Posts by Jill Van Otterloo
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Why It’s an Exciting Time to Be a Physician Associate in Iowa: 3 Major Legislative Successes
It is an exciting time to be a practicing Physician Associate (PA), or training to become one, in the state of Iowa. Over the last several years, the Iowa Physician Associate Society (IPAS) has worked to champion legislation that allows PAs to utilize their education and training to meet Iowa’s evolving healthcare needs.
As licensed clinicians who practice in every specialty and clinical setting, PAs are important members of healthcare teams, providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Recent legislative changes in Iowa have modernized the profession in three significant ways, addressing administrative barriers and supporting access to care.
1. Title Change to Physician Associate
On July 1, 2026, Iowa’s legislation changing the professional title from Physician Assistant to Physician Associate took effect. Iowa law now recognizes “physician assistant,” “physician associate,” and “P.A.” as synonymous terms for the same licensed profession.
The title modernization reflects the education, clinical training and responsibilities of PAs within today’s healthcare teams. It also provides an opportunity to help patients and other healthcare professionals better understand the role PAs play in delivering medical care.
Importantly, the title change does not change a PA’s scope of practice, licensure requirements, certification requirements, prescribing authority, reimbursement eligibility or patient care responsibilities.
2. Joining the PA Licensure Compact
Iowa has also joined the PA Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement designed to streamline the process for eligible PAs to obtain authorization to practice in participating states.
Traditionally, PAs seeking to practice in multiple states may need to complete separate licensure processes through each state. The compact is designed to reduce that administrative burden and improve license portability, which can be especially useful for PAs who work across state lines or provide telemedicine services.
Iowa joined a growing group of states participating in the compact, including neighboring states such as Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Kansas. As of August 2026, 29 states had enacted the compact.
The compact has been activated, but PAs cannot yet apply for compact privileges. The PA Compact Commission is continuing the work needed to fully operationalize the system, with applications expected to become available in 2027.
Once operational, the compact is expected to make it easier for eligible PAs to obtain authorization to practice in multiple member states, helping support workforce mobility and access to care.
3. Advancing Optimal Team Practice
Iowa is also moving toward Optimal Team Practice (OTP), a model focused on reducing unnecessary administrative barriers while supporting collaboration among PAs, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
According to the Iowa Physician Associate Society, OTP includes three key components: eliminating requirements for a specific relationship between a PA and another healthcare provider, establishing appropriate PA representation in professional regulation, and authorizing direct reimbursement for PAs by public and private payers.
For Iowa’s healthcare workforce, these changes can provide greater flexibility in how healthcare teams are structured while maintaining a collaborative, patient-centered approach to care. They may be particularly meaningful for rural and underserved communities where expanding access to qualified healthcare providers is an ongoing priority.
These changes do not mean PAs practice without collaboration or according to an unlimited scope of practice. A PA’s practice continues to be shaped by the laws and regulations of the state in which they practice, as well as their education, training and experience.
A Perspective From Northwestern’s PA Program
These changes are particularly meaningful to Jill Van Otterloo, program director of Northwestern College’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program.
Van Otterloo has served as program director since 2022, after previously serving as associate director and professor of practice for the program. She earned her B.S. in biology with a minor in psychology from Iowa State University and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Des Moines University.
Before joining Northwestern, Van Otterloo practiced family medicine at Mercy Family Clinic in Forest City, Iowa and at Sioux Center Health. She now brings both her clinical experience and experience as an educator to her work with Northwestern’s PA students.
Her experience in both clinical practice and PA education gives her a firsthand perspective on how changes in Iowa’s healthcare landscape can affect both current practitioners and the next generation of PAs.
Alignment With the Mission of the Northwestern College PA Program
These legislative milestones closely align with the mission of the Northwestern College PA Program.
As Christian healthcare providers, Northwestern PA students are called to provide compassionate, empathetic and holistic care, tending to the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of every patient.
Northwestern College is committed to preparing graduates to serve patients with excellence and integrity, with particular emphasis on rural and underserved communities.
As Iowa continues to modernize its PA practice environment, Northwestern graduates will enter a profession that is evolving to meet the healthcare needs of communities across the state.
For students considering a career as a Physician Associate, these changes provide an important look at the direction of the profession in Iowa—and the opportunities ahead.
There is an exciting future for Physician Associates in Iowa, and Northwestern College is preparing students to be part of it.
Resources
https://www.iapasociety.org/pa-compact
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2026/04/iowa-marks-major-milestone-with-passage-of-title-change-legislation/
https://www.aapa.org/advocacy-central/pa-licensure-compact/
https://www.aapa.org/advocacy-central/pa-practice-modernization/
https://www.iapasociety.org/optimal-team-practice
