What is a PA's Scope of Practice?

• A. Perform medical services only when under the supervision of a physician and only when such acts and duties are within the scope of the supervising physician's practice
• B. Practice independently
• C. May perform only certain tasks
• D. Requires a nurse to co-sign all orders

Answer: (A)

A PA’s practice is defined by working under a supervising physician and performing medical services within the scope of that physician’s practice. The physician delegates authority to the PA, who can evaluate patients, diagnose, treat, order tests, and prescribe within that delegated scope. The supervising physician remains responsible for the patient’s care, and supervision arrangements—whether direct or intermittent—vary by state and setting.

This is why practice isn’t independent work by default, and it isn’t limited to a fixed set of tasks or a blanket requirement for a nurse to co-sign all orders. The defining idea is the supervised, physician-authorized scope within which the PA operates.