Advanced Practice Information
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are registered nurses who have been educated beyond the requirements for a registered nurse in one of the four roles of advanced practice nurses – Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).
Licensure
- Initial Overview
- Endorsement Overview
- Advanced Practice Licensure Verification Form – Endorsement
- Verification of RN Practice Hours
Prescriptive Authority Application
(Prescriptive Authority is not automatically issued with an Arkansas APRN License)
- Overview – Initial
- Overview – Endorsement
- Prescriptive Authority Verification Form for Endorsement Applicants
Collaborative Practice Agreement
Review the laws for APRN Prescribing prior to submitting a Collaborative Practice Agreement.
- Guidelines for Collaborative Practice Agreements
- Collaborative Practice Agreement
- Collaborative Practice Agreement Example
- Form to Terminate a Collaborative Practice Agreement (use this form if you need to terminate your current Collaborative Practice Agreement and submit an updated agreement)
Quality Assurance Plan
- Quality Assurance Guidelines
- Quality Assurance Plan (Example #1)
- Quality Assurance Plan (Example #2)
Prescriptive Protocols (You may use one of the examples below making changes as needed).
APRNs with prescriptive authority must have prescriptive protocols (indications for and classifications of legend and controlled substances. You must modify the examples provided to meet your specialty as this is a generic form. To prescribe a legend drug, medicine or therapeutic device not included in the written protocols the APRN shall obtain a specific written or verbal order obtained from the collaborating physician or podiatrist before the prescription or order is issued. The APRN shall document the consultation in the client’s medical record.
Laws & Rules
DEA Registration
An advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive authority must obtain a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances (schedule II – V).
APRNs holding a certificate of prescriptive authority may contact the New Orleans office of the DEA to receive an application for a DEA registration number. Do not apply for the DEA registration prior to being issued Prescriptive Authority. The application form can be found on the web at the Diversion Control Program web site: www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov. At the website, select “New Registration Applications.”
Common questions concerned controlled substance applications are answered in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section of the website, or applicants can contact the Registration Call Center at 800-882-9539.
The ASBN Rules require that you submit a copy of your DEA number to the ASBN. You should upload a copy in your Arkansas Nurse Portal.
The Pharmacy Services of the Arkansas Department of Health is responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. A copy of the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Controlled Substances and the List of Controlled Substances for the State of Arkansas may be obtained by mail:
Arkansas Dept. of Health Pharmacy Services
4815 West Markham, Slot 25
Little Rock, AR 72205
Prescriptive authority may be terminated by the Board of Nursing for failure to maintain an active APRN license or violation of any state or federal law or regulation applicable to prescriptions.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
The Arkansas PDMP was created to assist healthcare practitioners in the battle against prescription drug abuse. Act 304 of 2011 established the PDMP to be implemented under the direction of the Arkansas Department of Health. Prescribers can view their patient’s history of filled prescriptions for controlled substances prior to prescribing a controlled substance. When a pharmacist fills a prescription for a controlled substance, this information is sent to the PDMP database.
APRNs who hold DEA registration are required to register with the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. APRNs with prescriptive authority shall review the PDMP prior to prescribing:
- an opioid from schedule II or schedule III every time prescribing the medication to a patient; and
- a benzodiazepine for the first time and every six (6) months thereafter prescribing for a patient.
A review of the PDMP shall be documented in the patient’s medical record. (See Chapter 4 Rules)
Instructions for creating a PDMP account can be found here.
Advanced Practice Continuing Education Mandatory
In an effort to help curtail the national epidemic of opioid abuse, new prescribing guidelines have been enacted for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in Arkansas.
Act 1208 of A.C.A. §20-7-704 specifically states that all APRNs issued a certificate of prescriptive authority after December 31, 2015, shall obtain a minimum of three (3) hours of prescribing education which includes information on maintaining professional boundaries and the prescribing rules, regulations, and laws that apply to APRNs in the state within two (2) years of issuance of the prescriptive authority certificate (ASBN Rules, Chapter 4, Section VIII, A.7.). In order to meet this requirement, you will need to complete two courses, Advanced Practice Nursing in Arkansas (2 contact hours) and Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse (1 contact hour).
