Prescriptive authority for nurse practitioners in texas

In twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have full prescriptive authority and can prescribe medications on their own, but Texas isn’t one of those states.

All Nurse Practitioners in Texas have to work under physician supervision. The collaborating physician essentially “delegates” the ordering of prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and medical devices to the NP, but there are strict laws and regulations about how this is handled.

Prescriptive Authority Agreement (PAA)
In Texas, physicians delegate the authority to write prescriptions through a PAA (Prescriptive Authority Agreement).

To qualify, Nurse Practitioners must:

  • have a full and active APRN license, issued by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON)
  • have a valid prescriptive authorization number issued by the BON
  • be in good standing with the nursing board (no disciplinary actions or prohibitions)
  • disclose any previous, current, or further disciplinary actions against their license

Physicians in Texas are limited to delegating prescription authority to a maximum of seven APRNs and/or Physician Assistants, or their full-time equivalents. The two exceptions to this are practices “serving a medically underserved population” and facility-based practices in hospitals.

Nurse Practitioners in Texas are allowed to work for more than one delegating physician at the same time.

Prescribing Regulations For Nurse Practitioners In Texas
Prescribing regulations and limitations for Nurse Practitioners in Texas include:

  • the delegating physician’s name, address, and phone number need to be included on prescription drug orders (along with the physician’s DEA number, if the medication is a controlled substance)
  • the duration of the prescription (including refills) can’t exceed 90 days
  • if treatment with a controlled substance lasts beyond 90 days, the Nurse Practitioner must consult with the delegating physician before writing another prescription or refilling a prescription
  • controlled substances can’t be prescribed for children under the age of two without consultation with the delegating physician
  • consultations with the delegating physician must be noted in the patient’s medical record
  • the delegating physician must complete chart reviews, and the physician and the Nurse Practitioner must conduct monthly meetings
  • the delegating physician has to be licensed in Texas

Nurses Attorney For Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
If the nursing board has contacted you about an allegation concerning a prescription, or you have concerns about something you or your delegating physician have done, please call our law office. We’ll be by your side through the entire license defense process, from initial investigation to final resolution.

For more information about prescribing regulations for Nurse Practitioners in Texas, or to schedule a free consultation with a nurses attorney, please call (512) 829-5619.

Please note: Kevin Keaney earned his BSN from the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a nurse for four years before becoming an attorney. A member of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA), Kevin now has more than 30 years experience as an attorney. Our law office is in the Austin area, and we represent nurses from all across Texas, including: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Amarillo, and Lubbock.


Leave it to Texas to do things differently. Nurse practitioners practicing in Texas will find themselves jumping through a few extra hoops when it comes to getting permission to prescribe controlled substances. The process can be long and confusing. Here’s what you need to know if you are considering practicing as a nurse practitioner in Texas.

If you’re looking to work as a nurse pratitioner in Texas, the first step to formalizing your status is to apply for a license to practice as an advanced practice nurse from the Texas Board of Nursing. The licensing process for nurse practitioners in Texas is notoriously long so begin as soon as possible. When, and only when, the licensing process has been completed can you begin the process of applying for permission to prescribe controlled substances in the Lone Star State.

Once you have your Texas license in hand, you’re ready to begin the process of obtaining prescriptive authority. To prescribe controlled substances in Texas, you need to get three documents in place in the following order:

  1. An agreement with a collaborating physician
  2. A Controlled Substances Registration with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  3. A DEA number obtained through the Drug Enforcement Administration

Let’s look at these three steps individually.

Collaborating Physician Agreement

Nurse practitioners practicing in Texas are only allowed to prescribe controlled substances only if working in collaboration with a physician. This arrangement must be outlined in a formal document signed by both the NP and the MD. The collaborative practice agreement should specifically outline the nurse practitioner’s ability to prescribe controlled substances.

Texas Controlled Substances Registration

With a collaborative practice agreement in place, you are now ready to apply for permission to prescribe controlled substances with the state. To do so, complete the Controlled Substances Registration form for mid-level practitioners with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The application fee is $25 and the registration must be renewed annually. You will need the name and address of the location where you plan to practice as well as the signature of your supervising physician. Your registration will be processed within 60 days, but many nurse practitioners receive their DPS number back much sooner.

Obtaining a DEA Number

Unlike the state-specific DPS Controlled Substances Registration, DEA registration is a federally mandated application process for prescribing controlled substances. Obtaining a DEA number is relatively simple and can be done online. Make sure to fill the application out carefully to avoid any delays in processing your application-you’re almost there!

Locking in your first nurse practitioner position in Texas can be difficult. Due to the long licensing process as well as the steps required to obtain prescriptive authority, some employers looking to fill NP positions require that applicants already have active DPS and DEA numbers. To further complicate the NP job search, these registration processes cannot be completed without an overseeing physician, so you will need a job before you being applying for the ability to prescribe controlled substances. Completing the steps to prescribing as a nurse practitioner in the most timely and complete manner possible will help avoid delays in your job search and onboarding process.

Are you looking for a nurse practitioner position in Texas? ThriveAP Career Advisors can help! Let us know how we can reach out to you and we’ll be in touch.

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Can nurse practitioners in Texas write prescriptions?

Yes. How a Nurse Practitioner prescribes medications is regulated by each state's Nurse Practice Act. In Texas, Nurse Practitioners have prescriptive authority through written agreements with a collaborating physician.

Who has prescriptive authority in Texas?

There are two primary limitations on prescriptive authority for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Texas..
Prescriptive Authority must be delegated by a physician through a written document prescribed by law; and..
Certain limitations apply to prescribing Controlled Substances (CSs)..

Do nurse practitioners in Texas have full practice authority?

Despite decades of experience, and a near impeccable track record related to patient outcomes, APRNs do not have full practice authority in Texas. 1 APRNs can practice to the full extent of their education and training only when they contract with a physician to “supervise” their practice.

Does a nurse practitioner need a supervising physician in Texas?

Texas nurse practitioners and physician's assistants must be supervised by a doctor. Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician's assistants (PA) are mid-level providers who often practice on the front-line.