North Carolina Physician Assistants Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services Data 2024 Snapshot

May 6, 2026

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Physician Assistants Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Mental Health and Substance Use Services (MH/SU) Physician Assistants (PAs) are PAs who reported a primary practice area of psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, or addiction psychiatry. PAs work collaboratively with physician supervision to diagnose and treat MH/SU conditions, prescribe psychiatric medications, and provide comprehensive MH/SU service care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. MH/SU PAs are licensed and regulated by the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB). In 2024, there were 576 MH/SU PAs in North Carolina at a rate of 0.52 per 10,000 population.

Suggested Citation: Lombardi BM, Headley J, Jimenez MP; Keesler R, Akue-ka AJB; Gregory R; Galloway E; Zerden LD; Fraher E. North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data 2024 Snapshot: Physician Assistants Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. May 6, 2026.

Funding & Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS). The information, content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by DMHDDSUS.

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