Utah Physician Matching
Collaborating Physicians in Utah: A Tiered-Hours State for PAs
Utah is not a one-answer collaborating physician state. The right physician relationship depends almost entirely on one number: how many post-graduate clinical hours the provider has logged.
CollaboratingPhysician.com helps Utah PAs, NPs, clinic owners, med spas, IV hydration clinics, medical weight loss practices, telehealth groups, and mental health clinics connect with physician support based on hours tier, service line, and clinic model.
Built For Providers and Clinics That Need:
- A collaborating physician for a PA under 10,000 hours
- A Delegation of Services Agreement reviewed or drafted
- Physician support for a mental health PA pursuing independent practice
- Med spa, IV hydration, or GLP-1 clinic physician oversight
- Telehealth physician support that fits Utah's consultation requirements
- A structured alternative to cold outreach and generic directories
Quick Answer
Fast Answer: Do Utah Clinics Need a Collaborating Physician?
It depends entirely on which provider and which hours tier you are asking about.
Utah NPs have not needed a collaborating physician since March 2023. There is no agreement, no protocol, and no board filing required for NP practice or prescribing.
Utah PAs are a different story. Utah Code § 58-70a-307 sorts every PA into one of three hours-based tiers, and the physician relationship changes completely depending on which tier applies.
Before Requesting a Match, Clarify:
- Which tier the PA currently falls into, based on documented post-graduate hours
- Whether the PA's specialty is general practice or mental health, since the pathways differ
- Whether the prospective physician is already near the four-PA supervision cap
- Whether an immediate electronic consultation method is realistic for the clinic's hours of operation
- Whether the Delegation of Services Agreement reflects the clinic's actual services, not a generic template
- Whether the PA holds an independent DEA registration for controlled substance prescribing
Do Utah Clinics Need a Collaborating Physician?
Utah NPs have practiced independently since March 2023, with no collaboration agreement, protocol, or board filing required. Utah PAs follow a three-tier framework based on post-graduate clinical hours.
Tier 1 (under 4,000 hours): direct collaboration with a supervising physician and immediate electronic consultation required. Tier 2 (4,000 to under 10,000 hours): written Delegation of Services Agreement. Tier 3 (10,000 or more hours): no collaboration required.
A 2025 to 2026 periodic review by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing recommended reducing the Tier 3 independence threshold from 10,000 hours to 8,000 hours. As of this writing, the change has not been enacted.
Utah Compliance Snapshot
A physician may not supervise more than four full-time equivalent PAs without prior DOPL and board approval.
A PA may not use the supervising physician’s controlled substance license or DEA registration; the PA must hold their own.
The Delegation of Services Agreement is not submitted to DOPL; it must be available at the practice site if requested.
This page is general information only and is not legal, medical, tax, or compliance advice.
What Is a Collaborating Physician
What Is a Collaborating Physician in Utah?
A collaborating physician in Utah is a licensed physician who provides direct collaboration for Tier 1 PAs, or who is named in a written Delegation of Services Agreement for Tier 2 PAs. Tier 3 PAs practice independently.
Psychiatric PAs follow a separate pathway requiring 4,000 hours under direct psychiatrist supervision plus 2,000 hours under a mental health therapist or collaborative arrangement.
Physician Oversight Services
Physician Oversight Services in Utah
Physician oversight in Utah is tier-dependent. Tier 1 oversight includes direct collaboration and an immediately reachable physician. Tier 2 oversight is defined by the Delegation of Services Agreement. Physician oversight may include:
- Tier-appropriate agreement drafting (direct collaboration or Delegation of Services Agreement)
- Immediate electronic consultation method for Tier 1 PAs
- Practice information review sufficient for patient safety
- Backup coverage procedures for situations outside the PA's scope
- Specialty-specific scope alignment
- DOSA review when practice or specialty changes
Utah Terminology
Collaborating Physician, Supervising Physician, Medical Director in Utah
Utah uses tier-specific language. The practical question is not “do we need a physician” but “which document does this PA’s hours require, and does it reflect the clinic’s actual services?”
A Delegation of Services Agreement is the controlling document for Tier 2 PAs and must reflect actual delegated services, consultation methods, and backup coverage.
Physician Supervision Services
Physician Supervision Services in Utah
For Tier 1 PAs, the supervising physician must maintain direct collaboration and be available for immediate electronic consultation whenever the PA is not under direct supervision.
Psychiatric PAs follow a separate pathway and do not follow the general three-tier track. A PA who changes practice settings or specialties does not automatically carry their tier status.
Clinic-Level Oversight
Physician Oversight for Clinics in Utah
Physician oversight for Utah clinics should reflect the actual hours tier and specialty of each PA on staff. Utah clinic owners often look for physician support when they are:
- Onboarding a new PA graduate (Tier 1)
- Drafting or updating a Delegation of Services Agreement (Tier 2)
- Confirming a PA's approach to the 10,000-hour independence threshold
- Building a psychiatric or mental health PA practice
- Launching a med spa, IV hydration clinic, or weight loss program
- Tracking the proposed 8,000-hour threshold change
- Managing multi-site telehealth with appropriate consultation methods
Physician Matching Built Around Clinic Fit
Utah Physician Matching Built Around Clinic Fit
A fast match only helps if the physician fits the correct Utah tier. CollaboratingPhysician.com confirms the tier and required document before any physician search begins.
