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Advanced Practice and Public Health Nurse Certification

The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) certifies public health nurses and advanced practice nurses. Advanced practice nurses include nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. The BRN also maintains a listing of psychiatric/mental health nurses. In each of these categories, the individual must first have a California registered nurse license before obtaining the certificate.

Submission of Transcripts and Documents

Transcripts: Advanced Practice and PHN transcripts can be sent to our Board electronically from a certified third-party electronic transcripts vendor such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse*, or directly from your school. Electronic transcripts must be sent to BRN.APRN.eTranscripts@dca.ca.gov.

*If requesting transcripts via National Student Clearinghouse, please use these instructions to ensure proper delivery of your electronic transcripts to the Board.

Required Documents: Additional required documents and forms will be accepted electronically. Required advanced practice and PHN forms and documents will not be accepted from applicants and will only be accepted from the appropriate school, national organizations, and associations electronically to the following Board email address: BRN.APRN.eDocs@dca.ca.gov.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The clinical nurse specialist is a BRN certified RN who is an advanced practice nurse providing expert clinical practice, research, education, consultation and clinical leadership with an identified patient population. The scope of clinical nurse specialist practice includes patients, nursing personnel and organization systems. Clinical nurse specialists work in direct patient care and indirect patient care activities that affect a broad range of patients.

There are three methods to qualify for certification as a clinical nurse specialist with the BRN. General reporting of prior disciplines are required for all methods.

Nurse Anesthetist

The nurse anesthetist is a registered nurse who provides anesthesia services ordered by a physician, dentist, or podiatrist, and is certified by the BRN in this specialty.

Nurse-Midwife

The Nurse-Midwife (NMW) is an advanced practice nurse who have met the educational standards and certification requirements established by the Board and possesses additional advanced practice educational preparation and skills consistent with the Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice adopted by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. After receiving a certificate from the BRN, a NWM is authorized to attend cases of low-risk pregnancy and childbirth to provide prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care, including interconception care, family planning care, and immediate care for the newborn.

  • Apply Online
  • Click to open the NMW application instructions. Application instructions include form(s) that must be submitted for graduates of Nurse Practitioner programs not approved by the California BRN. These forms must be completed and signed by the Director of the Nurse Midwife Academic Program.
    • Verification of Nurse Midwife Academic Program form
    • Nurse Midwife Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form
  • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of date of graduation or post-graduation nurse-midwife program.
  • If you did not complete a California Board-approved program, you will need to submit verification of national certification from the certifying national organization/association.

The NMW and NMF applications have now been combined, and you may apply for both when submitting your nurse-midwife application by marking “yes” to the question regarding furnishing drugs. Once the NMW has been approved, your furnishing application will be opened and processed accordingly and a Schedule II designation may also be granted at this time.

Nurse-Midwife Furnishing Number

The BRN issues a furnishing number to a NMW that allows them to "order" or furnish drugs and devices to patients using approved standardized procedures. The drugs or devices are furnished or ordered by a NMW in line with care rendered, consistent with the NMW’s educational preparation or for which clinical competency has been established and maintained. The furnishing or ordering of drugs or devices by a NMW for services that do not fall within the scope of services including, are in accordance with the standardized procedures or protocols developed in collaboration with, and approved by, a physician and surgeon and the NMW.

  • For NMWs who did not request a furnishing number with their initial NMW application, you can click here to Apply Online
  • Click to open the Nurse-Midwife Furnishing Number application instructions. Application instructions include form(s) that must be submitted for graduates of Nurse Midwife Programs not approved by the California BRN. This form must be completed and signed by the Director of the Nurse Midwife Academic Program.
    • Nurse Midwife Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form
    • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of Advanced Pharmacology Course.

If you applied through the combination NMW and NMWF application and the requirements were met as part of the advanced pharmacology course content, the Schedule II will be granted on approval of your nurse midwife certification and a separate request for the ability to furnish will not be required. A schedule II designation may also be granted at this time.

Nurse-Midwife Schedule II

In order to furnish Schedule II controlled substances, nurse midwives must complete the required pharmacological content including the risks of addiction associated with their use and neonatal abstinence syndrome associated with the use of opioids, in an advanced pharmacology course associated with a nurse midwife/APRN academic program and shall register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

If you applied through the combination NMW and NMWF application or separate NMWF application and the requirements were met as part of the advanced pharmacology course content, this will be granted on approval of your NMWF number, and a separate request for the ability to furnish Schedule II controlled substances will not be required.

Each nurse-midwife requesting Schedule II furnishing privileges, after their initial nurse-midwife furnishing number has been approved, must submit the following items to the BRN:

  • Written request for Schedule II furnishing privileges that include name, address, and nurse-midwife furnishing number. Nurse midwives must upload this request to their BreEZe account using the "submit additional documents" feature.
  • Completed Nurse Midwife Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form (page 3) signed by the program director. This form may be emailed to BRN.APRN.eDocs@dca.ca.gov.
    • Please note that the fifth bullet point under the section KEY POINTS (page 4) specifies: The furnishing responsibility for Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances that are to be furnished with a patient specific protocol in compliance with Health and Safety Code (HSC) Division 10, Uniform Controlled Substances Act sections 11055 and 11056, for certified nurse midwives.
  • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of Advanced Pharmacology Course. Transcripts must be emailed to BRN.APRN.eTranscripts@dca.ca.gov.

