Prescriptive Authority Table

Colorado.gov

Board of Pharmacy

Prescriptive Authority Table

Medical Professionals Authorized to Prescribe Medication
Under Colorado Law

FIELD	DEGREE	REQUIREMENTS	LIMITS ON PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)	RN	Colorado Registered Nurse listed on the Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Registry, who has a written collaborative agreement with a physician licensed in Colorado, and who has been issued an RXN number by the Board of Nursing.	Patients within nurse's area of practice. May practice independently without a supervising physician. Must have own DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances.
Dentist	DDS, DMD	Colorado License	Any drug necessary to the proper practice of dentistry.
Optometrist	OD	Colorado License and certified as a Therapeutic (TPA) Optometrist	May prescribe any prescription drug or schedule III, IV or V narcotic controlled substance for the treatment of ocular disease. May not prescribe injectable drugs except for epinephrine.
Physician	MD, DO	Colorado License	Any drug within the course of legitimate professional practice. May not prescribe any schedule II controlled substance for self or family except in an emergency.
Physician Assistant (PA)	Masters, or equivalent	Colorado Certification by Medical Board	Must be within scope of practice of supervising physician. Written prescription must be on supervising physician's prescription order form which contains in legible form, the name, address and telephone number of both the supervising physician and the PA. Must have own DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances.
Podiatrist	DPM	Colorado License	Any drug within the course of legitimate professional practice.
Veterinarian	DVM	Colorado License	Independent Authority for any drug within the course of legitimate professional practice.

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