APRNs with prescriptive authority shall complete five (5) contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics continuing education in the APRN’s area of certification each biennium prior to license renewal. Two (2) of the prescribing hours must contain information related to maintaining professional boundaries and the prescribing rules, regulations, and laws that apply to APRNs in Arkansas (ASBN Rules, Chapter 4, Section III,F.7.). In order to meet this requirement, you will need to complete the course Advanced Practice Nursing in Arkansas (2 contact hours). This must be completed prior to the renewal of your license.
In order to help APRNs meet these requirements, continuing education courses have been prepared. After review of each course, a post-test is to be completed with a mandatory score of 70 percent or better. Once completed, a certificate will be available for download. Please note that this requirement has not been satisfied until you are in possession of the certificate of completion.
The mandatory courses are located on the CE Broker platform. You will need to register for your FREE CE Broker account in order to access the courses and tests.
ACTIVATE YOUR FREE CE BROKER ACCOUNT
- Visit www.cebroker.com/ar/plans (works best in Chrome)
- Select the Basic Account option
- Enter your license number and get started tracking your continuing education
If you already have a CE Broker account, follow these simple steps to add your Arkansas license. Once you have created your account and logged into the system, click “Report CE” and find the option that best applies. You will need to answer a few questions and then attach the documentation that the Board requires. If you are using the CE Broker mobile app, you can take a picture of your documentation and upload it via your phone or tablet.
To access the mandatory courses on CE Broker click here.
Prescriptive Authority Application for Initial Applicants
Prescriptive Authority
Prescriptive authority is not automatically issued with an APRN license in Arkansas.
You may apply online for Prescriptive Authority which includes a separate fee. You cannot submit the application prior to the issuance of an Arkansas APRN license.
Eligibility Requirements
Provide documentation of successful completion of pharmacology coursework which shall contain a minimum of:
- Three (3) graduate credit hour pharmacology course offered by an accredited college or university within two years immediately prior to the date of application to the Board; or
- Forty-five (45) contact hours [a contact hour is fifty (50) to sixty (60) minutes] in a pharmacology course which includes a competency component, offered by an accredited college or university, within two (2) years immediately prior to the date of application to the Board; or
- Three (3) graduate credit hours pharmacology course, included as part of an advanced practice nursing education program, within five (5) years immediately prior to the date of application to the Board.
Provide documentation of a minimum of three hundred (300) clock hours of preceptorial experience in the prescription of drugs, medicines and therapeutic devices with a qualified preceptor, to be initiated with the pharmacology course and to be completed within one year of the beginning of the course. Preceptorial experience completed as a part of the formal educational program in which the pharmacology course is taught will meet the three hundred (300) clock hour requirement.
In addition to the online application, you are required to submit two items:
- Collaborative Practice Agreement
- Quality Assurance (QA) Plan
Examples of both documents are provided on our website (under the Adv. Practice tab). Read Collaborative Practice Guidelines and Quality Assurance Guidelines for APRNs prior to completing the documents.
Both of these documents must be signed by the APRN and the collaborating physician(s). The preferred method of sending to ASBN is by uploading the documents through your Arkansas Nurse Portal account.
Prescribing protocols APRNs with Prescriptive Authority must have prescriptive protocols (indications for classifications of legend medications, controlled substances and therapeutic devices.) The protocols must be agreed upon by both the APRN and collaborating physician and signed and dated. They must be updated at least annually. Do not submit protocols to the ASBN unless requested. Examples are located under the Adv. Practice tab.
DEA Number Applications Instructions
After receiving full APRN licensure and a Prescriptive Authority Certificate number (PAC #), you must apply for a DEA Certificate if you plan to prescribe Schedules II – V controlled substances. Directions for applying for a DEA number are provided on our website under the Adv. Practice tab, DEA registration link. Submit a copy of your DEA # card to the ASBN after you receive it.
