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Bill

SB 190

Physician Assistant Licensure Compact.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Gale Adcock and 4 co-sponsors

North Carolina joins multistate physician assistant licensure compact, allowing PAs licensed in one compact state to practice across participating states without separate state licensure.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · SB 190

Legislative bill overview

SB 190 establishes North Carolina's participation in the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, a multistate agreement allowing licensed physician assistants to practice across participating states under a single license. The bill creates interstate licensure reciprocity, eliminating the need for PAs to obtain individual licenses in each state where they practice.

Why is this important

This compact addresses healthcare access and workforce mobility, particularly in rural areas and border regions where patients may cross state lines for care. It reduces licensing costs and administrative burden for PAs, potentially increasing their availability in underserved communities and improving healthcare delivery efficiency across state boundaries.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory oversight concerns: Critics may worry that streamlined licensure reduces state-specific quality control and disciplinary mechanisms, potentially creating gaps in consumer protection
  • Healthcare equity: Some states participating in the compact have different scope-of-practice standards; variation in PA autonomy across states could create inconsistent care standards and may disadvantage patients in states with broader PA authority
  • Local licensing revenue: States lose individual licensing fees and application processing revenue, shifting costs to existing licensees or state budgets

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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