Physician Assistants (PAs) are licensed medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s main healthcare provider.
PAs work in every area of medicine, from family practice and emergency medicine to surgery and specialty care. They are trusted, rigorously educated clinicians who provide patient-centered, team-based care.
PA education follows the medical model, similar to physician training:
- Master’s level degree (3 years of study)
- 2,000+ hours of hands-on clinical training
- Must pass a national certifying exam
- Must hold a state license and complete continuing medical education (CME) each year
- PAs keep their certification through ongoing learning, board exams, and an annual jurisprudence exam with the Oklahoma Medical Board
PAs are trained to:
- Take medical histories and perform physical exams
- Diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries
- Order and interpret tests
- Develop treatment and management plans
- Prescribe medications
- Counsel patients on preventive care and wellness
Assist in surgery and perform procedures - Provide care in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes
PAs work in a wide variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, Veterans Affairs facilities, industry settings, universities, and every branch of the U.S. military. PAs also have a significant presence in all areas of the federal health care systems, including with the Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, US Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Indian Health Services, and the Federal Prison System.
In many rural and underserved areas, a PA may be the only healthcare provider available locally.
By expanding access to care, PAs help Oklahomans:
- See a provider and receive care faster
- Avoid long travel distances for basic care
- Receive timely diagnosis and treatment
- Access preventive and chronic care services close to home
With Oklahoma facing ongoing healthcare shortages, especially outside major cities, PAs are a key part of keeping communities healthy.
- 75 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), meaning they are medically underserved (source).
- PAs serve in 100% of Oklahoma’s regions, helping improve access to healthcare for all Oklahomans.
A new state law passed in 2025 modernizes how PAs can practice in Oklahoma.
Key updates include:
- After completing 6,240 hours (about 3 years) of clinical practice, PAs operate with a PA License to Practice Independently – without a supervision agreement.
- These independently practicing PAs may prescribe Schedule III–V medications.
- PAs who continue practicing under a physician agreement may prescribe Schedule II–V medications, as outlined in their official agreement on file with the Board.
These changes allow PAs to better meet healthcare needs in rural and underserved communities, expanding access to timely, high-quality care across Oklahoma.
Since the profession began at Duke University in 1967, PAs have played a vital role in improving healthcare access across the U.S. The first PA program in Oklahoma began at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1970, and today, five accredited PA programs exist in Oklahoma – at OU OKC, OU Tulsa, Oklahoma City University, Northeastern State University, and Oklahoma State University – with sixth and seventh programs coming soon to Southern Nazarene University and Oklahoma Baptist University.
PAs, physicians, and other healthcare professionals work together under a model called Optimal Team Practice (OTP), ensuring patients get the best care possible without unnecessary administrative barriers.
By improving how teams collaborate, OTP helps make healthcare more efficient, more accessible, and more focused on patients.
The Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates was incorporated in 1974 as the organization representing Physician Assistants and the profession throughout Oklahoma. Our mission is to secure and strengthen the Physician Assistant profession in Oklahoma through advocacy, promotion and continuing medical education.
The OAPA serves as the collective “voice” on critical issues and is the only PA organization in the State of Oklahoma representing and acting with the PA in mind. A strong and united professional association is key to ensuring success for your profession now and the future.
The OAPA extends an invitation to all PAs and friends of the Oklahoma PA profession to join the state association.
