PA Compact Newsletter
Published July 1, 2026.Chair Corner
The PA Compact continues to grow. By the end of the legislative session, we expect to have at least 27 states as members. The adoption by states in just a few years is phenomenal and a testament to the desire of the PA profession to have a process that streamlines interstate practice.
The PA Compact is ironing out the last few contract details with our chosen data system vendor and hope to have the work underway shortly. We continue to move forward with the goal of onboarding states and issuing privileges in early 2027. In order to meet that goal, we ask that you continue to prepare for a fully functioning PA Compact. If your state is already a member, this newsletter contains information regarding what you can do now. If your state is not a member, work with your licensing board, state association, and legislature to introduce the legislation needed to join. The PA Compact has a Toolkit page that provides resources. Together we can make this project a success.
As we continue to move forward, I would like to take a moment to look back and thank one of the original commission members. Kathleen (“Kathy”) Scarbalis, PA-C, served as an ex-officio member, representing the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), from the beginning. Kathy attended every meeting, whether full commission or smaller committee and represented the voice of the PA passionately and eloquently. Her knowledge and experience as a PA informed non-PA members and directly impacted the first rules adopted by the PA Compact. Kathy has stepped away from her role as the AAPA representative, and I want to offer Kathy my personal thanks as well as the appreciation and good wishes from the PA Compact Executive Committee. Thank you for all your contributions, and we wish you well in your future endeavors.
– Tim Terranova, Compact Commission Chair
Legislative Update
As of June 30, 2026, there are 26 Compact Member States. Legislation to enact the Compact is currently filed in 5 states—Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. No states are actively issuing privileges yet. Click here to view a map of legislation in each state.
|
State |
Act/Bill number |
Enactment date1 |
Effective date2 |
|
Utah |
14-Mar-2023 |
3-May-2023 |
|
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Delaware |
21-Jul-2023 |
21-Jul-2023 |
|
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Wisconsin |
7-Dec-2023 |
8-Dec-2023 |
|
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Minnesota |
24-May-2024 |
25-May-2024 |
|
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Washington |
13-Mar-2024 |
6-Jun-2024 |
|
|
West Virginia |
9-Mar-2024 |
6-Jun-2024 |
|
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Virginia |
4-Apr-2024 |
1-Jul-2024 |
|
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Maine |
23-Apr-2024 |
16-Jul-2024 |
|
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Colorado |
17-May-2024 |
7-Aug-2024 |
|
|
Post-Inaugural Meeting |
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Ohio |
24-Jul-2024 |
24-Oct-2024 |
|
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Oklahoma |
18-Apr-2024 |
1-Nov-2024 |
|
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Nebraska |
2-Apr-2024 |
1-Jan-2025 |
|
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Tennessee |
28-May-2024 |
1-Jan-2025 |
|
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Kansas |
8-Apr-2025 |
1-Jul-2025 |
|
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Montana |
3-Apr-2025 |
1-Jul-2025 |
|
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Iowa |
27-May-2025 |
1-Jul-2025 |
|
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Connecticut |
30-Jun-2025 |
1-Jul-2025 |
|
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Arkansas |
18-Mar-2025 |
1-Oct-2025 |
|
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North Carolina |
1-Jul-2025 |
1-Apr-2026 |
|
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New Jersey |
9-Jan-2026 |
9-Jan-2026 |
|
|
North Dakota |
23-Jan-2026 |
23-Jan-2026 |
|
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Arizona |
20-Feb-2026 |
24-Jul-2026 |
|
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South Dakota |
9-Mar-2026 |
1-Jul-2026 |
|
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Alabama |
20-Apr-2026 |
1-Oct-2026 |
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Rhode Island |
12-Jun-2026 |
1-Jul-2026 |
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Alaska |
22-Jun-2026 |
20-Sept-2026 |
|
- The enactment date refers to when a state's compact legislation was signed into law.
- The effective date refers to when a state’s compact legislation becomes effective. This is also when a participating state may begin exercising their voting power as a member of the Commission.
Meeting Synopsis
Full Commission
The Full Commission met April 6, 2026, to review and adopt Rule 3 – Compact Privilege and Rule 4 – Compact Data System, Confidentiality, and Information Sharing. Both rules were adopted at the public meeting with an effective date of May 31, 2026.
Executive Committe
On May 13, 2026, the Executive Committee met in closed session to discuss the Commission’s funding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Academy of Physician Associates and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Upon leaving closed session, the committee voted to move draft rule 7 on state compliance to public comment. The committee reviewed draft bylaw amendments from the Rules Committee that addressed commission officer vacancies and tabled moving the amendments to public comment pending the receipt of further bylaw amendments to be provided by the Rules Committee after its June meeting. The Executive Committee also voted to delegate Product Manager responsibilities for the Commission’s data system to Abigail Mortell, who will work in consultation with Commission Chair, and the Technology Subcommittee when possible.
On April 8, 2026, the Executive Committee convened and voted to delegate responsibility of overseeing data system development to the Technology Subcommittee. The subcommittee shall provide monthly status reports to the Executive Committee. The committee also voted to move draft rule 5 on joint investigations to public comment.
During the March 11, 2026, meeting of the Executive Committee, the committee voted to renew the Commission’s contract with The Council of State Governments (CSG) for secretariat and legal services. Chair Terranova expressed the Commission’s intent to convene a Technology Subcommittee to oversee data system development and requested nominations for volunteers to serve on the committee. These volunteers will be commissioners, alternates, and members of licensing board staff and IT departments. The subcommittee will also assist the data system vendor with user story research.
