Can an NP prescribe Schedule 2 in Texas?

In Texas, an NP can prescribe Schedule II controlled substances only under specific, delegated conditions. A physician may delegate Schedule II prescribing in a hospital facility-based practice or as part of a hospice plan of care for a patient who has executed a written terminal-illness certification and is receiving hospice treatment from a qualified hospice provider¹.

To prescribe, the NP must have a signed Prescriptive Authority Agreement (PAA) with the delegating physician that meets statutory requirements and identifies authorized drug categories². The Texas Board of Pharmacy further advises that APRNs may prescribe Schedule II if they hold DEA registration that includes Schedule II and have a compliant PAA; authorized prescribers may obtain official Schedule II prescription forms from the Board³.

Outside these settings, Texas allows APRNs to prescribe only Schedules III–V controlled substances, subject to a 90-day limit for the prescription including any refills, physician consultation noted in the chart for any refill, and mandatory physician consultation documented in the chart for any controlled-substance prescription for children under two years of age⁴.