Half the Country Now Part of PA Licensure Compact as Rhode Island Becomes 25th Member

Half the Country Now Part of PA Licensure Compact as Rhode Island Becomes 25th Member

Alexandria, Va. (June 15, 2026) - The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) celebrates Rhode Island becoming the 25th member of the PA Licensure Compact, following Governor Dan McKee's signing of HB 7127. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the compact and accelerates the movement toward a more flexible physician associate (PA) workforce.

"More than 200,000 PAs are delivering high-quality care in communities across the country, but inefficient licensure processes can oftentimes create barriers for these healthcare professionals to quickly meet patient needs in person, through telehealth, and across state lines," said AAPA President and Chair of the Board of Directors Todd Pickard. "The PA Licensure Compact helps remove these barriers, strengthen workforce mobility, and improve patient access to care. We commend all of those over the years who have helped bring the compact to this important moment, and we look forward to continuing to add more states to this effort."

The PA Licensure Compact creates a streamlined pathway for PAs in a member state to more easily obtain authorization to practice in other compact states. The initiative began in 2019 between AAPA, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), with support from the Council of State Governments (CSG).

The following states are current members of the PA Licensure Compact: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

With 25 states now participating, the PA Licensure Compact is reaching a critical mass at a time when a flexible and accessible healthcare workforce is desperately needed. PAs are practicing in every state, specialty, and setting, and removing burdensome licensing requirements will help ensure PAs can best meet patient needs and deliver timely care.

The PA Compact Commission, an intergovernmental agency tasked with the administration of the compact, anticipates PAs will be able to utilize compact privileges in early to mid-2027. AAPA will continue to provide resources and guidance on requirements, application procedures, and state-specific details.

For more information about the PA Licensure Compact, visit AAPA's website.

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Media Contact: Annie Mattix ([email protected]), 414.551.1738

About the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
AAPA is the national membership organization for all physician associates/assistants (PAs). PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. Learn more about the profession at aapa.org and engage through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.