Can an NP prescribe Hydrocodone in California?

Only in narrow circumstances — a California NP may prescribe or furnish hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, only if the NP meets California controlled-substance requirements; this may be through properly authorized standardized procedures or, for qualifying 103/104 NPs, without standardized procedures.¹⁴

Under the standardized-procedure pathway, hydrocodone must be specified in the standardized procedure, and Schedule II or III controlled substances must be furnished or ordered under a patient-specific protocol approved by the treating or supervising physician.¹² The NP also needs an active California NP furnishing number, DEA registration, and Schedule II continuing education for Schedule II controlled-substance furnishing.³

California’s CURES review requirement generally applies before first prescribing Schedule II-IV controlled substances and periodically thereafter when prescribing continues, unless exempt.⁵ Hydrocodone prescribing by a California NP is therefore not unrestricted in every practice setting, and this FAQ does not address separate pain-management, acute-pain, telehealth, payer, or facility policy limits.