What schedule drugs can an NP prescribe in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the schedule drugs a nurse practitioner (CRNP) can prescribe include certain controlled substances. A CRNP may prescribe Schedule II controlled substances for up to a 30-day supply and Schedule III or IV controlled substances for up to a 90-day supply, as identified in the prescriptive authority collaborative agreement¹. CRNPs are prohibited from prescribing or dispensing Schedule I drugs².

Controlled-substance prescribing requires DEA registration³, and the prescription must include the CRNP’s National Provider Identifier (NPI)⁴. For emergencies, an oral prescription for a Schedule II drug must be followed by a written prescription delivered to the pharmacist within 72 hours⁵.

All controlled-substance prescribing occurs within the CRNP’s specialty and prescriptive authority collaborative agreement⁶, and CRNPs must meet minimum standards such as conducting an initial evaluation, counseling the patient, and documenting the drug name, strength, quantity, and date in the patient’s record⁷.