N677 STUDY GUIDE FOR THE
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES EXAM
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS.
Based on your research from your planned practice state, what drugs and devices can NPs
prescribe, furnish, or order? - ANS In California, NPs can prescribe, furnish, or order Schedule
II through Schedule V controlled substances. However, NPs must obtain a furnishing license
through the CA BRN and a DEA number through the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration before having furnishing authority to prescribe controlled substances. One of
the requirements for a furnishing license is that NPs must complete a BRN approved course for
Schedule II Controlled Substance
In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to prescribe? Yes or No? -
ANS 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? - ANS 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
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled substances in your planned
practice state? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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 - ANS "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."
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES EXAM
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS.
Based on your research from your planned practice state, what drugs and devices can NPs
prescribe, furnish, or order? - ANS In California, NPs can prescribe, furnish, or order Schedule
II through Schedule V controlled substances. However, NPs must obtain a furnishing license
through the CA BRN and a DEA number through the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration before having furnishing authority to prescribe controlled substances. One of
the requirements for a furnishing license is that NPs must complete a BRN approved course for
Schedule II Controlled Substance
In your planned practice state, do you need to be supervised to prescribe? Yes or No? -
ANS 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? - ANS 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
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What are the requirements of furnishing (prescribing) controlled substances in your planned
practice state? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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? - ANS 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 - ANS "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."
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
