Physician extender is a term describing, primarily, two separate kinds of health care professionals: nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Physicians extenders are not physicians, but perform vital functions in the overall care of patients, like consulting patients, diagnosing and treating medical conditions, performing physical exams, and documenting and updating patient records. Becoming a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant, or any role that might be described as a physician extender, required you to be certified and licensed by the appropriate regulatory agencies in your state or region.