Complete An Approved Continuing Education Prescribing Course
The California Board of Nursing requires that advanced practice nurses complete a minimum 3-hour approved CE course and has a very specific set of education objectives that must be met in order for nurse practitioners to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. Essentially, there is only one course that meets state requirements. This course is offered through the California Association for Nurse Practitioners and may be purchased and competed online for $250.
Out Of State Lvn Applicants
Out of state candidates must meet similar requirements, but the process is slightly different. They will need to verify their license status using a paper form or an online system. They should send $199 to cover the application and fingerprinting process .
Candidates who initiate the fingerprinting process while residing outside California will not be able to use the Live Scan fingerprinting and will use cards instead.
Foreign applicants are also eligible for licensure by endorsement, provided they take the NCLEX .
Pursue A Nursing Career In San Diego California
Earning your BSN, ADN to MSN, or BSN to MSN in California can prepare you to find a nursing job in the highest-paying state in the country. A nursing program in San Diego, such as Point Loma Nazarene Universitys School of Nursing, can prepare you for your nursing career in California, as you take classes with experts in the field, gain practical experience with patients, and use cutting-edge technology. If you would like more information about how you become a nurse and devote your career to caring for patients, you can contact PLNU. If you are ready to take the next step toward earning your BSN, you can apply here.
About the Author
McKenna Themm earned her Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She works as a freelance writer and lives in San Diego, California.
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S To Full Prescribing As A California Nurse Practitioner
Some states make practicing as a nurse practitioner more difficult than others. California is one such state with a few additional hoops to jump through for nurse practitioners looking to maximize their scope of practice. In the Golden State, nurse practitioners are not permitted to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances such as Percocet without meeting certain requirements. If youre an NP looking to prescribe to your full potential, youll need to follow these steps to meet California Board of Nursing Requirements.
Step 1: Apply for APRN Licensure and a Furnishing License
If youre a new advanced practice provider, or an NP new to California, the first step to prescribing in the state is to apply for your advanced practice nursing license. Along with this application, you will also want to submit a Furnishing Number Application. A furnishing number is required for nurse practitioners to prescribe in California. Be aware that the second portion of the Furnishing Number Application must be completed by your NP program, verifying the pharmacology content of your education.
Why Choose Texas Woman’s University

Texas Woman’s University ranks competitively among nursing schools, holding a place in U.S. News & World Report’s top 100. With a program accredited by the CCNE, Texas Woman’s University graduates more health care professionals than any other university in Texas.
The program is competitive among online nurse practitioner programs in California, enabling students to advance their careers while maintaining their work and residence. Online class environments enable students to network with other nursing professionals and enjoy the mentorship of faculty.
Graduates from the Texas Woman’s University online nursing program will grow in their knowledge of advanced medicine, from pharmacology to patient assessment. An understanding of advanced nursing practice and expanded leadership skills are built into the program curriculum. Program graduates enjoy a 97% FNP first-time licensure pass rate .
Texas Woman’s University was among Forbes’ Best Value Colleges in 2019.
Learn more about Texas Woman’s University’s online family nurse practitioner program.
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Public Health Nurse In California
Education: Bachelors degree or higher from a nursing program approved by the national league for nursing, which must either include or be supplemented with child abuse training.
Fees: $300 Application Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Renewal: For public health nurses, a renewal fee of $125 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a public health nurse endorsement is also renewed.
California Board Of Nursing
The BRN is the state body that licenses and regulates nurses. It is their responsibility to protect the health and safety of patients by ensuring the quality of the state’s nurses. The board also has the authority to investigate any grievances and take disciplinary action if appropriate.
Furthermore, the BRN aids nurses who have suffered due to substance abuse or mental illness by providing support. The BRN is also responsible for providing appropriate resources for new and out-of-state nurses to become licensed within California through examination or endorsement. The board provides a pathway for nurses to renew their license so they can continue to practice in the state.
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Reference To Section 2400
Effective January 1, 2021, Section 2837.103 provides that those entities where NPs can practice with the expanded scope of practice shall not interfere with, control, or otherwise direct the professional judgment of a nurse practitioner functioning pursuant to this section in a manner prohibited by Section 2400. Section 2400 is commonly known as the statute that bans the corporate practice of medicine and prohibits corporations and other artificial legal entities from having professional rights. Just as corporations may not influence a physicians clinical judgment, corporations also must not influence an NPs clinical judgment.
