VIRGINIA MPJE 340 VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS. LATEST 2024
1. Does Virginia or the Federal government decide who has prescribing authority in
VA?: Virginia does. State law controls who can write valid prescriptions
2. What practitioners can write valid Rx for controlled substances in VA?: Practitioners
of medicine (MD) Practitioners of osteopathy (DO)
practitioners of dentistry (dentist, DDS, or DMD) practitioners of
podiatry (Podiatrist or DPM-"foot doctor) Practitioners of Veterinary
medicine (DVM or Veterinarian)
Virginia licensed nurse practitioners (NP or FNP)
Virginia licensed physician's assistant (PA)
Virginia TPA certified optometrists (O.D)
3. which prescribers have unrestricted prescribing authority and can write for CII-
CVI prescriptions to treat their patients without the need for an agreement with any
other practitioneres: Medical doctors
Osteopathic doctors
dentists Podiatrists
Veterinarians
4. Can Virginia pharmacy fill Rx written by out of state practitioners? **: Yes, if the
practitioner is a medical doctor, osteopath, dentist, podiatrist, or veterinarian and the Rx mets
all of the other requirements for a valid VA issued Rx.
**Out of state Rx from NP, PA and optometrists are not valid unless the prescriber is licensed
in Virginia in addition to the other state
5. Are there any restrictions on the prescribing of drugs by medical doctors,
osteopathic doctors, podiatrists, dentists, and veterinarians?: Yes, MD, DO, podiatrists
and dentists can NOT write Rx for animals.
Veterinarians can ONLY write Rx for animals.
Dentists can ONLY write Rx for the treatment of mouth conditions and diseases. A Rx for oral
contraceptives would not be valid
Podiatrists can only write Rx for the treatment of conditions and diseases of the foot and
ankle. A Rx for an asthma medication would not be valid
6. What are the prescribing restrictions on NP and PA?: A NP's prescribing authority is
dependent upon entry into a practice agreement with a patient care team physician that
clearly states the prescriptive practices of the NP.
,A PA's prescribing authority is dependent upon entry into a written agreement with a licensed
physician or podiatrist that provides for the direction and supervision of the PA's prescriptive
practices.
7. How will you know if a NP or PA"s is prescribing drug that is NOT allowed under his
agreement with a team care physician, physician or podiatrist?: You may not able ot
tell if the prescription is for an approved drug. But, you should examine the practice the
prescriber is in to make sure that the prescription is for a drug that would normally be
prescrbed in that practice setting. For example, if you received a Rx for oral contraceptives
from a NP at an OB/GYN practice, the Rx is most probably within the NP's scope of
practice. However, if that same NP wrote a Rx for treatment of gum disease
(chlorhexidine), you would want to call the doctor's office to verify the Rx.
8. Are nurse practitioners and PA allowed to write CII-CVI Rx?: Yes
9. Are there any prescribing limitations on TPA-certified optometrists?: Yes e
10. What medications are TPA certified optometrists allowed to prescribe and
administer?: CIII-VI oral analgesics to relieve ocular (eye) pain.
other oral CVI controlled substances to treat diseases of the eye and its adnexa
Topically applied CVI drugs (for treatment of the eye/adnexa)
Intramuscular administration of EPI to treat emergency cases of anaphylactic shock
11. What is the "adnexa" of the eye?: The tissues immediately surronding the eye;
surrounding the eye; such as the eyelids and conjunctiva.
12. What certification does an optometrist (OD) need in order to prescribe?: TPA-
certification.
TPA stands for Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents
13. Is TPA-certification a state or national certification?: It is a Virginia certification that
ODs must obtain from the VA Board of Optometry
14. What conditions are TPA certified optometrists allowed to treat?: Diseases and
abnormal conditions of the human eye and its adnexa (tissues adjoining the eye)
15. Are there any conditions that TPA-certified optometrists are specifically
prohibited from treating?: Yes. Optometrists cannot treat infantile or congenial glaucoma
and their treatment of closed angle glaucoma is limited to initiation of immediate emergency
care.
