State Scope of Practice Laws
Scope of practice laws for medical assistants may vary by state.
Key States | Review the key states listed below for specific language pertaining to medical assisting scope of practice.
Your State | For specific questions regarding your state, submit your query below.
Key State Scope of Practice Laws
Alabama
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Alabama
Alabama BON Administrative Code, Chapter 610-x-6: Standards of Nursing Practice
Alaska
12 AAC 44.966. Delegation of the Administration of Injectable Medication
Alaska State Medical Board: Delegating to Medical Assistants (Unlicensed Assistive Personnel)
Statutes and Regulations: Medical (January 2017)
Statement from Legal Counsel Balasa: Note the following from page 32 of the Statutes and Regulations document, which is in the regulations section:
12 AAC 40.480. EXEMPTIONS. (a) Nothing in this chapter prevents or regulates the use of a community health aid in the usual and customary manner in the rural areas of the State of Alaska. (b) Nothing in this chapter regulates, restricts, or alters the functions of a person traditionally employed in an office, by a physician, in a position not regulated by the State Medical Board under AS 08.64.
Medical assistants are not "regulated by the State Medical Board under AS 08.64." Therefore, it is my legal opinion that the policy statement of the Board offers guidance, but does not prohibit physicians from delegating to unlicensed professionals such as medical assistants the administration of IM, sub-Q, and ID injections under the direct/onsite supervision of a physician.
Arizona
R4-16-101. Definitions
Notice of Final Rulemaking: Title 4. Professions and occupations, Chapter 16
Content Requirements for CAAHEP Accredited Medical Assisting Programs
Arkansas
Act 472: An Act to Authorize Physicians and Podiatrists to Delegate the Performance of Some Simple Procedures to Employees; and for Other Purposes
Regulation 31: Physician Delegation Regulation
California
Medical Board of California: Frequently Asked Questions—Medical Assistants
Colorado
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Colorado
Rules Regarding the Delegation and Supervision of Medical Services to Unlicensed health Care Providers
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Public Health: Medical Assistant Information
Delaware
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Delaware
District of Columbia
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in the District of Columbia
Florida
2014 Florida Statutes: 458.3485 Medical Assistant
Florida Board of Medicine: Ruling on Delegation of IV Infusion Therapy
Florida Administrative Code, 64B8-2.001
Georgia
Medical Assistant Law and Rules
Hawaii
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Hawaii
Idaho
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Idaho
Illinois
Administrative Code, Section 1285.335 Physician Delegation of Authority
Illinois Medical Practice Act
Illinois Nurse Practice Act
Indiana
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Indiana
Iowa
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Iowa
Kansas
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Kansas
Kentucky
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Kentucky
Louisiana
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Louisiana
Maine
Maine Revised Statutes: 3270-A. Assistants
Maryland
Code of Maryland Regulations: 10.32.12
Massachusetts
Circular Letter DCP 16-12-664: Immunization Administration by Medical Assistants
Acts (2016) Chapter 234: An Act Increasing Access to Immunization
Michigan
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Michigan
Public Health Code of Michigan: Act 368 of 1978, Section 333.16215
Minnesota
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Minnesota
Mississippi
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Mississippi
Missouri
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Missouri
Montana
Montana Code Annotated, 37-3-104: Medical Assistants—Guidelines
Administrative Rules of Montana: 24.156.401 Medical Assistant—Delegation and Supervision
Nebraska
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Nebraska
Nebraska Medication Aide Overview
Nevada
Nevada Statutory Language; Nevada Regulation Language of the Board of Medical Examiners
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Board of Medicine: Board’s Position on Supervision of Medical Assistants
Statement from Legal Counsel Balasa: This is no longer policy of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine. However, because no other position statement of the NH Board of Medicine has been issued, this document provides some guidance on what physicians are permitted to delegate to unlicensed professionals such as medical assistants.
New Jersey
New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners: 13:35-6.4
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in New Jersey
New Mexico
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in New Mexico
61-6-17. Exceptions to act. (Repealed Effective July 1, 2016.)
New York
Practice Alerts and Guidelines: Utilization of Medical Assistants
North Carolina
Delegable Duties: Letter Regarding Section 90-18(c)(13) of the North Carolina Statutes
Office Practice Setting: UAP Delegation
North Carolina Medical Board: Delegating Medical Tasks to Unlicensed Personnel
North Carolina Medical Board: Delegation Appropriateness Table
North Dakota
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in North Dakota
Initial Medication Assistant III Application
North Dakota Administrative Code 54-07-15: Medication Administration by a Medical Assistant III
Ohio
Ohio Administrative Code: 4731.053 Administrative Rules for Physician's Delegation of Medical Task
Ohio Administrative Code: 4731-23: Delegation of Medical Tasks
Ohio Administrative Code 4723-13-05: Criteria and standards for a licensed nurse delegating to an unlicensed person
Ohio Administrative Code 4723.48 Delegation of authority to administer certain drugs
Ohio Administrative Code 4723.489 Delegated authority to administer drugs
State Medical Board of Ohio: Letter Regarding Physician Delegation of IV Catheter
Ohio Administrative Code 4730.203 Delegation of administration of drug
Ohio Administrative Code 4730-1-08 Physician assistant delegation of medical tasks and administration of drugs
Oklahama
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Oklahoma
Oregon
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Oregon
Pennsylvania
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Pennsylvania
Subchapter G. Medical Doctor Delegation of Medical Services
Rhode Island
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Rhode Island
Guidelines Regarding Scope of Practice, Supervision, and Minimum Expectations of Conduct of Medical Assistants
South Carolina
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in South Carolina
South Carolina Medical Practice Act: Delegation to Unlicensed Professionals
The Supervision of Unlicensed Personnel and the Corporate Practice of Medicine
South Dakota
South Dakota Board of Nursing: Chapter 36-9B: Medical Assistants
Administrative Rules of South Dakota: 20:84 Medical Assistants
Tennessee
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Tennessee
Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners Policy Statement: Delegation of Medical Services
Texas
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Texas
169.3. Administration of Drugs
Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Chapter 157: Authority of Physician to Delegate Certain Medical Acts
Utah
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Utah
Utah Medical Practice Act, Part 1: General Provisions
General Rule of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
Vermont
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Vermont
Virginia
Virginia Board of Medicine: Injections by Trained Individuals Now Allowed
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Virginia
Code of Virginia § 54.1-3408. Professional Use by Practitioners
Washington
Washington State Department of Health: Medical Assistant—Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia
Delegation of Medication Administration by an Advance Practice Registered Nurse
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in West Virginia
Wisconsin
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Wisconsin
Wyoming
Letter Regarding Delegable Duties in Wyoming
Scope of Practice in Your State
AAMA Chief Executive Officer and Staff Legal Counsel Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, can inform you about the laws in your state governing medical assistants' scope of practice and other issues that you may be considering as you staff your office.