Which statement best describes a PA's scope of practice?

• A. They perform medical services under supervision and within the supervising physician's scope
• B. They may operate independently after licensure
• C. They can perform any service without supervision
• D. They require a different license for each hospital

Answer: (A)

A physician assistant practices medicine under supervision and within the supervising physician’s defined scope. This means PAs provide a wide range of medical care—taking histories, performing exams, ordering tests, diagnosing, prescribing, and performing procedures—but always within the framework set by the supervising physician and governed by state laws and institutional policies. They are not independent after licensure, they don’t perform every possible service without supervision, and a single PA license covers practice across settings rather than requiring a separate license for each hospital. The supervising relationship and the physician’s scope effectively shape what a PA can do in a given setting.