Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
713 - Division of Professions and Occupations - Colorado Medical Board
3 CCR 713-1 - MEDICAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 3 CCR 713-1.9 - DEMONSTRATION OF CONTINUED COMPETENCY BY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT APPLICANTS FOR LICENSURE, LICENSURE PURSUANT TO THE OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIAL PORTABILITY PROGRAM, REINSTATEMENT OF AN EXPIRED LICENSE, OR REACTIVATION OF A LICENSE
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024
A. Basis: The authority for promulgation of these rules and regulations by the Colorado Medical Board ("Board") is set forth in sections 24-4-103, 12-20-204(1), 12-240-119, 12-240-106(1)(a), 12-240-120(1)(d), 12-20-202(2)(c)(II), and 12-240-141(5), C.R.S.
B. Purpose: The purpose of these rules and regulations is to set forth the process by which a physician assistant may demonstrate continued competency for the purpose of complying with the statutory sections referenced above to obtain a Colorado physician assistant license; demonstrate qualifications substantially equivalent for licensure by endorsement in this state pursuant to the Occupational Credential Portability Program as set forth in section 12-20-202, C.R.S.; demonstrate at least one year of having practiced as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction with a scope of practice substantially similar to the scope of practice in this state for licensure by endorsement pursuant to the Occupational Credential Portability Program as set forth in section 12-20-202, C.R.S.; reinstate an expired license; or reactivate an existing Colorado physician assistant license. The Board finds that due to the significant differences between the nature of physician assistant practice and the nature of physician practice, it is necessary and appropriate to delineate different methods by which physician assistants and physicians shall demonstrate continued competency as required by the Medical Practice Act. The significant differences between the two types of practice include the requirements that all physician assistants must be supervised by a licensed physician in accordance with existing Board rules and regulations. The Board finds, however, that if a physician assistant has ceased clinical practice for two or more years, the nature of the physician assistant/physician supervisory relationship in and of itself cannot compensate for potential knowledge and clinical deficiencies, which may exist due to the lack of practice experience for such an extended period of time.
C. LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT PURSUANT TO THE OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIAL PORTABILITY PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 12-20-202(3), C.R.S.
D. REENTRY LICENSE
For those physician assistants who have been out of practice as a physician assistant for two or more years, (a) submit to the Board a personalized competency evaluation report prepared by a program approved by the Board, and (b) complete any education and/or training recommended by the program as a result of the evaluation prior to obtaining a license. In the discretion of the Board, the physician assistant may be able to receive a re-entry license prior to completing the education and/or training recommended by the program for the purpose of facilitating the completion of such education and/or training. All expenses resulting from the evaluation and/or any recommended education and/or training are the responsibility of the physician assistant and not of the Board.
The Board will consider an applicant to be ineligible for a reentry license if their period of inactive practice resulted from disciplinary action or unprofessional conduct. If a reentry license is issued, such a license is valid only for three years from the date of issue and is not renewable. Failure to complete the training requirements before the end of the three-year period will result in the reentry license being administratively inactivated.
In the discretion of the Board, the physician assistant may be issued a re-entry license for the specific purpose of completing the education and/or training requirements. The re-entry license is valid for a single period of time not greater than three (3) years from the date of issue. Failure to complete the education and/or training requirements before the end of the three (3) year period for the re-entry license will result in the re-entry license being administratively inactivated.
E. CONVERSION OF REENTRY LICENSE
When an applicant has timely and successfully completed the training requirements, the applicant shall apply to the Licensing Panel of the Board to convert the reentry license to full licensure by submitting a letter to the Licensing Panel with documents that clearly establish timely and successful completion of the training requirements. If the Board determines that the applicant is competent and qualified to practice as a physician assistant, the Board will convert the reentry license to a full license to practice as a physician assistant. If the Board determines that the applicant is not competent nor qualified to practice as a physician assistant, the Board may require further assessment, training, or period of supervised practice in its discretion.
F. EXPENSES
All expenses resulting from the assessment and/or any training requirements are the responsibility of the applicant and not of the Board.
G. REINSTATEMENT OR REACTIVATION OF A LICENSE
In support of any application for reinstatement or reactivation of a license to practice as a physician assistant, for the purpose of complying with sections 12-20-202(2)(c)(II), 12-240-120(1)(d), or 12-240-141(5), C.R.S., a physician assistant may demonstrate continued competency in accordance with the methods identified in Rule 29.2(A)(2), identified above.
H. Where appropriate, the Board may determine that demonstration of continued competency requires an additional or different approach. For example, due to the length of time the physician assistant has been out of practice, the Board may require a written plan documenting the nature, extent, and duration of supervision that will be provided by the supervising physician to the physician assistant as the physician assistant makes the transition back into clinical practice. This written plan may be in addition to the personalized competency evaluation and/or recommended education and/or training. The decision as to the method of determining continued competency shall be at the discretion of the Board.