1 Physician Assistants; Licensure. Amend RSA 328-D:2 to read as follows:

328-D:2 License Required.

I. No person shall practice as or hold himself out to be a physician assistant or use any letters designating himself as a physician assistant unless he is licensed in accordance with this chapter.

II. This section shall not be construed to prohibit students enrolled in physician assistant training programs approved by the board, from performing work incidental to their respective courses of study or supervised clinical work while under the supervision of a physician .

III. The board shall license each applicant who satisfies the requirements under RSA 328-D:3. Upon payment of a license fee, the board shall issue to such person a license, which shall be prima facie evidence of the right to practice as a physician assistant. A licensed physician assistant may use the letters "P.A." in connection with his name to denote his licensure under this chapter.

2 Physician Assistants; License Renewal. Amend RSA 328-D:5 to read as follows:

328-D:5 Renewal of Licenses. Every person licensed to practice under this chapter shall apply to the board for annual renewal of license on forms provided by the board and shall pay a renewal fee as established by the board . Applications for renewal shall be filed no later than December 31 of each year and shall include a photocopy of the applicant's current national certification card. A license issued under this chapter shall not expire until the board has taken final action upon the application for renewal.

3 Physician Assistants; Transition of License Renewals. For the transition from annual to biennial renewal under RSA 328-D:5 as amended by this act, licensees who were initially licensed in odd-numbered years prior to 2021 shall renew by December 31, 2021 and every 2 years thereafter, and licensees who were initially licensed in even-numbered years shall renew by December 31, 2022 and every 2 years thereafter. The office of professional licensure and certification shall prorate the renewal fee for those who receive a one-year renewal during this transition. Notwithstanding RSA 318-B:40, those who receive a one-year renewal during this transition shall only be required to obtain 1.5 contact hours of continuing education in pain management and addiction disorder as a condition of the renewal during the transition.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Physician Assistants; Licensure. Amend RSA 328-D:2 to read as follows:

328-D:2 License Required.

I. No person shall practice as a physician assistant in the state of New Hampshire unless he or she is licensed by the board of medicine in accordance with this chapter.

II. This section shall not be construed to prohibit students enrolled in physician assistant training programs approved by the board, from performing work incidental to their respective courses of study or supervised clinical work while under the supervision of a designated preceptor .

III. The board shall license each applicant who satisfies the requirements under RSA 328-D:3. Upon payment of a license fee, the board shall issue to such person a license, which shall be prima facie evidence of the right to practice as a physician assistant.

2 Physician Assistants; License Renewal. Amend RSA 328-D:5 to read as follows:

328-D:5 Renewal of Licenses. Every person licensed to practice under this chapter shall apply to the board for biennial renewal of license on forms provided by the office of professional licensure and certification and shall pay a renewal fee as established by the office of professional licensure and certification . Applications for renewal shall be filed no later than December 31 of every other year and shall include proof of the applicant's current national certification . A license issued under this chapter shall not expire until the board has taken final action upon the application for renewal.

3 Physician Assistants; Transition of License Renewals. For the transition from annual to biennial renewal under RSA 328-D:5 as amended by this act, licensees who were initially licensed in odd-numbered years prior to 2021 shall renew by December 31, 2021 and every 2 years thereafter, and licensees who were initially licensed in even-numbered years shall renew by December 31, 2022 and every 2 years thereafter. The office of professional licensure and certification shall prorate the renewal fee for those who receive a one-year renewal during this transition. Notwithstanding RSA 318-B:40, those who receive a one-year renewal during this transition shall only be required to obtain 1.5 contact hours of continuing education in pain management and addiction disorder as a condition of the renewal during the transition.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.