Can an NP prescribe Suboxone in California?

Yes — California NPs may prescribe Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), a Schedule III controlled substance, when they have Schedule III controlled-substance authority, DEA registration, and meet the applicable California practice pathway requirements.¹³ They also must have an active California NP furnishing number and practice within education, training, competence, and scope.

Under the standardized-procedure pathway, California NP authority may include Schedule II-V controlled substances only as specified, and Schedule III drugs must be furnished or ordered under a patient-specific protocol approved by the treating or supervising physician.¹² Qualifying Section 2837.103 or 2837.104 NPs may prescribe controlled substances without standardized procedures when that statutory pathway applies.⁴

California also generally requires CURES review for Schedule II-IV controlled-substance prescribing unless an exemption applies.⁵ The former federal DATA/X-waiver is no longer required. DEA registration for California NP controlled-substance prescribing still applies.³

This FAQ does not address separate clinical, telehealth, payer, pharmacy, or program requirements for opioid use disorder treatment.