Board office will not receive your fingerprint results. The applicant is fully responsible for selecting the Livescan service provider and ensuring submission of the prints to the Department of Health.
You can find an approved Livescan service provider at https://www.flhealthsource.gov/background-screening.
Please take this form with you to the Livescan service provider. Please check the Livescan service provider’s requirements to see if you need to bring any additional items. Also verify that the ORI number submitted by the Livescan service provider matches the information provided.
Section 456.013(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires an applicant to complete and submit a board-approved application to be considered for licensure. To expedite your application for licensure, you may apply online for a temporary certificate to practice in an approved area of critical need at https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal. All initial applications are processed in date order. An incomplete application shall expire one year after initial filing.
After an initial review, if it is determined that additional supporting documents are required to complete your application for licensure, a deficiency letter will be emailed or mailed to you within 30 calendar days outlining all outstanding supporting documents to complete your application.
The licensing process involves the collection of supporting documents to complete your application. Once all supporting documents are received and reviewed, your online status will be updated, and an initial license number will be issued within three to five business days.
Some applicants may have to appear before the Council on Physician Assistants at one of their regularly scheduled meetings before a license can be issued. Reasons for an appearance may include previous disciplinary action in another state, malpractice history, criminal history that impacts the practice of medicine or your ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety, health history and other application deficiencies. Having one of these issues does not automatically require an appearance as each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Chair of the Council on Physician Assistants. You will be notified in writing if a personal appearance is required.
This temporary and restricted license allows you to practice as a physician assistant in:
- Area of critical need as determined by the State Surgeon General
- County health department
- Correctional facility
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs clinic
- Community health center funded by section s. 329, s. 330, or s. 340 of the United States Public Services Act
- Another agency or institution approved by the State Surgeon General that provides health care services to meet the needs of underserved populations in Florida
- Area for a limited time to address critical physician-specialty, demographic, or geographic needs for Florida’s physician workforce as determined by the State Surgeon General
Visit the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) website for more information: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find.
A recipient of a temporary certificate for practice in an area of critical need must, within 30 days after accepting employment, notify the Board of all approved institutions in which the licensee practices and all approved institutions where practice privileges have been denied.
Supporting Documents for Licensure:
- A complete application for licensure.
- Background screening results from an approved Livescan provider.
- An official verification of your physician assistant or medical degree.
- An official license verification from a state board of licensing authority of any state or territory.
- Letter of intent from an employer who intends to employ you in an approved area of critical need.
- Copy of your self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank.
- Documentation pertaining to affirmative response(s) on application for licensure.
Fees | Amount |
Application Fee (non-refundable) | $0.00 |
Initial Licensing Fee | $0.00 |
Unlicensed Activity Fee | $0.00 |
Total | $0.00 |
Florida Statutes
By clicking a link, you will be connected to the Florida Legislature website, which is the official custodian of the statutes.
Section 458.315: Temporary Certificate for Practice in Areas of Critical Need
Section 459.0076: Temporary Certificate for Practice in Areas of Critical Need
Section 456.072: Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement
Section 458.331: Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the board and department
Florida Administrative Code
By clicking a link, you will be connected to the Florida Department of State: State Library and Archives of Florida website, which is the official custodian of the administrative codes.
Chapter 64B8-30: Physician Assistant
Chapter 64B15-6: Physician Assistant