Connecticut PA Collaboration Requirements Summary

Connecticut requires every PA to have a clearly identified supervising physician who holds final responsibility for patient care and for the PA’s performance. The relationship runs on a written delegation agreement that the physician establishes, and there is no experience threshold that reduces oversight over time. Physician involvement is standard day to day — no on-site hours, but continuous availability by phone or other telecommunications, regular documented chart review, and personal review of the PA’s services at the practice location. Involvement rises sharply for Schedule II and III prescribing, where the physician must document approval of each order in the patient’s chart. This page covers Connecticut’s rules on the supervising relationship, the written delegation agreement, board filing, ongoing compliance, prescribing, and specialty and telehealth requirements.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12c(a)

Type of Collaborative Relationship

Connecticut requires a clearly identified supervising physician for every PA, and that physician keeps final responsibility for patient care and for the PA’s performance. Supervision means the physician’s exercise of oversight, control, and direction of the PA’s services, which includes active and continuing overview of the PA’s activities. There is no path to reduced supervision or independent practice for PAs in Connecticut — the requirements are the same at every experience level.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12a(7)(B)

What is a PA’s scope of practice in Connecticut?

A PA’s scope in Connecticut is what the supervising physician delegates in the written delegation agreement. The agreement must identify the medical services the PA may perform, and those services must fall within the scope of the physician’s own license, competence, and normal practice.

Do PAs need a collaborating physician in Connecticut?

Yes. Every PA practicing in Connecticut, including PAs in a resident physician assistant program, must have a clearly identified supervising physician who maintains final responsibility for patient care and for the PA’s performance.

Can PAs practice independently in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut sets no experience threshold or hour count that leads to reduced supervision or independent practice, and the supervising physician retains final responsibility throughout.

How many PAs can a physician collaborate with in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets no numeric cap — a physician may supervise as many PAs as is medically appropriate under the circumstances. The condition is that supervision remain active and direct for each PA.

Who can be a collaborating physician in Connecticut?

A supervising physician must be licensed in Connecticut and must assume responsibility for the services the PA renders. Connecticut sets no additional experience, specialty, or continuing education requirement for the physician.

Are there proximity or in-person requirements in Connecticut?

No, Connecticut sets no distance, travel, or required on-site presence rule. Supervision does require continuous availability of direct communication between the PA and the physician, in person or by radio, telephone, or other telecommunications. Outside hospital settings, supervision also includes personal review by the physician of the PA’s services at a facility or practice location where the PA or the physician performs services.

Collaboration Agreement Requirements

Connecticut’s written agreement is called a written delegation agreement, and the supervising physician establishes its terms. It must describe the professional relationship, identify the medical services the PA may perform, explain how the PA’s controlled-substance prescribing will be documented in the patient record, and describe how the physician will evaluate the PA’s performance — including how often the physician will personally review the PA’s practice and the PA’s Schedule II and III prescribing. The physician must review the agreement at least annually. The state does not provide a template.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12d(a)

What must be included in a PA collaborative agreement in Connecticut?

Four things at minimum: a description of the professional relationship, the medical services the PA may perform, how the PA’s controlled-substance prescribing will be documented in the patient’s medical record, and how the physician will evaluate the PA’s performance. That last piece must state how often the physician will personally review the PA’s practice and delegated services, and how and how often the physician will review the PA’s Schedule II and III prescribing and administration. In a hospital setting, the agreement must also reference or include the applicable hospital policies, protocols, and procedures.

What is the collaborative agreement called in Connecticut?

It is called a written delegation agreement. The supervising physician establishes its terms.

Who has to sign the collaborative agreement in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets no signature requirement for the written delegation agreement.

How often must the agreement be reviewed or renewed in Connecticut?

At least annually. The supervising physician must review the written delegation agreement not less than once a year and revise it as needed to reflect changes in the professional relationship, in the medical services the PA is authorized to perform, or in how the physician evaluates the PA’s performance.

Is a backup physician required in Connecticut?

No pre-determined backup physician is required, but outside hospital settings supervision includes designating an alternate licensed physician for when the supervising physician is absent. Supervision also requires a predetermined plan for emergency situations.

Board Filing Requirements

Connecticut requires no board filing for the supervising relationship. The written delegation agreement is not submitted to the board, no additional documents are required, and there is no recurring filing or renewal submission. Because nothing is filed to start the relationship, there is also no termination notice requirement.

