Updates from AAPA Advocacy

AAPA has affirmed “physician associate” as the official title for the PA profession and is supporting state chapters working on title-change legislation. Title change efforts aim to better reflect the PA role, reduce confusion among patients, and align state laws with modern team-based practice.

The PA Licensure Compact will let eligible PAs apply once to obtain authorization to practice in multiple compact member states, instead of applying separately to each board. For psychiatric and behavioral health PAs—especially those providing telepsychiatry or working across state lines—this can reduce licensing delays and improve access to care.

AAPA tracks state practice environments, including how scope of practice is defined, whether PA–physician relationship requirements are flexible, and how easily PAs can practice to the full extent of their training. States with more modern PA laws may offer greater flexibility for psychiatric practice, telehealth, collaborative care models, and starting or co-owning practices.

Optimal Team Practice occurs when PAs, physicians, and other clinicians work together without unnecessary administrative rules tying a PA to one specific physician. OTP-oriented reforms can support team-based psychiatry while reducing paperwork and making it easier for PAs to match their scope to their training and local needs.