The American Academy of Physician Associates made strides over the last year to rebrand the PA profession and sunset the term “physician assistant.”
AAPA voted to adopt “physician associate” as the official title for the profession in 2021. The organization acknowledges, however, that a broader national rebranding at the state and federal levels could take a decade or longer. AAPA said the new title better reflects the job description of PAs and their role in the healthcare industry but noted it does not affect their scope of practice.
Physician groups such as the American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association have opposed the effort, arguing that the title change will create confusion for patients about who is providing their care.
Five notes on where the rebranding stands:
1. Each state PA chapter is a separate entity that must determine whether to update its organization name and lobby for statutory changes to recognize the new title.
2. Thirty-nine of AAPA’s 125 constituent organizations have rebranded, adopting the “physician associate” title in their formal name, documents, websites and other public-facing materials.
3. AAPA is also working with state chapters to pursue the title change in state legislatures. Six states have made statutory changes to officially rebrand the profession. Oregon became the first state to formally adopt the physician associate title in April 2024, followed by Maine and New Hampshire in 2025 and Iowa, Delaware and Alaska this year.
4. Several other states, including Ohio and New Jersey, have introduced similar bills to update the PA title, while Kansas and Wisconsin have officially passed legislation.
5. AAPA does not recommend that PAs use the “physician associate” title in patient-facing, clinical settings unless permitted under state laws, employer policies and licensing board policies, among other legal obligations.
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