What schedule drugs can an NP prescribe in Texas?

In Texas, nurse practitioners can prescribe certain schedule drugs by physician delegation. Texas NPs may be delegated to prescribe Schedule III–V controlled substances, subject to defined limits¹. Schedule II prescribing may be delegated only in a hospital facility-based practice or for hospice patients under a terminal illness plan of care, and must occur under a prescriptive authority agreement with a physician²⁴.

For Schedule III–V prescriptions, the total duration including refills may not exceed 90 days; any refill requires prior consultation with the delegating physician and documentation in the patient’s chart; and for children under two years of age, the NP must consult the delegating physician and document that consultation¹.

Schedule II delegation is limited by statute to hospital facility-based practice or hospice plans of care, and the Texas Board of Pharmacy advises that APRNs may prescribe Schedule II only if their DEA registration includes Schedule II and they have a prescriptive authority agreement authorized by the Texas Medical Board; official Schedule II prescription forms must be ordered by authorized individuals²³. Prescriptive authority agreements and protocols should identify the categories of drugs that may or may not be prescribed to guide delegation in practice⁴⁵.