KRS § 311.844 Licensing of physician assistants -- Requirements -- Endorsement from other state -- Renewal of license -- Continuing education. (Effective July 15, 2026)

311.844 Licensing of physician assistants -- Requirements -- Endorsement from other state -- Renewal of license -- Continuing education. (Effective July 15, 2026) (1) To be licensed by the board as a physician assistant, an applicant shall: (a) Submit a completed application form with the required fee; (b) Be of good character and reputation; (c) Be a graduate of an approved program; and (d) Have passed an examination approved by the board within three (3) attempts or have been granted a waiver by the board. (2) A physician assistant who is authorized to practice in another state and who is in good standing may apply for licensure by endorsement from the state of his or her credentialing if that state has standards substantially equivalent to those of this Commonwealth. (3) A physician assistant's license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed by the board upon fulfillment of the following requirements: (a) The holder shall be of good character and reputation; (b) The holder shall provide evidence of completion, during the previous two (2) years, of a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of continuing education approved by the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, or by another entity approved by the board. The one hundred (100) hours of continuing education required by this paragraph shall include: 1. During the first two (2) years of licensure or prior to the first licensure renewal: a. One and one-half (1.5) hours of continuing education in the prevention and recognition of pediatric abusive head trauma, as defined in KRS 620.020, except that graduating physician assistant students may apply pediatric abusive head trauma curriculum taught in their physician assistant graduate education to count towards the required one and one-half (1.5) hours; and b. As a part of the continuing education requirements that the board adopts to ensure continuing competency of present and future licensees and the evolving needs of the growing senior population, the board shall ensure physician assistants licensed under KRS Chapter 311 complete a one (1) time course of one (1) hour of continuing education approved by the board. The course shall be completed one (1) time and count towards the current number of required continuing education hours, except that graduating student physician assistants may submit Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia course curriculum taught in their programs of study towards the required one (1) hour for approval. The course topics shall include but not be limited to: i. The warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; ii. The importance of early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate communication techniques for discussion of memory concerns with the patient and his or her caregiver; iii. Cognitive assessment and care planning billing codes; iv. The variety of tools used to assess a patient's cognition; and v. Current treatments that may be available to the patient; 2. If the license holder is authorized, pursuant to KRS 311.858(4), to prescribe and administer Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances, a minimum of seven and one-half (7.5) hours of approved continuing education relating to controlled substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders, use of the electronic system for monitoring controlled substances established in KRS 218A.202, or any combination of two (2) or more of these subjects; and 3. At least one (1) hour one (1) time every three (3) years continuing education in the recognition and prevention of pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances; and (c) The holder shall provide proof of current certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Effective: July 15, 2026 History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 68, sec. 22, effective July 15, 2026; and ch. 94, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 4, effective July 15, 2024; and ch. 218, sec. 5, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2021 Ky. Acts ch. 70, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2021. -- Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 39, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2020. -- Amended 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 113, sec. 7, effective June 24, 2015. -- Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 171, sec. 11, effective July 15, 2010. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 78, sec. 3, effective July 12, 2006. -- Created 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 25, effective July 15, 2002. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/2026). This statute was amended by 2026 Ky. Acts chs. 68 and 94, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/12/2006). 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 78, sec. 11, provides: "A physician assistant who is certified in Kentucky and in good standing on the effective date of this Act [July 12, 2006] shall automatically be licensed under Sections 1 to 10 of this Act [KRS 311.840, 311.842, 311.844, 311.845, 311.846, 311.848, 311.850, 311.852, 311.856, and 311.862] and shall be issued a physician assistant license upon annual renewal."