Healthcare Recruiting
Pennsylvania PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, Supervision, and Salary
Pennsylvania physician assistants must file a supervision agreement with a licensed PA physician through the PA State Board of Medicine before practicing. Processing takes 8–10 weeks. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh anchor two major metropolitan health system markets, with Penn Medicine, UPMC, Jefferson, and Temple Health among the largest PA employers in the state.
Practice Model: Supervision Required
- Written supervising physician agreement required — filed with and approved by the PA State Board of Medicine
- Supervising physician must be licensed in Pennsylvania
- Agreement must specify practice setting and scope of practice
- PA may prescribe Schedule II–V controlled substances once DEA registration and supervision agreement are in place
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Accredited PA program graduation verification
- Supervision agreement filed and approved
- Background check via PALS system
- Application fee ~$100
Processing Timeline
8–10 weeks typical; supervision agreement review can add 2 weeks. DEA concurrent: total approximately 10 weeks.
PA Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient (Philadelphia) | $126,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
| Hospital / Inpatient (Pittsburgh) | $122,000 | $8,000–$16,000 |
| Surgical First-Assist | $136,000 | $10,000–$22,000 |
| Primary Care / Outpatient | $112,000 | $5,000–$12,000 |
Top PA Employers in Pennsylvania
UPMC (Pittsburgh-based 40-hospital system — largest PA employer in western PA), Penn Medicine (Philadelphia flagship), Jefferson Health (Philadelphia/suburbs), Temple Health, and Geisinger Health (central PA, rural reach) dominate the market. UPMC's surgical programs run structured PA first-assist tracks with competitive progression.
What We See at Ava Health
Pennsylvania's two-city market means compensation benchmarks vary. Philadelphia commands a premium; Pittsburgh offers lower COL with competitive total compensation. Geisinger and rural central PA carry HPSA loan repayment eligibility — a strong lever for new graduates managing PA school debt.
Related: NP License Pennsylvania 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Pennsylvania 2026.
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