Upon receipt of the request and the required information from your school, the BRN will verify completion of pharmacological content, including risks of addiction associated with their use and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Continuing education courses will not be accepted to obtain Schedule II initially; therefore, you will need to take an advanced pharmacology course that includes the risks of addiction associated with their use and neonatal abstinence syndrome associated with the use of opioids, in an advanced pharmacology course associated with a nurse midwife/APRN academic program. If you need to find a course, you may contact a California Board-approved nurse-midwifery program or contact other nurse-midwifery program(s) by searching the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

The DEA will process nurse-midwife applications after accessing the Board’s web site to ensure that Controlled Substance II, with Risks of Addiction and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome designations, have been added to your nurse-midwife furnishing number.

As mentioned above, continuing education courses will not be accepted to obtain Schedule II initially; however, per Business and Professions Code section 2746.51(b)(4), in order to retain privileges to furnish Schedule II substances, nurse midwives, by the time of renewal, complete a minimum 2-hour continuing education course that meets the Board requirements below:

Course Description requirements for Schedule II controlled substances:

  • Course must include principles of pharmacology related to the pharmacotherapeutic management of women whose illness, injury, or condition requires evaluation and treatment using Schedule II controlled substances outside of the acute care hospital, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles of Schedule II medications commonly used in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of women’s health care conditions, including risks of addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome associated with the use of Schedule II controlled substances.
  • Additionally, legal requirements for furnishing controlled substances as well as principles related to patient-specific protocols for Schedule II controlled substances must be included.

Minimum Course Objectives for Schedule II controlled substances:

At completion of the course, the nurse-midwife will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics related to Schedule II controlled substances in relationship to their use in the treatment of illness, injury, or conditions in women’s health, including the risks of addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome associated with the use of Schedule II controlled substances.
  • Analyze state laws and federal regulation pertaining to the furnishing, dispensing, and administering Schedule II controlled substances for out-of-hospital patient use. Outline the required components of a furnishing standardized procedure or protocol for Schedule II controlled substance medications in a Patient-Specific Protocol in accord with Business and Profession Code section 2746.51.

Nurse Practitioner

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who meets Board education and certification requirements and possesses additional advanced practice educational preparation and skills in physical diagnosis, psycho-social assessment, and management of health-illness needs in primary care, and/or acute care.

  • Apply Online
  • Click to open the NP application instructions. Application instructions include form(s) that must be submitted for graduates of NP programs not approved by the California BRN. These forms must be completed and signed by the Director of the NP academic program:
    • Verification of Nurse Practitioner Academic Program form
    • Nurse Practitioner Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form
  • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of date of graduation or post-graduation nurse practitioner program.
  • If you did not complete a California Board-approved program, you will need to submit verification of national certification from the certifying national organization/association.

The NP and NPF applications have now been combined, and you may apply for both when submitting your nurse practitioner application by marking "yes" to the question regarding furnishing drugs. Once the NP application has been approved, your NPF application will be opened and processed accordingly, and a Schedule II designation may also be granted at this time.

Nurse Practitioner Furnishing Number

The BRN issues a furnishing number to a NP that allows them to "order" or furnish drugs and devices to patients using approved standardized procedures. The drugs or devices are furnished or ordered by a NP in accordance with standardized procedures or protocols developed by the NP and the supervising physician and surgeon when the drugs or devices furnished or ordered are consistent with the practitioner’s educational preparation or for which clinical competency has been established and maintained.

  • For NPs who did not request a furnishing number with their initial NP application, you can click here to Apply Online
  • Click to open the NPF application instructions. Application instructions includes form(s) that must be submitted for graduates of Nurse Practitioner Programs not approved by the California BRN. This form must be completed and signed by the Director of the Nurse Practitioner Academic Program:
    • Nurse Practitioner Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form
    • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of Advanced Pharmacology Course.

If you applied through the combination NP and NPF application and the requirements were met as part of the advanced pharmacology course content, the Schedule II will be granted on approval of your nurse practitioner certification and a separate request for the ability to furnish will not be required. A Schedule II designation may also be granted at this time.

Nurse Practitioner Schedule II

In order to furnish Schedule II controlled substances, NPs must complete the required pharmacological content, including risks of addiction associated with their use in a nurse practitioner program and shall register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

If you applied through the combination NP and NPF application or separate NPF application and the requirements were met as part of the advanced pharmacology course content, this will be granted on approval of your nurse practitioner furnishing number, and a separate request for the ability to furnish Schedule II controlled substances will not be required.

