Which statement about physician assistants (PAs) is true?

• A. They operate without any supervision
• B. They can prescribe medications in most states
• C. They must be licensed physicians
• D. They cannot write physical therapy orders

Answer: (B)

PAs practice under the supervision of a physician and, in most states, have prescriptive authority within a defined scope. This means, once they complete their training and obtain state licensure, they can prescribe medications when allowed by state law and through the supervising physician’s protocol. That combination of training, licensure as a physician assistant, and state-regulated prescriptive authority is what makes this statement true and reflects how PAs typically function in clinical settings.

The other ideas aren’t universally accurate. PAs do not operate without supervision, they are licensed as physician assistants (not physicians), and whether they can order physical therapy varies by state and setting, so it isn’t a universal truth.