16. Are pharmacies allowed to supply TPA-certified optometrists with therapeutic
pharmaceutical agents listed on the TPA-Formulary?: Yes
17. Are medical interns and residents who work in a hospital allowed to write Rx?:
Yes, but only within their dueties as part of the residency program. (This may include writing
Rx for ER patients that will be filled at a retail pharmacy)
18. What is prescription under Virginia law?: An order for drugs or medical supplies,
given to a pharmacist by a practitioner authorized to prescribe. The Rx may be written, oral,
faxed or transmitted electronically.
19 What prescriber information must every Virginia Rx contain?: 1. Prescriber's name
, .
2. Prescriber's address
3. Prescriber's phone number
4. Prescriber's signature (except for an oral prescriptions)
5. Precriber's DEA number (for Federal controlled substance Rx - CII-CV)
20. Are medical interns and residents allowed to write Rx in Virginia?: Yes
21. Since interns and some residents do NOT have a DEA number, what do they use in
place of their own DEA number?: They use the hospital where they are practicing's DEA
number plus a suffix assigned to the intern/resident by the institution
22. Do intern and resident's Rx need to comply with all of the regular requirements for
valid Virginia Rx?: Yes
23. Are the interns/residents allowed to use their identification number to write for CII-
CVI controlled substance?: Yes
24. When can a medical intern or resident working for a hospital prescribe controlled
substnaces under the hospital's DEA number?: When it is in furtherance of the
person's duties at the hospital. The intern or resident cannot use the number if he/she is
working somewhere else like an urgent care center that is not affiliated with the hospital.
25. What if the patient was seen by the intern/resident at the hospitals emergency
room?: The intern/resident can use the hospital identification number assigned to him to
write a Rx for the patient
26. What other information has to go on the Rx when patient was seen at ER by
intern/resident?: -The intern/resident's signature and the legibly printed name, address
and telephone number of the resident/intern
-The address and phone number are usually pree-printed on the hospital's Rx blank but the
intern/resident's information is often not included and must be added by hand.
27. What else is exempt from the requirement to register with the DEA?: -agents and
employees of registrants (e.g. employees of a pharmacy)
-Practitioners affiliated with registrants (e.g. doctors working at a hospital)
-Law Enforcement officials
28. What patient information must be on the Rx?: -The patient's first and last name
-The patient's address
29. What if the patient is an animal? (requirement for Rx): -Owner's name
-Owner's address
-The species of the animal
, .
30 Does the prescriber need to write the patient's address on the Rx?: No it can be
added by the dispense or kept in the patient's electronic record in the pharmacy
31. Does the Rx need to be dated?: Yes, It must be dated on the date it is signed by the
prescriber. Postdating of Rx is NOT allowed and is illegal
32. What drug information must go on the Rx?: -Drug name
-Drug strength
-Drug dosage form
-Quantity prescribed
-Directions for use
NOTE: Virginia doesn't specifically require a quantity on Rx for CVI drugs provided that the
prescription contains some directions by which the pharmacist can calculate the authorized
quantity using directions for use and duration. CII-CV Rx must contain a quantity
33. How long are prescriptions for CII-CV drugs valid?: 6months from the date of issance
34. How long is a prescription for a CVI drug valid?: It is valid for one year after the date
of issue, which means that you can continue to refill the prescription for up to one year
after the date of issuance. However, if the prescriber specifically authorizes the
dispensing or refilling of the prescription for two years. This would apply if the prescriber
wrote on the prescription: "May refill prn for 2 years." If such instructions are not present,
the prescription is only valid for one year.
35. Can a prescription be written in pencil?: No. Rx must be written in ink, individually
typed, or printed only.