Each NP requesting Schedule II furnishing privileges, after their initial NPF application has been approved, must submit the following items to the BRN:

  • Written request for Schedule II furnishing privileges that include name, address, and nurse practitioner furnishing number. NPs must then upload the request to their BreEZe account using the "submit additional documents" feature.
  • Completed Nurse Practitioner Advanced Pharmacology Course Verification form (page 2) signed by the program director. This form may be emailed to BRN.APRN.eDocs@dca.ca.gov.
    • Please note that the fourth bullet point under the section KEY POINTS (page 3) specifies: The furnishing responsibility for Schedule II, III, IV, V controlled substances that are to be furnished with a patient-specific protocol in compliance with the Health and Safety Code (HSC) Division 10, Uniform Controlled Substances Acts sections 11000-11651, Chapter 1. General Provisions and Definitions, for nurse practitioners. **
  • You will also need to submit official, sealed transcript showing evidence of Advanced Pharmacology Course. Transcripts must be emailed to BRN.APRN.eTranscripts@dca.ca.gov.

Upon receipt of the request and the required information from your school, the Board will verify completion of pharmacological content, including risks of addiction associated with their use in a nurse practitioner program, and the written request.

Continuing education courses will not be accepted to obtain Schedule II initially; therefore, you will need to take an advanced pharmacology course that includes the risks of addiction associated with a nurse practitioner program. If you need to find a course, you may contact a California Board-approved nurse practitioner program or contact other NP programs by utilizing the NP program search via the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NP Program Search.

** Most states meet these educational requirements. This will be dependent upon the review of the Director of the Nurse Practitioner Academic Program that you attended. HSC Division 10 – Uniform controlled substances act Chapter 4 – Prescriptions and Chapter 5 – Use of controlled Substances should be reviewed to ensure this content was part of the nurse practitioner’s educational program. Nurse practitioner educational programs based out of Washington DC, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and South Dakota may require additional education to meet these requirements.

The DEA will process all NP applications after accessing the Board’s web site to ensure that Schedule II, Risk of Addictions, privileges have been added to your nurse practitioner furnishing number.

As mentioned above, continuing education courses will not be accepted to obtain Schedule II initially; however, per Business and Professions Code section 2836.1(g)(3), in order to retain privileges to furnish Schedule II substances, nurse practitioners, by the time of renewal, complete a minimum 3-hour continuing education course that meets the Board requirements below:

Course Description requirements for Schedule II controlled substances:

  • Focus on Principles of pharmacology that serves as a foundation for the pharmacotherapeutic management of a patient whose illness, injury, or condition requires evaluation and treatment using Schedule II controlled substances.
  • The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles of Schedule II medications commonly used in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of health care conditions affecting patients across the life span, including risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II controlled substances.
  • Provide a discussion about standardized procedures or protocols requirements for those patient illnesses, diseases, or injuries a patient-specific protocol for Schedule II and III controlled substances.
  • Address the legal requirements for furnishing controlled substances.

Minimum Course Objectives for Schedule II controlled substances:

  • Identify the relationship of the natural history of illness, disease or injury, pathophysiology, and symptomatology to pharmacotherapeutic agents commonly used to treat patients with conditions requiring the use of Schedule II controlled substances, including risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II controlled substances.
  • Analyze state laws and federal regulations pertaining to furnishing, dispensing, and administering Controlled Substances Schedule II through V medication by nurse practitioner.
  • Identify components necessary for proper techniques of prescription writing for Schedule II through V consistent with Health and Safety Code and Pharmacy law.
  • Outline the required components of a furnishing standardized procedure or protocol for schedule II and III controlled substance medication in a Patient-Specific Protocol in accord with Business and Professions Code section 2836.1. The nurse practitioners’ education, experience, and competence to furnish controlled substances must be included.
  • Describe ethical and legal standards and ramifications of prescribing controlled substances.

Nurse Practitioner Practicing Without Standardized Procedures in a Group Setting (103 NP)

A Nurse Practitioner who practices without standard procedures in a group setting as defined in 16 CCR 1480 k and BPC 2837.103 (2)(A-F) may perform the functions listed in Section 2387.103(c) of the code in which the applicant has a National Certification as a Nurse Practitioner.

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse

Pursuant to Insurance Code Section 10176, the BRN maintains a listing of registered nurses who possess a master's degree in psychiatric/mental health nursing plus two years of supervised experience providing services as a psychiatric/mental health nurse and who have applied to the BRN to be listed. This voluntary listing enables the certificate holder to receive direct reimbursement from insurance carriers for counseling services.

There are two methods to qualify for listing as a psychiatric/mental health nurse with the BRN. General reporting of prior disciplines are required for both methods. Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse (PMH) certificates are automatically renewed in conjunction with the RN license; no additional fee or continuing education is required.

Public Health Nurse

The public health nurse is a registered nurse who has received a certificate from the BRN. He or she is an integral part of the public health community and provides direct patient care as well as services related to maintaining public health.

Public Health Nurse certificates do not need to be renewed. A licensee’s public health nurse certificate will remain valid as long as their registered nurse license remains active.

  • If you are applying to be a Public Health Nurse after completing a baccalaureate nursing program or a specialized public health nursing program outside of California, please submit proof of the seven hours of training in the prevention, early detection, intervention, California reporting requirements, and treatment of child neglect and abuse by attaching a copy of your certificate of completion with your application.
  • Click to open the Public Health Nurse application instructions. Application instructions also include associated forms that may be attached to online application as needed.
  • Apply Online