Communications Committee
The PA Compact Commission Communications Committee convened June 4, 2026, to draft and approve the June quarterly newsletter, which includes information on how states can prepare for data system onboarding and issuing compact privileges (see below). The committee continues to review and update the Commission’s FAQ page in anticipation of compact activation.
Finance Committee
The PA Compact Finance Committee reconvened June 9, 2026, and completed its third quarterly budget review, along with discussing data on potential commission fees, compact participation rates, and budget projections to determine the Commission’s privilege fee.
The Finance Committee convened on March 10, 2026, to conduct a quarterly budget review. The committee also began the process of determining the Commission’s compact privilege fee, which included reviewing data on the number of PAs licensed in the U.S., the prevalence of multiple license holders within the profession, and commission fees set by other occupational licensure commissions.
Rules Committee
The PA Compact Commission Rules Committee met on June 8, 2026, to review draft bylaw amendments that establish the officer elections process and a first draft of rule 8 on records exempt from disclosure. The committee voted to transmit the draft bylaw amendments on officer elections to the Executive Committee. The group also proposed amendments to draft rule 8, which will be reviewed again during the committee’s July meeting.
On April 20, 2026, the committee convened to review draft rule 7 on state compliance and draft bylaw amendments intended to address commission officer vacancies. The committee voted to transmit both draft rule 7 and the draft bylaw amendments to the Executive Committee for review.
During the March 9, 2026, meeting, the committee continued their review of draft rule 5 on joint investigations and discussed draft rule 6 on fees. The committee voted to transmit both draft rules to the Executive Committee for review.
State Readiness – Preparing for Compact Activation
In anticipation of compact activation, Member States must ensure compliance with all compact requirements. The PA Compact Commission’s State Preparation Guidelines cover administrative tasks Member States should consider prior to the launch of the Commission’s data system.
Implementation of an FBI Criminal Background Check for PA licensure and setting a state privilege fee are two tasks of particular importance to a state’s participation in the Compact that may require extended time to complete.
Criminal Background Check
The PA Compact requires that those who obtain privileges must have an FBI criminal background check (CBC), which state administrators must review when making a compact eligibility decision. Member States must fully implement an FBI Criminal Background Check requirement pursuant to the Compact, which may require legislative enactment. The results of a CBC can never be reported to the Commission. The qualifying state that is reviewing the FBI CBC alone determines compact eligibility of the PA.
Setting a State Privilege Fee
Prior to issuing privileges, Member States must determine their state privilege fee. Member States should consider setting a fee that, when added to the commission fee, does not exceed the current single state licensure fee.
Setting a privilege fee may require licensing boards to promulgate a rule or specify the fee in their state’s statute. Once the fee has been set, Member States should notify the Commission of the fee amount. Member States should also consider if military-affiliated practitioners will have a reduced fee.
Compact Development Timeline
– Updates since the last newsletter.|
Summer 2019 |
Compact project started. |
|
Fall 2019 |
FSMB convenes meeting with state regulatory boards to discuss outline of compact. |
|
November 2022 |
Compact legislation finalized and made available for state adoption. |
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April 2024 |
The compact activation threshold of seven participating states is met. |
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September 2024 |
Compact Commission holds its inaugural meeting. |
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October 2024 |
Executive, Rules, Finance, and Communications Committees convene and begin developing compact infrastructure. |
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April 2025 |
Data System RFI responses received and reviewed. |
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May 2025 |
Executive Committee begins developing Data System RFP. |
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October 20, 2025 |
Executive Committee releases Data System RFP. |
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November 14, 2025 |
Deadline for questions from vendors on the Data System RFP. |
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December 10, 2025 |
Executive Committee moves Draft Rules 3 and 4 to public comment period. |
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December 16, 2025 |
Draft Rule 3 – Compact Privilege and Draft Rule 4 – Data System are posted for public comment. |
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December 19, 2025 |
Submission deadline for data system proposals. |
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January 14, 2026 |
Executive Committee review data system proposals and identify candidates for interviews. |
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January 16, 2026 |
Public comment period closes on Draft Rules 3 and 4. |
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February 9, 2026 |
Rules Committee reviews public comments on Draft Rules 3 and 4 and determines no substantive changes are necessary. |
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February 11, 2026 |
Executive Committee interviews data system vendors. |
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February 25, 2026 |
Executive Committee votes to accept data system proposal from Focus Consulting LLC. |
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March 11, 2026 |
Executive Committee requests nominations from Member States for volunteers to serve on the Technology Subcommittee. |
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April 6, 2026 |
Full Commission adopts Rule 3 – Compact Privilege and Rule 4 – Compact Data System, Confidentiality, and Information Sharing. |
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April 8, 2026 |
Executive Committee reviews Draft Rule 6 - Fees and holds rule in committee pending data system development and commission privilege fee determination by Finance Committee. |
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May 29, 2026 |
Draft Rule 5 – Joint Investigations and Draft Rule 7 – State Compliance are released for public comment. |
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Ongoing |
Commission and committee meetings; rule and policy development; onboarding of new Member States. |
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Current – 2026 |
Development and implementation of Data System. |
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Early 2027 (projected) |
Compact Commission begins granting compact privileges to practice. |
Q. What must a PA do to maintain a privilege to practice under the PA Compact?
- Requirements for issuance and maintenance of a privilege to practice in a Participating State are outlined in Section 4 of the Compact Model Language and PA Compact Commission Rule 3 – Compact Privilege.
Questions?
See the PA Compact FAQs, or email pacompact@csg.org.
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