TO BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION FOR PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY, SELECT THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://www.arsbn.org/nurse-portal.
Prescriptive Authority Application for Endorsement Applicants
Prescriptive authority is not automatically issued with an APRN license in Arkansas.
You may apply for prescriptive authority online, which includes a separate fee. You cannot submit the application prior to issuance of an Arkansas APRN license.
Eligibility Requirements
An applicant for endorsement of prescriptive authority shall:
- Provide documentation of successful completion of pharmacology coursework which shall contain a minimum of a three (3) graduate credit hour pharmacology credit course offered by an accredited college or university or a forty-five (45) contact hour (a contact hour is fifty (50) to sixty (60) minutes in a pharmacology course which includes a competency component offered by an accredited college or university;
- Provide evidence of prescribing in a clinical setting for at least 500 hours in the year prior to the application for prescriptive authority. (See Verify Hours of Prescribing Form);
- Have an unencumbered advanced practice registered nurse license to practice or the equivalent in the jurisdiction from which the applicant is moving;
- Provide a copy of a current DEA registration (if prescriber has a DEA number) and history of registration status; and
- Be currently licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in Arkansas.
In addition to the online application, you are required to submit two items:
- Collaborative Practice Agreement
- Quality Assurance (QA) Plan
Examples of both documents are provided on our website (under the Adv. Practice tab). Feel free to make changes to accommodate the agreement between you and your collaborating physician(s). However, there is required criteria that must be included in each document. Please read the Collaborative Practice Guidelines and Quality Assurance Guidelines for APRNs prior to completing the documents.
Both of these documents must be signed by the APRN and the collaborating physician(s). The preferred method of sending to ASBN is by uploading the documents through your Arkansas Nurse Portal account.
Prescribing protocols APRNs with Prescriptive Authority must have prescriptive protocols (indications for & classifications of legend medications, controlled substances and therapeutic devices). The protocols must be agreed upon by both the APRN and collaborating physician(s) and signed and dated. They must be updated at least annually. Do not submit protocols to the ASBN unless requested. Examples are located on the ASBN website under the Adv. Practice tab.
DEA Number Application Instructions
After receiving full APRN licensure and a Prescriptive Authority Certificate number (PAC #), you must apply for a DEA certificate if you plan to prescribe Schedules II – V controlled substances. Directions for applying for a DEA number are provided on our website under the Adv. Practice tab, DEA registration link. Submit a copy of your DEA # card to the ASBN after you receive.
TO BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION FOR PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY, SELECT THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://arsbn.boardsofnursing.org/arsbn
Full Independent Practice for Certified Nurse Practitioners
Act 412 of 2021 allows a pathway for certified nurse practitioners (CNPs) to apply for full independent practice after having practiced 6,240 hours under a collaborative practice agreement.
Applications shall be submitted through the Arkansas Nurse Portal. Once all required documents have been received, applications will be sent for review by the Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee (FIPCC). The FIPCC will meet at least quarterly to review all applications.
Instructions to Access the Application:
- Sign in to Arkansas Nurse Portal account: Arkansas Nurse Portal
- Scroll down to the “Other Applications” section.
- Click the “Apply” button.
- Click on Full Practice Authority for CNPs
- Complete the application by following instructions.
- Upload any required documents.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Submit completed and notarized Practice Hours Affidavit (signed by collaborating physician(s))
- Evidence of five (5) advanced pharmacology continuing education hours obtained within the last two (2) years.
- Resume or curriculum vitae showing past work history as an APRN.
- Click submit.
- Pay required fee
- After submission, ASBN staff will review the application for all required documents. Requests for additional information or documents will be requested through the Arkansas Nurse Portal Message Center.
- The Full Practice Authority Credentialling Committee meets quarterly to review applications. Once the application has been approved or denied, the APRN will receive a letter from the committee through the Nurse Portal Message Center.
- Until approval has been received, the APRN is required to maintain a current collaborative practice agreement.
