Assistant physician

Assistant physician (abbreviated A.P.) in the United States is a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) who has graduated from a four-year medical school program and is licensed to practice in a limited capacity under the supervision of a physician who has completed his or her residency. The Assistant Physician license is currently issued in Missouri, Virginia, New Hampshire, Utah, and Arkansas.

In order to be licensed, assistant physicians are required to have graduated medical school, in addition to having passed the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge. The expansion of the profession of assistant physicians is directed towards providing primary care in underserved areas.