How to Become a Physician Assistant in Maine
Last year the average wage for PAs in the Pine Tree State was $98,560. Of the 40 fastest growing professions in Maine in all sectors of the economy, physician assistants rank 19th, with the projected growth rate between 2008 and 2018 of 20.2 percent already exceeded. Not only do PAs treat symptoms and heal diseases, they also conduct physicals and offer preventative advice or checkups to ensure their patients become and remain healthy. Students and professionals planning a career in the field can benefit from the following informational steps on how to become a physician assistant in Maine:
- Research Maine Physician Assistant Programs for Licensure
- Gain National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification
- Apply to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
- Maintain PA Certification in Maine
Step 1. Research Accredited Maine Physician Assistant Programs for Licensure
Physician assistant degree programs in Maine are offered at the graduate level and students should therefore already have a bachelor’s degree in any subject. Students who continue from their undergrad degrees into a PA program can save themselves from having to take extra prerequisites if they have majored in:
- Chemistry
- Nursing
- Biology
- Heath
- Medical Assistant
- Psychology
Admission standards for PA programs include standard requirements such as clinical experience and having taken the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). It is also important for students to ensure the PA program they choose is certified by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). In addition to this required certification, programs may also be certified by either of the following agencies:
- American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
- Commission for Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs
Step 2. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification
Becoming certified by the NCCPA is the next essential step in the process, and is accomplished by passing the commission’s test: the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). The PANCE is designed in a multiple-choice format with five sections of 60 questions, each lasting one hour. The exam covers the major organ systems of the body and diagnosing their associated problems. Students can register for the PANCE starting 90 days before their graduate program ends and there is an associated $475 registration fee. PANCE scores should be sent directly to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine and upon successful completion students will be awarded with the credential PA-C, or Physician Assistant-Certified.
Step 3. Apply to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
Having gained the PA-C credential and graduated from an approved PA program, students should now arrange to have proof of these accomplishments sent from the appropriate institutions to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. Before applying, PAs will need to pass an online exam created by the Board that evaluates state laws and procedures. The exam is open book and the Board provides a review on its website. After scoring at least 75 percent, prospective PAs can then apply for their license by submitting to the Board:
- Application for Licensure
- $200 application fee
- Registration with a supervising medical doctor for a fee of $50
Step 4. Maintain PA Certification in Maine
In Maine PA Licenses expire every two years and are tied to a PA’s birth year and month. PAs will receive a Renewal Application in the mail 60 days before their license expires, and must complete this along with the following:
- Another state online exam at 75 percent or better
- Renewal fee of $200
- Proof of continuing medical education (CME)
Maine requires at least 100 credits of CME to be completed by every renewal period. PAs can choose to maintain their NCCPA PA-C certification as well and this will fulfill their CME requirements.