What are the qualifications required for nurse practitioners to obtain independent prescriptive authority in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma’s new law, effective in November 2025, allows certain nurse practitioners to prescribe medications without physician supervision, a move aimed at expanding healthcare access, especially in rural communities.

But what exactly does it take for a nurse practitioner to qualify for this new level of independence? Here is a breakdown:

Who Can Apply?

According to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, applicants must:

1. Hold a valid and current license as a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

What is a Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP)?

A Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has completed graduate-level education (typically a master’s or doctoral degree) in a nurse practitioner specialty area, such as family practice, pediatrics, or psychiatric care. According to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, CNPs must also pass a national certification exam in their specialty and maintain state licensure. They provide a range of services including patient evaluations, diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up care.

Experience Requirements

The Oklahoma Legislature’s House Bill 2298 states that applicants must have completed at least 6,240 hours (approximately three years) of supervised clinical practice with prescriptive authority.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit documentation to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, including proof of:

1. Required supervised experience.
2. Professional liability insurance coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million in aggregate annually.

What Changed with This New Law?

This law removes the previous requirement for a physician’s signature to prescribe medications like antibiotics or blood pressure medications. Shelby Pope, a family and psychiatric nurse practitioner in Skiatook, explained, “He or she [the overseeing physician] does not have to see any of my patients... I just need his name on the piece of paper that I submit to the state so that I can prescribe medications.”

Read this article: What Oklahoma’s new nurse practitioner law means for patients and providers

Why Does This Matter?

Pope emphasized to News On 6 that eliminating this red tape will lower costs and improve access to care, particularly in underserved areas. “If we get into a bind and we don’t have prescriptive authority, then we get desperate,” she said. “That just doesn’t work long term.”

What About Patient Safety?

Pope acknowledged concerns about maintaining education and safety standards, telling News On 6, “While that’s a little bit offensive, I do understand [Gov. Stitt’s] sentiment... we need to ensure that the quality of education that we’re pursuing is sound.”

Oklahoma Board of Nursing – Prescriptive Authority Guidelines

https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/nursing/documents/pa-4.pdf

House Bill 2298 (HB 2298) – Oklahoma Legislature

https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2298&Session=2500