Can a Illinois NP prescribe controlled substances?

Yes. An Illinois APRN (nurse practitioner) can prescribe controlled substances. If the APRN has full practice authority, they may prescribe Schedule II–V controlled substances; however, prescribing benzodiazepines or Schedule II narcotic drugs requires monthly consultation with a physician, recorded in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) and maintained for Department review¹².

For APRNs practicing under a collaborative agreement, controlled-substance prescribing must be delegated by the collaborating physician. The physician must hold Illinois controlled-substance and DEA registrations³, file notice of the delegation with the Department and the PMP⁴, and the APRN must obtain a mid-level practitioner controlled substances license and DEA registration under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act⁵⁶. Delegation may include Schedules III–V⁷; Schedule II may be delegated only for specific oral, topical, or transdermal drugs routinely prescribed by the physician, limited to a 30-day supply with any continuation requiring prior physician approval, with monthly discussions of the patient’s condition, and the APRN must meet the educational requirements in Section 303.05⁸⁹¹⁰¹¹.

When practicing under a collaborative agreement, all prescriptions must indicate the collaborating physician’s name, and medication orders are subject to periodic review by the collaborating physician¹²¹³.