How Do I Apply for a Physician Assistant License?

To submit an application, create an account, apply, and pay online.

The application fee is $120. Application fees are non-refundable.

Names of supervising physicians may be added to your online record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the board’s online services webpage at: https://ibplicense.iowa.gov/mystatus.

• Use your @iowaID account and password to sign in.
• Click on the More Info link located at the bottom left of the My Licenses screen, under the Action column.
• Click on the Edit link located on the right side of the screen under Supervision.
• Read the Instructions posted on the License Detail – Process screen. Use the Add and Save buttons.

Applicants must submit the following:

• Official academic transcripts verifying graduation from a program for education and training of physician assistants that is accredited by the American Medical Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs, or by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.  The official transcripts must be sent directly to the board office from the college or university.

Note: Applicants that passed the NCCPA initial certification exam prior to 1986 are exempt from the accredited program graduation requirement. Foreign-trained applicants should contact the Board office for educational requirements.

NCCPA Certification Requirement

• Submit proof of initial certification with the NCCPA, sent directly to the board office from the NCCPA.

If the applicant has previously been licensed in another state, the applicant must also provide one of the following:

1. Copy of current certification from the NCCPA, sent directly to the Board office from the NCCPA; or
2. Proof of completion of 100 CME hours for each biennium since initial certification.

• Licensure in Another State if applicable: Applicants that have previously been licensed, registered or certified in another state must provide official verification of licensure for all states in which the applicant has received a license.
  • The license verification must include the following: 
    • Issue date;
    • Expiration date; and
    • Status of license including a reference to any pending or past disciplinary action.

The verification may be printed from another state licensing board’s website if it contains all of the information noted above. If an online verification is not available, the verification must be sent directly from the licensing board(s).

Applicants who have not been issued a license in another state may disregard this requirement.