How many charts must a collaborating physician review for a California NP?

A collaborating physician is not required to review a specific number of charts for a California NP. California law does not set a chart review quota; instead, standardized procedures/protocols must define the scope of supervision and the method of periodic review and evaluation for the NP’s practice¹².

Standardized Procedures must specify supervision parameters (e.g., when immediate physician oversight applies), methods for initial and ongoing competence evaluation, maintenance of authorized personnel records, patient record-keeping requirements, and a process for periodic review of the procedures themselves¹. For prescribing, protocols must also outline the extent of physician supervision and methods for periodic review of NP competence, including peer review².

Physician supervision does not require the physician’s physical presence and may include approval of the Standardized Procedures and availability by telephone during patient examinations². Separately, a physician may supervise up to four NPs at one time, which informs oversight capacity but not a specific chart review number².