§34-24-301. Temporary licenses.

(a) The board may, in its discretion, grant a temporary license to an applicant who meets the qualifications for licensure as an assistant to physician except that the applicant has not taken the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) or the National Certifying Examination for Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCEAA) for the first time or the applicant has taken the PANCE or the NCEAA for the first time and is awaiting the results. A temporary license is valid:

(1) For one year from the date issued, or

(2) Until the results of an applicant's examination are available, or

(3) Until the board makes a final decision on the applicant's request for licensure as an assistant to physician, whichever comes first.

(b) Assistants to physicians granted a temporary license will not be granted prescriptive privileges, allowed to practice without direct, on-site physician supervision, or allowed to practice in a remote practice site.

(c) The board, in its discretion, may waive the requirements in subsection (b).

(d) An assistant to physician who is granted a temporary license shall not practice or offer to practice in this state unless he or she is registered by the board in accordance with this article and the rules of the board.

(e) There shall be no independent unsupervised practice by an assistant to physician who is granted a temporary license.

(Act 98-604, p. 1324, §8.)