KRS 311.844: Licensing of physician assistants -- Requirements -- Endorsement from

other state -- Renewal of license -- Continuing education.

(1) To be licensed by the board as a physician assistant, an applicant shall:

(a) Submit a completed application form with the required fee;

(b) Be of good character and reputation;

(c) Be a graduate of an approved program; and

(d) Have passed an examination approved by the board within three (3) attempts

or have been granted a waiver by the board.

(2) A physician assistant who is authorized to practice in another state and who is in

good standing may apply for licensure by endorsement from the state of his or her

credentialing if that state has standards substantially equivalent to those of this

Commonwealth.

(3) A physician assistant's license shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewed

by the board upon fulfillment of the following requirements:

(a) The holder shall be of good character and reputation;

(b) The holder shall provide evidence of c ompletion, during the previous two (2)

years, of a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of continuing education

approved by the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic

Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American

Academy of Physician Assistants, or by another entity approved by the board.

The one hundred (100) hours of continuing education required by this

paragraph shall include:

1. During the first two (2) years of licensure or prior to the first licensure

renewal:

a. One and one -half (1.5) hours of continuing education in the

prevention and recognition of pediatric abusive head trauma, as

defined in KRS 620.020, except that graduating physician assistant

students may apply pediatric abusive head trauma curriculum

taught in their physician assistant graduate education to count

towards the required one and one-half (1.5) hours; and

b. As a part of the continuing education requirements that the board

adopts to ensure continuing competency of present and future

licensees and the evolving needs of the growing senior population,

the board shall ensure physician assistants licensed under KRS

Chapter 311 complete a one (1) time course of one (1) hour of

continuing education approved by the board. The course shall be

completed one (1) time and count towards the current number of

required continuing education hours, except that graduating

student physician assistants may submit Alzheimer's and other

forms of dementia course curriculum taught in their programs of

study towards th e required one (1) hour for approval. The course

topics shall include but not be limited to:

i. The warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and

other forms of dementia;

ii. The importance of early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate

communication techniques for discussion of memory

concerns with the patient and his or her caregiver;

iii. Cognitive assessment and care planning billing codes;

iv. The variety of tools used to assess a patient's cognition; and

v. Current treatments that may be available to the patient;

2. If the license holder is authorized, pursuant to KRS 311.858(4), to

prescribe and administer Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances,

a minimum of seven and one -half (7.5) hours of approved continuing

education relating to controlled substance diversion, pain management,

addiction disorders, use of the electronic system for monitoring

controlled substances established in KRS 218A.202, or any combination

of two (2) or more of these subjects; and

3. At least one (1) hour one ( 1) time every three (3) years continuing

education in the recognition and prevention of pediatric ingestion or

inhalation of controlled substances; and

(c) The holder shall provide proof of current certification with the National

Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.