Illinois

PMHNP Practice Requirements In Illinois: Scope, Prescribing & Collaboration

Short answer: AANP lists Illinois as reduced practice, so a PMHNP prescribes under a written collaborative agreement with a physician until filing a notarized attestation of 4,000 clinical hours after national certification and 250 hours of continuing education, which earns full practice authority (225 ILCS 65/65-35, 65-43). Under a collaborative agreement, Schedule II drugs must be delegated by name and are capped at a 30 day supply (65-40).

Illinois PMHNP Rules At A Glance

Topic	Illinois Rule
Practice authority	Reduced practice with a path to full practice authority. An APRN practices under a written collaborative agreement unless IDFPR has accepted the attestation for full practice authority (225 ILCS 65/65-35, 65-43).
Transition to practice	Full practice authority requires 4,000 hours of clinical experience in your certification area after first attaining national certification plus 250 hours of continuing education, filed as a notarized attestation with IDFPR (65-43).
Transition period	The written collaborative agreement must describe the relationship and the categories of care, with consultation available by telecommunication; physician presence isn’t required and Section 65-35 sets no cap on APRNs per physician.
Controlled substances	Under an agreement, Schedule II drugs must be ones the physician routinely prescribes, named specifically, oral, topical or transdermal, and limited to a 30 day supply (65-40). FPA APRNs may prescribe Schedule II to V (65-43).
PDMP	Register with the Illinois PMP when you hold a controlled substance license, and document an attempt to check it before an initial Schedule II narcotic prescription, with exceptions for oncology, palliative care and short emergency department supplies (720 ILCS 570/314.5).
Regulator	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) licenses APRNs, accepts the full practice authority attestation and issues the controlled substance license.

Updated October 5, 2026

Practice Authority

Illinois Practice-Authority Category (Reduced Practice, Path To Full Authority)

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) currently classifies Illinois as a reduced practice state. Illinois offers a path to full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses who complete required clinical hours and meet other conditions; otherwise, an NP practices under a written collaborative agreement with a physician.

Collaboration

Is A Collaborative Or Supervisory Agreement Required?

Illinois generally requires a written collaborative agreement with a physician unless the NP has qualified for full practice authority after the required clinical hours and conditions. State rule sets what the agreement must contain, how it’s documented and how often it’s reviewed.

Prescriptive Authority

Prescriptive Authority And Controlled Substances

Prescriptive authority in Illinois comes once you meet the state’s requirements, and it can include controlled substances when the conditions are met. You’ll also need a separate federal DEA registration for those, and some carry additional conditions. State law and board rule set the scope and documentation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration covers the federal side.

Next Step

Credentialing Is A Separate Track

Your Illinois license and practice authority don’t enroll you with a single payer. Getting paid is a separate track, with its own payer rules, Medicaid program and enrollment timelines, and we cover it on the Illinois credentialing and payer enrollment page. The PMHNP credentialing guide has the national picture.

Opening your own practice? Get licensure, collaboration and enrollment in the right order with our guide on how to start a PMHNP practice. It also helps to know what PMHNP credentialing costs and what it costs to start a PMHNP practice before you pick an opening date.

If you want help with the setup itself, First Practice Launch handles payer enrollment, the EHR, portals and billing for a first practice at $6,000, or four monthly payments of $1,500.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can A PMHNP Practice Independently In Illinois?

Yes, after earning full practice authority. 225 ILCS 65/65-43 drops the written collaborative agreement once you file a notarized attestation of at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience in your certification area after national certification and 250 hours of continuing education or training. Until then you need the agreement.

Can A PMHNP Prescribe Adderall In Illinois?

It depends on your status. Under a collaborative agreement, the physician must routinely prescribe the drug and delegate it by name, and each prescription is limited to a 30 day supply with continuation only after physician approval (65-40). With full practice authority you hold Schedule II to V authority; the statute’s consultation requirement applies to Schedule II narcotic drugs such as opioids and to benzodiazepines beyond a 120 day supply (65-43).

Do I Need A Collaborating Physician In Illinois?

Yes, until you hold full practice authority. The written collaborative agreement describes your relationship and the categories of care, treatment or procedures you provide, and must be available to IDFPR on request (65-35). The physician doesn’t have to be on site, and the law doesn’t require an employment relationship.

This is general information, not legal advice. It applies the general nurse practitioner rules in Illinois to PMHNPs. Rules change, so check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and the AANP State Practice Environment map before you act on it. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026.

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Credentialing

See what we handle on our PMHNP credentialing page, or the PMHNP hub.