California Expands Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority

California expanded nurse practitioner practice authority with a new law that allows NPs to work in rural areas without physician agreements. Discover how this change might impact you.

Credit: Cavan Images / Getty Images

• An estimated 20,000 nurse practitioners will be eligible to apply for the first phase of expanded authority in California by 2023.
• Expanded nurse practitioner practice authority increases access to two of California’s most needed services: primary care and mental healthcare.
• California’s expansion of practice authority and high salary may not be enough for nurse practitioners who can get full-practice authority in many of the surrounding states.

Nearly 45% of Californians do not have enough access to primary care providers, according to Let’s Get Healthy California. The expansion of nurse practitioner (NP) practice authority in California allows nurse practitioners to open their own practices or join existing practices in rural communities without worrying about physician agreements or physician-to-nurse-practitioner ratios. This expansion could increase access to healthcare for many Californians.

Dive into how California’s expanded NP authority affects NPs in the state and nationally.

Popular MSN Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.