Tennessee
PMHNP Scope And Prescribing Rules In Tennessee
A PMHNP with a certificate of fitness prescribes with a collaborating physician named on the Board filing and on each prescription. That physician personally reviews at least 20 percent of your charts every 30 days. Schedule II through IV need formulary authorization or the physician’s express approval. AANP lists Tennessee as restricted practice.
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Tennessee PMHNP Rules At A Glance
| Topic | Tennessee Rule |
|---|---|
| Practice authority | Restricted practice on the AANP map. Prescribing requires a Board certificate of fitness plus a collaborating physician who has control and responsibility for prescriptive services (T.C.A. § 63-7-123; Rule 1000-04-.04). |
| Physician agreement | Jointly developed written protocols, population specific, reviewed every two years and kept at the practice site; file your formulary and collaborating physician’s name with the Board before prescribing and update within 30 days (Rule 0880-06-.02(5); Rule 1000-04-.04). |
| Physician limit | Rule 0880-06-.02 sets no numeric cap. Instead the collaborating physician must personally review at least 20 percent of your charts every 30 days and visit any remote site at least once every 30 days (Rule 0880-06-.02(8), (9)). |
| Controlled substances | Schedule II through V allowed, but Schedule II through IV only if the formulary authorizes it or the collaborating physician expressly approves; Schedule II or III opioids limited to a nonrefillable 30 day course outside inpatient care (T.C.A. § 63-7-123(b)). |
| PDMP | Check the CSMD at the start of each new episode of opioid, benzodiazepine or Schedule II amphetamine treatment, before each new prescription for the first 90 days, then at least every six months; hospice and three day supplies are exempt (T.C.A. § 53-10-310; Rule 1145-01-.04). |
| Regulator | Tennessee Board of Nursing issues the APRN certificate and certificate of fitness; your collaborating physician follows Board of Medical Examiners Rule 0880-06 or Osteopathic Rule 1050-02-.15 (Rule 1000-04-.04). |
Updated October 25, 2026
Practice Authority
Tennessee Practice Authority Category (Restricted Practice)
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) currently classifies Tennessee as a restricted practice state. In practice, a PMHNP in Tennessee can’t practice fully independent of a physician relationship and generally needs career long supervision, delegation or a collaborative agreement for at least one element of practice.
Collaboration
Is A Collaborative Or Supervisory Agreement Required?
Before you provide the full scope of care in Tennessee, you’ll generally need supervision by, delegation from, or a collaborative agreement with a physician. What that agreement must contain, how it’s documented and how often it’s reviewed all come from state rule.
Prescriptive Authority
Prescriptive Authority And Controlled Substances
Meet the requirements in Tennessee and you can be granted prescriptive authority, which can reach controlled substances once the conditions are met. For controlled substances you’ll also need your own federal DEA registration, and some substances carry additional conditions. The specific scope and documentation come from state law and board rule, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration covering the federal side.
Next Step
Credentialing Is A Separate Track
Practice authority decides what you can do in Tennessee. It doesn’t get you paid. Payer enrollment runs on its own track, and our Tennessee credentialing and payer enrollment guide covers it. The PMHNP credentialing guide has the national picture.
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Planning the sequence? Our guide on how to start a PMHNP practice and the practice launch checklist put licensure, any collaboration your state requires and enrollment in order. See what PMHNP credentialing costs and what it costs to start a PMHNP practice before you budget, and browse the PMHNP hub for the rest.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A PMHNP Practice Independently In Tennessee?
No. A nurse practitioner who prescribes must name a collaborating physician who has control and responsibility for prescriptive services, on the Board filing and on each prescription (T.C.A. § 63-7-123(b)). The Board’s own page says APRNs who prescribe are required to have a supervisory or collaborative physician and must report any change within 30 days. There’s no hours based path out of that relationship.
How Often Does My Collaborating Physician Have To Review Charts In Tennessee?
Yes, the rule sets a number: at least 20 percent of the charts you write or monitor every 30 days, reviewed personally (Rule 0880-06-.02(8)). If you work at a remote site, the physician also has to visit it at least once every 30 days (Rule 0880-06-.02(9)). Your written protocols must be jointly developed, population specific, reviewed every two years and kept at the practice site (Rule 0880-06-.02(5)).
Can A PMHNP Prescribe Adderall In Tennessee?
Yes, if your formulary specifically authorizes Schedule II or your collaborating physician expressly approves it after consultation before the first prescription (T.C.A. § 63-7-123(b)(2)(B)). The nonrefillable 30 day cap is written for Schedule II and III opioids, so a stimulant is outside it, but the CSMD check covers Schedule II amphetamines, so you check the CSMD before you prescribe Adderall (§ 63-7-123(b)(2)(C); § 53-10-310; Rule 1145-01-.04). Keep your DEA registration at your practice location (Rule 1000-04-.04(3)).
This is general information, not legal advice. It applies the general nurse practitioner rules in Tennessee to PMHNPs. Rules change, so check with the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the AANP State Practice Environment map before you act on it. Last reviewed: October 25, 2026.
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