Can an NP prescribe Xanax in Pennsylvania?

Yes — Pennsylvania CRNPs may prescribe Xanax (alprazolam), a Schedule IV controlled substance, if they have current prescriptive authority approval, prescribe within their specialty, and do so under a physician prescriptive authority collaborative agreement.¹³

For Schedule III or IV controlled substances, Pennsylvania allows CRNP prescriptions for up to a 90-day supply when that authority is identified in the collaborative agreement.² For Xanax specifically, Pennsylvania PDMP guidance requires a PDMP query each time a benzodiazepine is prescribed.⁴

Prescriptive authority approval also requires at least 45 hours of advanced pharmacology coursework, and controlled-substance prescribing requires DEA registration.

Pennsylvania CRNPs may not prescribe Schedule I controlled substances and may not delegate prescriptive authority.