Healthcare Recruiting
Washington DC PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, FPA Authority, and Salary
Washington DC physician assistants practice under Full Practice Authority — no mandatory supervision agreement filing with the DC Board of Medicine. The DC market is among the most specialized and highest-compensated PA markets nationally, anchored by MedStar Health, George Washington University Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, and Children's National Medical Center. The federal government's large civilian healthcare employer footprint (VA, NIH, Walter Reed/WRNMMC) adds a significant federal GS-scale employment tier.
Practice Model: Full Practice Authority (FPA)
- No supervision agreement required to be filed with the DC Board of Medicine
- Collaborative practice terms determined at the employer/practice level
- Prescriptive authority for Schedule II–V included (DEA registration required separately)
- DC is not part of the NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact) — PA licensing is separate and DC-specific
- Maryland and Virginia licenses are separate; DC is not covered by multistate compacts
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Accredited PA program graduation verification
- Background check via DC Health
- Application fee ~$170
Processing Timeline
6–8 weeks typical; approximately 8 weeks total with concurrent DEA. PAs working across the DC/MD/VA tri-state area typically hold all three licenses.
PA Salary in Washington DC (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient (MedStar / Georgetown) | $138,000 | $12,000–$25,000 |
| Academic Medical Center (GWU / Georgetown) | $132,000 | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Federal / VA / NIH (GS-scale) | $118,000–$140,000 | Federal benefits + loan repayment |
| Children's National / Pediatric Specialty | $128,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
Top PA Employers in Washington DC
MedStar Health (Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center — largest regional system), George Washington University Hospital (Level I trauma, academic medicine), Georgetown University Hospital, Children's National Medical Center (top-10 pediatric hospital nationally), and Howard University Hospital are the primary private employers. The DC VA Medical Center, NIH Clinical Center, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda, MD — adjacent) add major federal PA employment.
What We See at Ava Health
DC's PA market is characterized by very high specialization demands — trauma, oncology, pediatric subspecialties, federal health — combined with the highest PA compensation in the Mid-Atlantic. Most DC PAs also hold MD and VA licenses for the tri-state practice area. Federal employment (VA, NIH) offers competitive GS-scale pay with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility — a powerful long-term financial lever for PA graduates.
Related: PA License Virginia 2026, PA License Maryland 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Washington DC 2026.
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