Section 2837.104 then goes further, mirroring Section 2400 and providing that, for purposes of this section, “corporations and other artificial legal entities shall have no professional rights, privileges, or powers. The statute provides an exception for when the NP is employed pursuant to the exemptions in Section 2401. Therefore, it appears that as of January 1, 2023, artificial legal entities will be limited in their ability to employ NPs to provide clinical services within the new NP scope of practice if the NPs are certified by the BRN pursuant to Section 2837.104.
What Full Practice Authority Means
If youre wondering exactly what FPA means, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners explains that the designation means that NPs practicing in those states do not have to partner with a physician and do not have oversight by the states medical board . FPA sees NPs as fully independent practitioners under their own umbrella–theyre not doctors, so they dont follow doctors rules for oversight, but they can practice independently.
According to the AANP, data from FPA states show that NPs are more likely to practice in rural and underserved areas and offer quality care with high safety standards. On the other hand, however, states that do not offer FPA are more likely to have geographic health care disparities, higher chronic disease burden, primary care shortages, higher costs of care and lower standings on national health rankings.
Along with increased access to care, the AANP also lists these additional benefits to having full practice authority NPs:
- Streamlined care. Allowing FPA removes the delay in care that can occur when an NP must consult or work with a physician to deliver necessary care.
- Cost savings. NPs are more cost-effective in general, but FPA also avoids unnecessary service duplication.
- Upholds patient autonomy. Some patients prefer to work directly with NPs, and may even feel more comfortable sharing health care concerns with primary care NPs.
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Find A Nursing Program In California
Whether you want to work as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, you can begin by earning a degree in the field. If you want to start by earning an ADN, you can gain practical experience working as an LPN or LVN. If you are looking for job security, you may want to consider earning a bachelors degree, as more facilities are looking to hire registered nurses with a BSN. If you are already working in the field but want to further your education and expand your career horizons, you can find an ADN to MSN program or BSN to MSN program in California. By taking classes in the state you will be working in, you have a deeper understanding of relevant issues and develop a network with other nurses and medical professionals.
The Job Market For Nps Graduating From Online Nurse Practitioner Programs In California
The career trajectory for nurse practitioners has been skyrocketing for years and shows no signs of slowing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the national job outlook for NPs is 26% growth over a decade. Also across the U.S., BLS projects employers will add 62,000 jobs for NPs.
In California, the numbers show even faster growth, with a 35% change in the number of job openings over a decade. The median California NP salary is $126,890. According to Salary Expert, the average senior-level salary for a nurse practitioner in California is $157,639.
FNP graduates have a range of career skills including prescribing medications, diagnosing medical conditions, and treating acute illnesses.
Upon graduating from our online nurse practitioner programs in California, a graduate will find many possible work environments, including:
- Clinics
Learn more about Texas Woman’s University’s online family nurse practitioner program.
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Nurse Practitioners Welcome To Section 805
Business and Professions Code Section 805 requires peer review bodies, such as hospital medical staffs, to file reports about certain actions affecting the employment, membership, or privileges of health care professionals included in the statutory definition of licentiate. That definition did not include NPs until now. Under AB 890, as of January 1, 2021, licentiate will include NPs who are practicing pursuant to the new scope of practice defined in AB 890. This means peer review bodies will be required to file 805 reports to the BRN for certain actions taken against those NPs employment, membership, and privileges. Importantly, the definition is limited to the NPs who practice under the new scope and does not include those who still practice pursuant to standardized procedures. So whenever a peer review body takes an action against an NP, it should carefully determine whether or not that NP is a licentiate.
Although the requirement to report NPs is new, the list of reportable events has not changed. Further, the definition of licentiate in Business and Professions Code section 809, which defines certain hearing rights, also has not changed meaning NPs, even if reported to the BRN, are not entitled to 809 hearing rights.
What Is A Nurse Practitioner Furnishing License

A furnishing number is issued by the BRN to a nurse-midwife which allows him or her to order or furnish drugs and devices to patients using approved standardized procedures. The nurse-midwife with a furnishing number may obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration registration number if he or she wants to order controlled substances as needed for patient care.
