What must be in a Illinois NP collaborative practice agreement?

An Illinois NP collaborative practice agreement must include core content that defines how the APRN will practice with the collaborating physician. Specifically, the agreement must promote the APRN’s professional judgment, describe the APRN–physician relationship, outline categories of care/treatment/procedures, and specify methods of communication (in person, telecommunications, or electronic), and it does not require the physician’s physical presence¹². Illinois requires a written collaborative agreement for APRNs engaged in clinical practice prior to obtaining full practice authority or for certain hospital or ambulatory surgical privileges³⁴.

If the agreement delegates prescriptive authority, it may define the scope of non‑controlled prescribing (e.g., over‑the‑counter medications, legend drugs, medical gases, and botanical/herbal remedies)⁵. For controlled substances delegation, the collaborating physician must hold current Illinois controlled substance and DEA registrations⁶, file notice of delegation with the Department and the Prescription Monitoring Program⁷, and the APRN must obtain a mid‑level practitioner controlled substance license and DEA registration⁸. All APRN prescriptions must include the collaborating physician’s name, and medication orders must be reviewed periodically⁹¹⁰.

Where Schedule II delegation is included, the delegation must identify the specific oral, topical, or transdermal Schedule II drugs (by brand or generic) routinely prescribed by the collaborating physician; Schedule II injectables may not be delegated¹¹¹². Additionally, statutory conditions apply when Schedule II authority is delegated—prescriptions are limited to a 30‑day supply unless the physician approves continuation, the APRN must discuss such patients monthly with the delegating physician, and the APRN must meet the Illinois Controlled Substances Act education requirements—which must be followed but are not required written terms of the agreement¹³¹²¹⁴. Both the collaborating physician and APRN must keep a signed copy of the collaborative agreement available to the Department upon request¹⁵¹⁶.