Do you have to file the collaborative agreement with the board in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut does not require the written delegation agreement to be filed with the board, and no additional documents are required to be filed for the supervising relationship.

Can a PA start practicing as soon as they file in Connecticut?

There is nothing to file for the supervising relationship, so no waiting period applies. A PA needs a Connecticut license and a clearly identified supervising physician with a written delegation agreement in place.

What are the termination and notice requirements in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets no termination or notice requirement when a supervising relationship ends.

Collaboration Compliance

Connecticut’s ongoing obligations are built into its definition of supervision rather than into a fixed schedule. The physician must stay continuously reachable, keep active and continuing overview of the PA’s activities, personally review the PA’s services at the practice location, and review the PA’s charts and records on a regular basis with written documentation of each review. Schedule II and III prescribing carries an additional requirement: the physician must document approval of each order in the patient’s chart.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12a(7)(B)(ii)–(iv)

How many charts must a collaborating physician review in Connecticut?

There is no fixed chart count or cadence — the physician must review the PA’s charts and records on a regular basis, as necessary to ensure quality patient care. The physician must document each review in writing at the facility or practice location where the PA or physician works. Separately, when a PA prescribes a new Schedule II or III controlled substance, the physician must document approval of that order in the patient’s medical record.

How often must a PA and collaborating physician meet in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets no required meeting cadence. The physician must maintain active and continuing overview of the PA’s activities and personally review the PA’s services at the practice location, and the written delegation agreement itself must state how often the physician intends to conduct that personal review.

How long must collaboration records be kept in Connecticut?

Connecticut sets no retention period for supervision records. The physician’s written documentation of chart review must be kept at the facility or practice location where the PA or physician performs services.

Prescribing Rules

PAs in Connecticut may prescribe as delegated by the supervising physician, including controlled substances in Schedules II and III in all settings. What can be delegated is limited to what falls within the physician’s own license, competence, and normal practice. Controlled-substance prescribing requires both a Connecticut Controlled Substance Practitioner Registration and a federal DEA registration, held by the PA and by the supervising physician, and every new Schedule II or III order requires the physician’s documented approval in the patient’s chart.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12d(a)

Can a PA prescribe controlled substances in Connecticut?

Yes, as delegated by the supervising physician. The PA and the supervising physician must each hold a Connecticut Controlled Substance Practitioner Registration and a federal DEA registration. For each new Schedule II or III prescription, the physician must document approval of the order in the patient’s medical record in the manner set out in the written delegation agreement.

Can a PA prescribe Schedule II drugs in Connecticut?

Yes, in all settings, when delegated by the supervising physician. The physician must document approval of each new Schedule II order in the patient’s medical record; renewals do not carry that documentation requirement.

What schedule drugs can a PA prescribe in Connecticut?

Connecticut expressly authorizes PAs to prescribe and administer controlled substances in Schedules II and III in all settings, as delegated. In every case, what the PA may prescribe is bounded by the supervising physician’s license, competence, and normal scope of practice.

Does a PA need a DEA license in Connecticut?

Yes, a federal DEA registration is required, along with a Connecticut Controlled Substance Practitioner Registration. Connecticut does not require a separate state DEA registration. Prescription forms a PA uses must carry the PA’s signature, name, address, and license number, and written orders must be followed by the PA’s signature and printed name; the supervising physician’s information is not required on the form.

Can a PA prescribe independently (without physician sign-off) in Connecticut?

No. All prescribing must be delegated by the supervising physician and stay within that physician’s license, competence, and normal practice, and each new Schedule II or III order requires the physician’s documented approval in the patient’s chart.

Specialty & Telehealth Requirements

Connecticut sets no telehealth-specific requirements for PAs but does add requirements for PAs who use fluoroscopy. The standard supervision, agreement, and prescribing rules apply otherwise, including the requirement that the physician remain continuously reachable by telecommunications.

Source: 370 Conn. Stat. 20-12i

Are there telehealth or telemedicine requirements for PAs in Connecticut?

No, Connecticut sets no telehealth-specific requirement for PAs. Contact by telephone, radio, or other telecommunications satisfies the continuous availability standard between a PA and the supervising physician.

Are there specialty-specific requirements for PAs in Connecticut?

Yes, Connecticut imposes additional requirements on PAs who use fluoroscopy. No other specialty-specific requirements apply.