114 STAT. 1842 PUBLIC LAW 106-419—NOV. 1, 2000 SEC. 204. TEMPORARY FULL-TIME APPOINTMENTS OF CERTAIN MED- ICAL PERSONNEL. (a) PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AWAITING CERTIFICATION OR LICEN- SURE. —Paragraph (2) of section 7405(c) is amended to read as follows: "(2) A temporary full-time appointment may not be made for a period in excess of two years in the case of a person who— "(A) has successfully completed— "(i) a full course of nursing in a recognized school of nursing, approved by the Secretary; or "(ii) a full course of training for any category of personnel described in paragraph (3) of section 7401 of this title, or as a physician assistant, in a recognized education or training institution approved by the Secretary; and "(B) is pending registration or licensure in a State or certification by a national board recognized by the Secretary.". (b) MEDICAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL.— That section is further amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3): "(3)(A) Temporary full-time appointments of persons in positions referred to in subsection (a)(1)(D) shall not exceed three years. "(B) Temporary full-time appointments under this paragraph may be renewed for one or more additional periods not in excess of three years each.". SEC. 205. QUALIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS. Section 7402(b)(9) is amended by striking "a person must" and all that follows and inserting "a person must— "(A) hold a master's degree in social work from a college or university approved by the Secretary; and "(B) be licensed or certified to independently practice social work in a State, except that the Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or certification for an individual social worker for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health.". SEC. 206. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISER TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH. Section 7306(a) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph (9): "(9) The Advisor on Physician Assistants, who shall be a physician assistant with appropriate experience and who shall advise the Under Secretary for Health on all matters relating to the utilization and employment of physician assistants in the Administration.". SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAY- MENTS. The Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1999 (title XI of Public Law 106-117; 5 U.S.C. 5597 note) is amended as follows: (1) Section 1102(c) is amended to read as follows:
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