Except as otherwise provided in this article, an individual shall obtain a permanent license from the board before the individual may practice as a PA. The board shall grant a permanent license as a PA to an applicant who has:

(1) submitted a completed application on forms provided by the board;

(2) paid the nonrefundable application fees established in this article;

(3) successfully completed an educational program for PAs approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its predecessor or successor organization;

(4) successfully passed the PA National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and provided documentation that the applicant possesses a current, active NCCPA certificate;

(5) certified that the applicant is mentally and physically able to engage safely in practice as a PA;

(6) no licensure, certificate, or registration as a PA under current discipline, revocation, suspension, probation, or investigation for cause resulting from the applicant’s practice as a PA;

(7) good moral character; and

(8) submitted to the board other information the board considers necessary to evaluate the applicant’s qualifications, participated in an interview if requested by the board, or both.