The Committee on Physician's Assistants was formed with the enactment of Public Act 420 of 1976, signed by the Governor on January 9, 1977. The Act regulated the practice of physician's assistants in the State of Michigan, providing a system to determine and approve the qualifications of physician's assistants, creating a committee on physician's assistants, prescribing its powers and duties, and prescribing penalties. On September 30, 1978, this authority was transferred to the Public Health Code, Public Act 368 of 1978, as amended and became the Task Force on Physician's Assistants.

The practice as a physician's assistant, as defined in the Public Health Code, means the practice of allopathic or osteopathic medicine under the supervision of an allopathic or osteopathic physician.

The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board. Underlying all duties is the obligation of the Board or Task Force to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. This responsibility is implemented by the Task Force by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of health practitioners. The Task Force also has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.

The Task Force on Physician's Assistants consists of 11 voting members: 5 physician's assistants, 1 physician member from each of the Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, and Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and 3 public members.

The task force currently oversees approximately 2,920 Physician's Assistants.