NC Medical Board Waives Supervision for WNC

NCAPA has been identifying PA needs and barriers to providing patient care in Western NC and communicating this information to the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB).

In response to the Governor’s Executive Order encouraging regulatory bodies to provide additional flexibility to expand the healthcare workforce, the NCMB has suspended supervision requirements for PAs working and volunteering in Western NC.

FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL BOARD: “At an October 14 emergency meeting, the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) voted to ease certain licensure and supervision requirements for NPs, PAs, and physicians wishing to provide medical care in the areas of Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.

These areas include the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey and Cherokee (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians).”

Please see below for details or click the button to read the full NCMB Notice.

PAs Currently Licensed in NC

Per the Board’s waiver, PAs with a full and unrestricted license going to work or volunteer in the affected region:

• May practice without a supervising physician and supervisory agreement while in the affected region.
• May write prescriptions without a supervisory agreement.
• PAs must notify the Board that they are going to work in the affected area without supervision. Interested licensees should send an email to supervisory@ncmedboard.org.

This limited approval to work without supervision is in effect until March 1, 2025.

PAs Currently Licensed in a Jurisdiction Outside NC

Out of State PAs with a full and unrestricted license may apply for a Limited Emergency License:

• Supervisory requirements have been waived, including for prescribing, if working in the affected area.
• PAs must notify the Board if they are going to work in the affected area without supervision. Interested licensees should send an email to supervisory@ncmedboard.org.
• If working with a supervising physician, the PA must complete an Intent to Practice form, which can be submitted through NCMB’s Licensure Gateway.

This limited approval to work without supervision is in effect until March 1, 2025

Inactive Physicians and PAs Previously Licensed in NC

Physicians and PAs who have been inactive for five years or less and previously held a North Carolina license can apply for a Limited Emergency License.

• Inactive physicians and PAs must not have become inactive while under a consent order, order of discipline, or investigation.
• PA supervisory requirements have been waived if PA is working in the affected area.
• PAs must notify the Board if they are going to work in the affected area without supervision. Interested licensees should send an email to supervisory@ncmedboard.org.
• If working with a supervising physician, the PA must complete an Intent to Practice form, which can be submitted through NCMB’s Licensure Gateway.
• Limited Emergency Licenses for physicians and PAs are now in effect until 30 days after the end of the declared State of Emergency in North Carolina.