(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician and surgeon may delegate various orthopaedic medical tasks to individuals who have completed training as orthopaedic physician assistants and who are working under the supervision and direction of a physician and surgeon. Those assistants who perform only those tasks which may under existing law be so delegated shall not be required to be licensed as physician assistants under Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500).
(b)
As used in this section, “orthopaedic physician assistant” means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:
(1)
Successful completion of training as an orthopaedic physician assistant from an approved California orthopaedic physician assistant’s program in any year between 1971 and 1974, inclusive. As used in this section, “approved California orthopaedic physician assistant’s program” means an orthopaedic physician assistant’s course of training that has been accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education.
(2)
Continuous experience as an orthopaedic physician assistant upon completion of the program described in paragraph (1), which may include experience in the United States Armed Services.
(3)
Successful fulfillment of the certification requirements of the National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Physician Assistants.
(c)
Nothing in this section shall authorize any individual to hold himself or herself out as a licensed physician assistant in violation of Section 3503.