Nurse practitioner practice authority is set state by state and falls into three regulatory tiers: full practice, reduced practice, and restricted practice. The tier governs a state's diagnose-and-treat scope, prescriptive authority (including controlled substances), supervision requirements, and a candidate's mobility into that state. Advanced Practice Recruiters tracks every state's authority and the APRN Compact rollout in real time.
NPs may evaluate, diagnose, treat, prescribe (including controlled substances), and operate independent practices under the exclusive licensure authority of the State Board of Nursing. Examples: AZ, CO, OR, WA, NM, MT, ND, ID, IA, MN, NE, NH, NV, RI, NM, MD, DC, AK, HI, VT, ME, WY, KS, UT, NY (recent expansion), DE, CT, MA, NJ, FL (psychiatric), SD, WV.
NPs have reduced ability in at least one element of practice — typically requires a collaborative agreement with a physician for one or more practice elements (often prescribing). Examples: AL, AR, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, NJ (varies), OH, PA, WI.
State law requires career-long supervision, delegation, or team management by an outside health discipline for the NP to provide patient care. Examples vary year to year as states migrate; current restricted include CA, FL (general), GA, MI, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA.
The APRN Compact is rolling out state by state. Once an APRN holds a multistate license in a Compact state, they can practice in any other Compact state without applying for a new state license. APR tracks Compact status as states activate.
Beyond state licensure, NPs maintain national certification (ANCC, AANP, NCC, PNCB, AACN depending on population focus), DEA registration for controlled substance prescribing where applicable, and continuing education appropriate to their state and certification.
A state-level designation allowing NPs to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and prescribe (including controlled substances) under the exclusive authority of the State Board of Nursing — without a required physician collaboration agreement.
Yes — the APRN Compact has activated in a growing number of states. Once an NP holds a multistate license in a Compact state, they can practice in any other Compact state without separately applying for that state's license.