(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, an individual must be licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board before the individual may practice as a physician assistant.

(b) The board may grant a license as a physician assistant to an applicant who:

(1) Submits an application on forms approved by the board;

(2) Pays the appropriate fees as determined by the board;

(3) Has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants or surgeon assistants accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or by its successor agency and has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(4) Certifies that he or she is mentally and physically able to engage safely in practice as a physician assistant;

(5) Has no licensure, certification, or registration as a physician assistant under current discipline, revocation, suspension, or probation for cause resulting from the applicant's practice as a physician assistant, unless the board considers the condition and agrees to licensure;

(6) Is of good moral character;

(7) Submits to the board any other information the board deems necessary to evaluate the applicant's qualifications;

(8) Has been approved by the board;

(9) Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and

(10) After July 1, 1999, has at least a bachelor's degree in some field of study from a regionally accredited college or university, unless the applicant has:

(A) Prior service as a military corpsman and is a graduate of a physician assistant education program recognized by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the applicant is currently certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(B) Was serving as a physician assistant in a federal facility located in the State of Arkansas on or after July 1, 1999, and who is a graduate of a physician assistant education program recognized by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;

(C) Was licensed in good standing on June 30, 1999, by the board; or

(D) Was enrolled on or before July 1, 1999, in a physician assistant program recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.