36. How many medications can be on a single prescription form?: The general rule is
only one medication per prescription
37. What are the exceptions to the general rule?: -Rx written as chart orders for patients in
hospitals
-Rx wirtten as chart orders for patients in long term care facilities
-patients receiving home infusion servcies
-hospice patients
-patients whose Rxs will be filled at pharmacies operated by one of these departments:
Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Health, Behavioral Health and Developmenteal
Services
-Patients residing in detention centers, jails, or work release centers operated by the Dpt. of
Corrections
note: all of the exceptions include the use of chart orders or governmental provision of
services
38 What about Rx written as chart orders for hospital or long term care patient who is
then discharged?: These can be filled at an outpatient pharmacy if: -the pahrmacist has all
ANSWERS. LATEST 2024
1. Does Virginia or the Federal government decide who has prescribing authority in
VA?: Virginia does. State law controls who can write valid prescriptions
2. What practitioners can write valid Rx for controlled substances in VA?: Practitioners
of medicine (MD) Practitioners of osteopathy (DO)
practitioners of dentistry (dentist, DDS, or DMD) practitioners of
podiatry (Podiatrist or DPM-"foot doctor) Practitioners of Veterinary
medicine (DVM or Veterinarian)
Virginia licensed nurse practitioners (NP or FNP)
Virginia licensed physician's assistant (PA)
Virginia TPA certified optometrists (O.D)
3. which prescribers have unrestricted prescribing authority and can write for CII-
CVI prescriptions to treat their patients without the need for an agreement with any
other practitioneres: Medical doctors
Osteopathic doctors
dentists Podiatrists
Veterinarians
4. Can Virginia pharmacy fill Rx written by out of state practitioners? **: Yes, if the
practitioner is a medical doctor, osteopath, dentist, podiatrist, or veterinarian and the Rx mets
all of the other requirements for a valid VA issued Rx.
**Out of state Rx from NP, PA and optometrists are not valid unless the prescriber is licensed
in Virginia in addition to the other state
5. Are there any restrictions on the prescribing of drugs by medical doctors,
osteopathic doctors, podiatrists, dentists, and veterinarians?: Yes, MD, DO, podiatrists
and dentists can NOT write Rx for animals.
Veterinarians can ONLY write Rx for animals.
Dentists can ONLY write Rx for the treatment of mouth conditions and diseases. A Rx for oral
contraceptives would not be valid
Podiatrists can only write Rx for the treatment of conditions and diseases of the foot and
ankle. A Rx for an asthma medication would not be valid
6. What are the prescribing restrictions on NP and PA?: A NP's prescribing authority is
dependent upon entry into a practice agreement with a patient care team physician that
clearly states the prescriptive practices of the NP.
,A PA's prescribing authority is dependent upon entry into a written agreement with a licensed
physician or podiatrist that provides for the direction and supervision of the PA's prescriptive
practices.
7. How will you know if a NP or PA"s is prescribing drug that is NOT allowed under his
agreement with a team care physician, physician or podiatrist?: You may not able ot
tell if the prescription is for an approved drug. But, you should examine the practice the
prescriber is in to make sure that the prescription is for a drug that would normally be
prescrbed in that practice setting. For example, if you received a Rx for oral contraceptives
from a NP at an OB/GYN practice, the Rx is most probably within the NP's scope of
practice. However, if that same NP wrote a Rx for treatment of gum disease
(chlorhexidine), you would want to call the doctor's office to verify the Rx.
8. Are nurse practitioners and PA allowed to write CII-CVI Rx?: Yes
9. Are there any prescribing limitations on TPA-certified optometrists?: Yes e
10. What medications are TPA certified optometrists allowed to prescribe and
administer?: CIII-VI oral analgesics to relieve ocular (eye) pain.
other oral CVI controlled substances to treat diseases of the eye and its adnexa
Topically applied CVI drugs (for treatment of the eye/adnexa)
Intramuscular administration of EPI to treat emergency cases of anaphylactic shock
11. What is the "adnexa" of the eye?: The tissues immediately surronding the eye;
surrounding the eye; such as the eyelids and conjunctiva.
12. What certification does an optometrist (OD) need in order to prescribe?: TPA-
certification.
TPA stands for Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents
13. Is TPA-certification a state or national certification?: It is a Virginia certification that
ODs must obtain from the VA Board of Optometry
14. What conditions are TPA certified optometrists allowed to treat?: Diseases and
abnormal conditions of the human eye and its adnexa (tissues adjoining the eye)
15. Are there any conditions that TPA-certified optometrists are specifically
prohibited from treating?: Yes. Optometrists cannot treat infantile or congenial glaucoma
and their treatment of closed angle glaucoma is limited to initiation of immediate emergency
care.
