Becoming a Physician Assistant in Maine

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 8 2010

Physician Assistant Certification and License in Maine

Maine has one of the highest concentrations of employed Physician Assistants (PA) in the nation due to the high-demand and availability of Physician Assistant jobs.  This is a good sign for those interested in knowing how to become a Physician Assistant in Maine.  Job security is good and there are plenty of opportunities in a variety of settings. Before you settle into one of the Physician Assistant jobs in Maine, however, there are a number of steps would-be PAs must take. 

First, candidates must enroll in and graduate from an accredited Physician Assistant program in order to become a Physician Assistant in Maine.  These are typically two year, full time programs, on-campus programs that prepare students for the national certification exam and for a career in medicine. 

The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) is required for national certification of all PAs.  This is a multiple-choice test with approximately 300 questions.  The PANCE can be taken at test centers throughout the state. 

Once a PA is certified, they can then pursue the next step necessary to become a Physician Assistant in Maine:  The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine will require two things: 1) state license to practice, and 2) registration with a Primary Supervising Physician (PSP).  The license application must show proof of graduation from a PA program, date that the PANCE was taken and passed, two professional references, a passport photo, and a $200 non-refundable fee. There is also a written exam component to the Maine licensure process. Certified PAs can register with any PSP, but it is recommended to register with a PSP where they will be working after graduation.  The PSP registration has a $50 non-refundable fee.