Which statement about NP/PA prescribers is true regarding supervision and authority?

• A. They must be supervised by a physician and may prescribe controlled substances with their own DEA number
• B. They may prescribe controlled substances without any supervision
• C. They cannot prescribe any controlled substances
• D. They do not require a certificate to prescribe

Answer: (A)

Prescribers who are NPs or PAs operate under physician oversight and must have the credentials to prescribe, including a DEA registration for controlled substances. The supervising physician provides the required oversight, while the NP or PA uses their own DEA number to write controlled-substance prescriptions within the scope of their practice and state regulations. This combination ensures patient safety and regulatory compliance: supervision guides clinical decisions, and the DEA number legally authorizes the prescription of controlled substances.

The other statements don’t fit because they imply no supervision, no controlled-substance authority, or no credentialing, which contradicts how NP/PA prescribing is typically regulated.