<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 10.32.03.05" title_num="10" subtitle_num="32" chapter_num="03" heading="Qualifications for Licensure as a Physician Assistant.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Application. Applicants shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Complete an application on a form approved by the Board;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Pay an application fee as defined in Regulation .16 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Be at least 18 years old;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Be of good moral character; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Demonstrate oral and written competency in English by one or more of the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Graduation from a recognized English-speaking high school or undergraduate school after at least 3 years of enrollment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Graduation from a recognized English-speaking professional school; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Receiving a grade of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>At least 26 on the Speaking Section of the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>At least 79 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Education.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant who has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Have graduated from a physician assistant program accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), its predecessor, or its successor; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Have passed the physician assistant national certifying examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) or its successor.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In addition to the requirement specified in §B(1) of this regulation, an applicant who has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants after October 1st, 2003, shall have one of the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A bachelor’s degree; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>At least 120 credit hours of education at the college or university level.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Primary Source Verification. The Board may accept the Federation Credential Verification Service for primary source verification of a physician assistant's education and examination.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>