16. Are pharmacies allowed to supply TPA-certified optometrists with therapeutic
pharmaceutical agents listed on the TPA-Formulary?: Yes
17. Are medical interns and residents who work in a hospital allowed to write Rx?:
Yes, but only within their dueties as part of the residency program. (This may include writing
Rx for ER patients that will be filled at a retail pharmacy)
18. What is prescription under Virginia law?: An order for drugs or medical supplies,
given to a pharmacist by a practitioner authorized to prescribe. The Rx may be written, oral,
faxed or transmitted electronically.
19 What prescriber information must every Virginia Rx contain?: 1. Prescriber's name
, .
2. Prescriber's address
3. Prescriber's phone number
4. Prescriber's signature (except for an oral prescriptions)
5. Precriber's DEA number (for Federal controlled substance Rx - CII-CV)
20. Are medical interns and residents allowed to write Rx in Virginia?: Yes
21. Since interns and some residents do NOT have a DEA number, what do they use in
place of their own DEA number?: They use the hospital where they are practicing's DEA
number plus a suffix assigned to the intern/resident by the institution
22. Do intern and resident's Rx need to comply with all of the regular requirements for
valid Virginia Rx?: Yes
23. Are the interns/residents allowed to use their identification number to write for CII-
CVI controlled substance?: Yes
24. When can a medical intern or resident working for a hospital prescribe controlled
substnaces under the hospital's DEA number?: When it is in furtherance of the
person's duties at the hospital. The intern or resident cannot use the number if he/she is
working somewhere else like an urgent care center that is not affiliated with the hospital.
25. What if the patient was seen by the intern/resident at the hospitals emergency
room?: The intern/resident can use the hospital identification number assigned to him to
write a Rx for the patient
26. What other information has to go on the Rx when patient was seen at ER by
intern/resident?: -The intern/resident's signature and the legibly printed name, address
and telephone number of the resident/intern
-The address and phone number are usually pree-printed on the hospital's Rx blank but the
intern/resident's information is often not included and must be added by hand.
27. What else is exempt from the requirement to register with the DEA?: -agents and
employees of registrants (e.g. employees of a pharmacy)
-Practitioners affiliated with registrants (e.g. doctors working at a hospital)
-Law Enforcement officials
28. What patient information must be on the Rx?: -The patient's first and last name
-The patient's address
29. What if the patient is an animal? (requirement for Rx): -Owner's name
-Owner's address
-The species of the animal
, .
30 Does the prescriber need to write the patient's address on the Rx?: No it can be
added by the dispense or kept in the patient's electronic record in the pharmacy
31. Does the Rx need to be dated?: Yes, It must be dated on the date it is signed by the
prescriber. Postdating of Rx is NOT allowed and is illegal
32. What drug information must go on the Rx?: -Drug name
-Drug strength
-Drug dosage form
-Quantity prescribed
-Directions for use
NOTE: Virginia doesn't specifically require a quantity on Rx for CVI drugs provided that the
prescription contains some directions by which the pharmacist can calculate the authorized
quantity using directions for use and duration. CII-CV Rx must contain a quantity
33. How long are prescriptions for CII-CV drugs valid?: 6months from the date of issance
34. How long is a prescription for a CVI drug valid?: It is valid for one year after the date
of issue, which means that you can continue to refill the prescription for up to one year
after the date of issuance. However, if the prescriber specifically authorizes the
dispensing or refilling of the prescription for two years. This would apply if the prescriber
wrote on the prescription: "May refill prn for 2 years." If such instructions are not present,
the prescription is only valid for one year.
35. Can a prescription be written in pencil?: No. Rx must be written in ink, individually
typed, or printed only.
36. How many medications can be on a single prescription form?: The general rule is
only one medication per prescription
37. What are the exceptions to the general rule?: -Rx written as chart orders for patients in
hospitals
-Rx wirtten as chart orders for patients in long term care facilities
-patients receiving home infusion servcies
-hospice patients
-patients whose Rxs will be filled at pharmacies operated by one of these departments:
Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Health, Behavioral Health and Developmenteal
Services
-Patients residing in detention centers, jails, or work release centers operated by the Dpt. of
Corrections
note: all of the exceptions include the use of chart orders or governmental provision of
services
38 What about Rx written as chart orders for hospital or long term care patient who is
then discharged?: These can be filled at an outpatient pharmacy if: -the pahrmacist has all
