PDFWAC 246-918-005

Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1) "Commission" means the Washington medical commission.
(2) "Commission approved program" means a physician assistant program accredited by the committee on allied health education and accreditation (CAHEA); the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs (CAAHEP); the accreditation review committee on education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA); or other substantially equivalent organization(s) approved by the commission.
(3) "NCCPA" means National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
(4) "Osteopathic physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW.
(5) "Physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW.
(6) "Physician assistant" means a person who is licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW by the commission to practice medicine to a limited extent only under the supervision of a physician or osteopathic physician.
(a) "Certified physician assistant" means an individual who has successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program and has passed the initial national boards examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
(b) "Noncertified physician assistant" means an individual who:
(i) Successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program, is eligible for the NCCPA examination, and was licensed in Washington state prior to July 1, 1999;
(ii) Is qualified based on work experience and education and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989;
(iii) Graduated from an international medical school and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989; or
(iv) Holds an interim permit issued pursuant to RCW 18.71A.020(1).
(c) "Physician assistant-surgical assistant" means an individual who was licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW as a physician assistant between September 30, 1989, and December 31, 1989, to function in a limited extent as authorized in WAC 246-918-250 and 246-918-260.
(7) "Practice agreement" means a mutually agreed upon plan, as detailed in WAC 246-918-055, between a supervising physician and physician assistant, which describes the manner and extent to which the physician assistant will practice and be supervised.
(8) "Supervising physician" means any physician or osteopathic physician identified in a practice agreement as providing primary clinical and administrative oversight for a physician assistant.
(9) "Alternate physician" means any physician or osteopathic physician who provides clinical oversight of a physician assistant in place of or in addition to the supervising physician.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.150, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2020 c 80. WSR 21-22-043, § 246-918-005, filed 10/27/21, effective 11/27/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2019 c 55. WSR 20-08-069, § 246-918-005, filed 3/26/20, effective 4/26/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2013 c 203. WSR 15-04-122, § 246-918-005, filed 2/3/15, effective 3/6/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71.050 and chapter 18.71 RCW. WSR 01-18-085, § 246-918-005, filed 9/5/01, effective 10/6/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. WSR 96-03-073, § 246-918-005, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020 and 18.71.060. WSR 93-21-016, § 246-918-005, filed 10/11/93, effective 11/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. WSR 92-12-089 (Order 278B), § 246-918-005, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.]