Maryland Expedited License Pathways

Expedited Licensure For Physician Assistants

Criminal History Records Check Required

A criminal history records check is required by law in Maryland.

Completing your background check before you begin will speed the licensure process. CHRC Instructions (opens in a new window)

Purpose of Expedited Licensure Pathways

Obtaining and sending paper credentials to apply for a new license is a lengthy and expensive process for physician assistant applicants. The purpose of licensure through an expedited pathway in Maryland is to minimize the administrative burden on the applicant while concurrently ensuring minimum qualifications are met to protect the public.

Through these expedited pathways, the Board will make every effort to verify credentials available through reports and data. Board staff will contact the applicant if any information in the application cannot be verified or differs from the verifiable information.

Licensure by Endorsement

Under this process, the Maryland Board would accept the physician assistant's current license as sufficient evidence that the applicant has met some or all of the requirements for licensure. A physician assistant endorsement applicant would not have to undergo a lengthy credentialing process except to fulfill Maryland-specific requirements.

"Endorsement" requires additional minimum qualifications set by the Board such as no disciplinary actions, good moral character, etc. These requirements are determined through the Eligibility Screening and through the responses to the "Character and Fitness" section of the application.

Licensure by Reciprocity for Virginia and D.C. Licensees Only

Under this process, the Maryland Board would accept the physician assistant's current license in Virginia or the District of Columbia (D.C.) as sufficient evidence that the applicant has met some or all of the requirements for licensure. A physician assistant reciprocity application would not have to undergo a lengthy credentialing process except to fulfill Maryland-specific requirements.

"Reciprocity" requires additional minimum qualifications set by the Board such as no disciplinary actions and good moral character, etc. These requirements are determined through the Eligibility Screening and through the responses to the "Character and Fitness" section of the application.

Applicants who passed the physician assistant certifying examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) (opens in a new tab) before 1986 do not qualify for reciprocity.

Things to Know Before You Begin

Expedited licensure is restricted to physician assistant applicants who have never been issued a Maryland medical license.
Applicants must meet the requirements for the expedited pathway selected.
Applicants must complete the screening questions and the online application.
Applicants must submit payment of the application review and processing fee. Payment 1: Application review and processing fee of $310.
If the application is approved, the applicant will be required to sign in and make the second payment of the monthly licensure fee.
Payment 2: Prorated $10 monthly licensure fee assessed from the month of license application approval to the month of license expiration. Prorated licensure fee will not exceed $240.
There are no refunds if the Board determines that the applicant does not qualify for the expedited pathway selected.

Expedited Licensing

Eligible physician assistants may apply for Endorsement or Reciprocity.

To determine whether you are eligible for licensure by endorsement and to begin the application process, visit:

Endorsement Eligibility Screening

To determine whether you are eligible for licensure by reciprocity and to begin the application process, visit:

Reciprocity Eligibility Screening

If you started a license application by Endorsement or Reciprocity, please log in to continue or check your application status.

Check Application Status

For Assistance

For general licensure questions, please email mbpmail@rcn.com .
For technical support, please email chris.triplett@maryland.gov .