(a) The board shall require a written examination of physician assistants in the manner and under the rules and regulations as it shall prescribe, but the examination shall be conducted in that manner as to ensure that the identity of each applicant taking the examination will be unknown to all of the examiners until all examination papers have been graded. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, or by regulation, no physician assistant applicant shall receive approval under this chapter without first successfully passing an examination given under the direction of the board.

(b) Examinations for licensure as a physician assistant may be required by the board under a uniform examination system, and for that purpose the board may make those arrangements with organizations furnishing examination material as may, in its discretion, be desirable. The licensure examination for physician assistants shall be held by the board at least once a year with such additional examinations as the board deems necessary.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 36. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.)