California · guide
Nurse practitioner licensing in California
Read from California Board of Registered Nursing. Last verified 2026-09-15.
The sequence
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| RN license | Held by compact privilege where the nurse compact reaches the state, otherwise filed separately. |
| APRN license or recognition | Filed with the California Board of Registered Nursing, including national certification evidence. |
| Prescriptive authority | Separate grant in most states, with its own application and its own renewal date. |
| Collaborative or supervisory agreement | Executed with a named physician and filed or held on record before the first prescription. |
| Controlled substance registration | State registration where required, then the DEA registration tied to the practice address. |
What the numbers say
- California is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so the RN license is filed separately.
- National certification does not by itself satisfy California's NP requirements.
- Furnishing number and a separate controlled substance furnishing authorization are required before an NP prescribes.
Source: California Board of Registered Nursing. Last verified 2026-09-15. Where a national summary and a board disagree, we publish the board.