Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 32
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1456 (2026)

Medical assistants; allowable tasks; training; use of title; violation; classification; definition

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section AZ-LEGazleg.gov (official) JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

32-1456. Medical assistants; allowable tasks; training; use of title; violation; classification; definition

A. A medical assistant may perform the following medical procedures under the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner:

1. Take body fluid specimens.

2. Administer injections.

B. A medical assistant may place and remove urinary catheters after appropriate training and under the general supervision of a physician who is licensed pursuant to this chapter or chapter 17 of this title, a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse midwife who is licensed pursuant to chapter 15 of this title or a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to chapter 25 of this title.

C. The board by rule may prescribe other medical procedures that a medical assistant may perform under the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner on a determination by the board that the procedures may be competently performed by a medical assistant.

D. Without the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, a medical assistant may do the following tasks:

1. Perform billing and coding.

2. Verify insurance.

3. Make patient appointments.

4. Perform scheduling.

5. Record the findings of a doctor of medicine in patient charts and transcribe materials in patient charts and records.

6. Perform visual acuity screening as part of a routine physical.

7. Take and record patient vital signs and medical history on medical records.

8. Communicate documented medical advice, documented interpretation of test results and documented orders from a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

9. Obtain, process and communicate medication or procedure prior authorization as documented and ordered by a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

E. The board by rule shall prescribe medical assistant training requirements. The training requirements for a medical assistant may be satisfied through a training program that meets all of the following:

1. Is designed and offered by a physician.

2. Meets or exceeds any of the approved training program requirements specified in rule.

3. Verifies the entry-level competencies of a medical assistant as prescribed by rule.

4. Provides written verification to the individual of successful completion of the training program.

F. A person who uses the title "medical assistant" or a related abbreviation is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor unless that person is working as a medical assistant under the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner or possesses written verification of successful completion of a training program provided pursuant to subsection E of this section.

G. For the purposes of this section, "general supervision" means that a procedure or service is provided under the overall direction and control of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife or physician assistant but that the presence of the physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife or physician assistant is not required during the performance of the procedure or service.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1964–2008 · leading case: State Ex Rel. Pennartz v. Olcavage, 30 P.3d 649 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State Ex Rel. Pennartz v. Olcavage, 30 P.3d 649 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 9× “Specifically, they argue that one who is not a physician or registered nurse cannot be a “qualified person” unless, under A.R.S. § 32-1456, that person is under the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.”
Fitzpatrick v. Bd. of Med. Examiners, 394 P.2d 423 (Ariz. 1964). · cites it 9× “A.R.S. § 32-1456 “» * * B. A person who practices or attempts to practice medicine or surgery without having a valid recorded license to so practice issued by the board of medical examiners is guilty of a felony.”
Nellis v. G.R. Herberger Revocable Trust, 360 F. Supp. 2d 1033 (D. Ariz. 2005). · cites it 4× “See Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 32-1456(A); Ariz. Admin.”
Midtown Med. Grp., Inc. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 206 P.3d 790 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “” AR.S. § 32-1456(0 (2008). Another statute specifically exempts from the practice of medicine licensing scheme “[activities or functions which do not require the exercise of a doctor of medicine’s judgment for their performance.”
State v. Carrasco, 49 P.3d 1140 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “See A.R.S. § 32-1456. We disagree. ¶ 9 Although the person who drew the blood in Olcavage was certified in phlebotomy, the court did not limit the scope of “qualified person” to “certified phlebotomist.”
State v. Arizona Mines Supply Co., 484 P.2d 619 (Ariz. 1971). “Section 32-1456 is such a law. Although extenuating circumstances would be no legal bar to conviction, they would certainly be important factors in determining a penalty, and might even warrant granting of probation.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1456(A) — 2 cases
State Ex Rel. Pennartz v. Olcavage, 30 P.3d 649 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). “Specifically, they argue that one who is not a physician or registered nurse cannot be a “qualified person” unless, under A.R.S. § 32-1456, that person is under the direct supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.”
Nellis v. G.R. Herberger Revocable Trust, 360 F. Supp. 2d 1033 (D. Ariz. 2005). “See Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 32-1456(A); Ariz. Admin.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1456(C) — 1 case
Nellis v. G.R. Herberger Revocable Trust, 360 F. Supp. 2d 1033 (D. Ariz. 2005). “See Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 32-1456(A); Ariz. Admin.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.