N677 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE EXAM
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to
prescribe? Yes or No?
Answer: In California, NPs require physician supervision for
prescriptive authority.
◉ If applicable in your state, what is the "physician supervision"
description and requirements for the NP's ability to prescribe,
furnish or order?
Answer: Nurse practitioners and supervising physicians will need to
establish a standardized protocols for what drugs and devices,
including controlled substances, that nurse practitioners can
prescribe to patients. This collaboration takes into account the
competency of the practitioners, the scope of practice, and the
current standardized protocols. Physicians do not need to be
physically present, but supervising physicians should be available
for consultation if needed during patient encounter
◉ What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled
substances in your planned practice state?
Answer: In California, nurse practitioners are required to have a
furnishing license from the Board of Registered Nursing and a DEA
,number to prescribed controlled substances. Nurse practitioners
must complete an approved course about Schedule II controlled
substances in order to apply for a furnishing license from the BRN
and a DEA number. With both furnishing license and DEA number,
NPs can prescribe controlled substances, Schedule II to V.
◉ Are there any limitations or guidelines about or of controlled
substances mentioned in your state's practice regulations for NP's?
If so, what are those limitations?
Answer: The only limitations are the ones set by the supervising
physicians in the standardized protocols
◉ What is the NP required to do if allowed to distribute
pharmaceutical samples in your state? Is there a specific procedure
your state requires you to follow?
Answer: In California, certified furnishing NPs are allowed to
request, accept, and distribute pharmaceutical samples as long as it
is within the specifications of the standardized protocols that are
agreed upon with the supervising physicians. Nurse practitioners
must have a protocol for patient follow-up if they are prescribing
pharmaceutical samples to their patients (General Information:
Nurse Practitioner
◉ What does the licensing body in your state say about the NP
offering patient education related to prescribing drugs, if anything?
, Answer: California Board of Registered Nursing states that
appropriate education about the drugs must be provided to patient
before furnishing the drugs (Criteria for furnishing number, n.d.).
Patient education includes the purpose of the drugs, expected side
effects, and adverse effects of the drugs. Nurse practitioners should
provide information on the treatment plans including laboratory
studies and follow ups.
◉ Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority
Answer: "The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP)
recognizes that the scope and practice of a nurse practitioner (NP)
includes prescribing. Prescribing is not a distinct act outside of or
differentiated from NP practice. It is the position of AANP that NP
prescriptive authority be solely regulated by state boards of nursing
and in accordance with the NP role, education and certification. The
authorization of NPs to prescribe legend and controlled medications,
devices, health care services, durable medical equipment and other
equipment and supplies is essential to providing timely, cost-
effective, quality health care."
◉ What are 3 common side effects from opioid medications?
Answer: Constipation, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, itching,
respiratory depression, confusion
◉ Can Nurse Practitioners furnish drugs or devices to family
members or friends?
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to
prescribe? Yes or No?
Answer: In California, NPs require physician supervision for
prescriptive authority.
◉ If applicable in your state, what is the "physician supervision"
description and requirements for the NP's ability to prescribe,
furnish or order?
Answer: Nurse practitioners and supervising physicians will need to
establish a standardized protocols for what drugs and devices,
including controlled substances, that nurse practitioners can
prescribe to patients. This collaboration takes into account the
competency of the practitioners, the scope of practice, and the
current standardized protocols. Physicians do not need to be
physically present, but supervising physicians should be available
for consultation if needed during patient encounter
◉ What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled
substances in your planned practice state?
Answer: In California, nurse practitioners are required to have a
furnishing license from the Board of Registered Nursing and a DEA
,number to prescribed controlled substances. Nurse practitioners
must complete an approved course about Schedule II controlled
substances in order to apply for a furnishing license from the BRN
and a DEA number. With both furnishing license and DEA number,
NPs can prescribe controlled substances, Schedule II to V.
◉ Are there any limitations or guidelines about or of controlled
substances mentioned in your state's practice regulations for NP's?
If so, what are those limitations?
Answer: The only limitations are the ones set by the supervising
physicians in the standardized protocols
◉ What is the NP required to do if allowed to distribute
pharmaceutical samples in your state? Is there a specific procedure
your state requires you to follow?
Answer: In California, certified furnishing NPs are allowed to
request, accept, and distribute pharmaceutical samples as long as it
is within the specifications of the standardized protocols that are
agreed upon with the supervising physicians. Nurse practitioners
must have a protocol for patient follow-up if they are prescribing
pharmaceutical samples to their patients (General Information:
Nurse Practitioner
◉ What does the licensing body in your state say about the NP
offering patient education related to prescribing drugs, if anything?
, Answer: California Board of Registered Nursing states that
appropriate education about the drugs must be provided to patient
before furnishing the drugs (Criteria for furnishing number, n.d.).
Patient education includes the purpose of the drugs, expected side
effects, and adverse effects of the drugs. Nurse practitioners should
provide information on the treatment plans including laboratory
studies and follow ups.
◉ Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority
Answer: "The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP)
recognizes that the scope and practice of a nurse practitioner (NP)
includes prescribing. Prescribing is not a distinct act outside of or
differentiated from NP practice. It is the position of AANP that NP
prescriptive authority be solely regulated by state boards of nursing
and in accordance with the NP role, education and certification. The
authorization of NPs to prescribe legend and controlled medications,
devices, health care services, durable medical equipment and other
equipment and supplies is essential to providing timely, cost-
effective, quality health care."
◉ What are 3 common side effects from opioid medications?
Answer: Constipation, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, itching,
respiratory depression, confusion
◉ Can Nurse Practitioners furnish drugs or devices to family
members or friends?