The Utah Three-Tier Framework
| Utah Tier | Hours Threshold | Physician Relationship Required | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Under 4,000 hours | Direct collaboration with a supervising physician; immediate electronic consultation method required | The PA cannot practice without an actively reachable physician at this stage. |
| Tier 2 | 4,000 to under 10,000 hours | Written Delegation of Services Agreement with a physician or an experienced PA, kept on file at the practice | The agreement, not a verbal arrangement, becomes the controlling document. |
| Tier 3 | 10,000 or more hours | No collaboration or agreement required | The PA practices independently; some clinics still choose a voluntary medical director relationship. |
| Mental health specialty | Separate pathway regardless of general hours | 4,000 hours under direct psychiatrist supervision, plus 2,000 hours under a mental health therapist or collaborative arrangement | Psychiatric PAs do not follow the general three-tier track; the specialty carve-out runs on its own clock. |
Utah Physician Eligibility Quick Reference
| Requirement | What Utah Law Says |
|---|---|
| Immediate consultation | A method of immediate electronic consultation must exist whenever the Tier 1 PA is not under direct supervision. |
| Practice information review | The physician and PA must review sufficient charts or records to ensure patient safety is not compromised. |
| PA supervision cap | A physician may not supervise more than four full-time equivalent PAs without prior DOPL and board approval for extenuating circumstances. |
| DEA registration | A PA may not use the supervising physician’s controlled substance license or DEA registration; the PA must hold their own. |
| Filing | The Delegation of Services Agreement is not submitted to DOPL; it must be available at the practice site if requested. |
| Backup coverage | The agreement must describe procedures for situations outside the PA’s scope, including emergency backup support. |
Which Utah Clinic Model Are You Building?
| Clinic Model | Physician Match Priority |
|---|---|
| New PA graduate practice | Tier 1 direct collaboration, immediate consultation method, supervising physician availability |
| Established PA practice, 4,000 to 10,000 hours | Delegation of Services Agreement content, scope alignment, file maintenance |
| Independent PA practice, 10,000+ hours | Optional medical director relationship; no collaboration requirement |
| Psychiatric or mental health PA practice | Direct psychiatrist supervision hours, separate collaborative period, NCCPA psychiatry exam pathway |
| Med spa or aesthetic clinic | Delegated scope for injectables and devices, adverse-event planning, tier-appropriate agreement |
| IV hydration or wellness clinic | Standing orders, screening protocols, tier-appropriate physician availability |
| Telehealth clinic | Immediate electronic consultation method, multi-site DOSA coverage |
Common Utah Physician Matching Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It Creates Risk |
|---|---|
| Treating all PAs the same regardless of hours | Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 use entirely different documents and obligations. |
| Assuming the mental health pathway follows the general tiers | Psychiatric PAs follow a separate hours and supervision structure. |
| Forgetting the four-PA supervision cap | A physician already near the cap may not be able to take on a new PA without special approval. |
| Letting the DOSA go stale after a specialty change | The agreement must reflect current practices, not the PA’s original scope. |
| Assuming the 10,000-hour threshold is fixed | Pending legislation may reduce it to 8,000 hours. |
Why Choose CollaboratingPhysician.com?
Confirm the Provider's Hours Tier
Share documented post-graduate clinical hours and specialty area. The tier determines the required document before any physician search begins.
Identify the Required Document
Direct collaboration, a Delegation of Services Agreement, or no agreement at all, depending on the tier.
Match on Service Line
A med spa PA and a psychiatric PA need different physician backgrounds, not the same generic match.
Review Agreement Content
The DOSA should reflect actual delegated services, consultation methods, and backup coverage.
Move Toward Onboarding
Legal and compliance specifics should be confirmed with qualified counsel before finalizing.
How It Works
How the Utah Physician Matching Process Works
Step 1
Share Documented Hours and Specialty
Share the PA’s documented post-graduate clinical hours and specialty area to identify the correct Utah tier.
Step 2
Identify the Required Document
Direct collaboration, a Delegation of Services Agreement, or no agreement at all, depending on the tier.
Step 3
Match on Service Line
A med spa PA and a psychiatric PA need different physician backgrounds.
Step 4
Review Agreement Content
The DOSA should reflect actual delegated services, consultation methods, and backup coverage.
Step 5
Move Toward Onboarding
Legal and compliance specifics should be confirmed with qualified counsel before finalizing.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Utah NPs have practiced independently since March 2023, with no collaboration agreement, protocol, or board filing required.
Tier 1 PAs (under 4,000 hours) require direct collaboration. Tier 2 PAs (4,000 to 9,999 hours) need a written Delegation of Services Agreement. Tier 3 PAs (10,000+ hours) practice independently.
A DOSA is the written agreement required for Tier 2 Utah PAs. It must reflect actual delegated services, consultation methods, and backup coverage procedures, and be kept on file at the practice site.
Psychiatric PAs follow a separate pathway requiring 4,000 hours under direct psychiatrist supervision plus 2,000 hours under a mental health therapist or collaborative arrangement.
A 2025 to 2026 DOPL review recommended reducing it to 8,000 hours, but this change had not been enacted as of this writing.
A physician may not supervise more than four full-time equivalent PAs without prior DOPL and board approval for extenuating circumstances.
Start Your Utah Collaborating Physician Match
If you are a Utah PA approaching a new hours tier, a clinic onboarding a new graduate, or a practice building out a psychiatric specialty, the physician relationship should match the tier you are actually in.
CollaboratingPhysician.com helps Utah providers and clinics sort the correct pathway first, then connects them with physician support that fits the hours, specialty, and service line involved.