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Further Expansion Of Nurse Practitioner Practice On January 1 2023
NP practice expands further on January 1, 2023, when the BRN may issue a new certification to NPs who meet additional requirements detailed in Sections 2837.103 and 2837.104. Certification will allow the NP to perform the same medical functions described in Section 2837.103 without standardized procedures, but also outside of the limited healthcare settings listed above and without the need for a physician to practice with the NP. The NP must still consult and collaborate with other healing arts providers based on the clinical condition of the patient, and physician consultation must be obtained under specific circumstances set forth in the statute. The NP must also establish a plan for referral of complex medical cases and emergencies to a physician.
State Award For Excellence Recipients
The NP State Award for Excellence is given annually to an individual NP in each state who has demonstrated excellence in NP clinical practice.
- California Nurse Practitioner recipient: Dr. Jennifer Ballard-Hernandez
The Advocate State Award for Excellence is given annually to an individual in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of NPs. Past recipients have included educators, legislators and physicians. NPs are also eligible for the advocate award for non-clinical practice initiatives related to leadership, precepting, policy, politics, research, education or community affairs.
- California Advocate recipient: Assemblymember Jim Wood
Learn more about the AANP State Award for Excellence and how you can nominate a worthy NP or NP advocate.
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What Are The Important Notes To Remember For The Name Requirements Of A Professional Nursing Corporation
There are many other things to consider for your business name to be approved by government sources and agencies. Moreover, we have stated two very important rules to remember as these are the rules that are usually not followed by professional corporations.
What Is A Nurse Practitioner
Classified as mid-level providers, nurse practitioners are an integral component of the comprehensive care delivery system. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners describes the responsibilities of professionals in these roles as the blend of clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management.
As opposed to the typical responsibilities of registered nurses, NPs are able to provide a number of services traditionally assigned to a physician, including:
- Ordering and analyzing diagnostic and laboratory tests, such as x-rays and EKGs.
- Diagnosing illnesses and injuries.
- Prescribing rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy.
- Creating treatment plans.
- Assisting in or performing minor procedures and surgeries, such as suturing and casting.
While registered nurses traditionally provide patient care as a component of a healthcare team, an NP has a higher level of independence. In some states, they can even provide primary care in an independent capacity, though current California laws require most of these professionals in the state to have some level of oversight from a physician supervisor.
As growing numbers of patients seek primary care, NPs are helping clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations meet this important need. In fact, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, each year Americans make more than 1.02 billion visits to NPs.
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Nurse Practitioner In California
Education: Masters degree or higher from an approved nurse practitioner program
Examination: Varies for Different Certifications
Fees: $500 Application Fee
Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.
Experience: The education requirement may be waived if applicants prove clinical competency through experience, additional experience requirements may be needed for some certifications.
Certification Required: Nurse Practitioner Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center , the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners , the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board , or the National Certification Corporation
Renewal: For nurse practitioners, a renewal fee of $150 is required along with renewing your RN license that ensures your certificate as a nurse practitioner endorsement is also renewed.
Learn more on how to become a nurse practitioner.
Completing A Nurse Practitioner Training Program
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Earning An Msn Degree
Educational requirements for professionals in the nursing field are on the rise. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine released its report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which the organization recommended increasing the number of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to 80 percent by 2020. In the past, nurses who wished to advance in the workplace earned a BSN to set themselves apart. But as the degree becomes increasingly common, the Master of Science in Nursing has increasingly taken its place as the standard for nurse leaders which includes aspiring nurse practitioners.
The general MSN is a graduate-level degree that typically takes about two years to complete, though the exact length of the program will depend on your course load. The classes in these nurse practitioner programs are designed to provide you with the advanced practice skills required to assume leadership positions, generally in a chosen specialty within the scope of nurse practitioner practice. If you are interested in a career as an NP, you will typically look for a program that offers an MSN program with a nurse practitioner concentration or specialty.
When it comes to obtaining acceptance in a nurse practitioner program, California residents and out-of-state applicants alike are generally expected to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, possess current registered nurse certification, and already have some experience working in the nursing field.