Which statement about NP and PA prescribing authority is false?

• A. They must have a certificate to prescribe.
• B. They must have a supervising physician.
• C. They can prescribe controlled substances but must have their own DEA number.
• D. They do not need a DEA number to prescribe any controlled substances.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that prescribing controlled substances is regulated at the federal level by the DEA, and a valid DEA number is required for any prescriber who writes such prescriptions. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants typically gain prescriptive authority through state practice standards and supervision or collaboration rules, but to actually prescribe controlled substances they need their own DEA registration. That makes the statement about not needing a DEA number incorrect. You can’t use someone else’s DEA number to prescribe; each prescriber must have an active DEA number tied to their own license and scope of practice.

The other statements align with common practice: many NP/PA roles require some form of prescriptive authority or a certificate to prescribe, and supervision or collaborative agreements with a physician are common in many states. It’s the DEA requirement for controlled substances that specifically makes the stated option false.