The North Carolina Approval to Practice application is the form a registered nurse files with the NC Board of Nursing to get joint authorization from both the Board of Nursing and the NC Medical Board to work as a nurse practitioner under a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician. You file it through the Board of Nursing’s online Nurse Gateway portal, and you may not perform a single medical act until you receive written notice that both Boards have approved you.
Getting this wrong is costly. Practicing before your approval letter arrives is the unauthorized practice of medicine, and a single missing signature on your collaborative practice agreement can push your file past the 45-day cutoff and delay your start date by a full month or more. North Carolina runs a “joint” model, which means your file must clear two state boards, not one, so the paperwork standard is higher than in many other states. Roughly 1 in 5 first-time applications stalls because of an incomplete collaborative practice agreement or a certification verification that never arrived, according to patterns the Board flags in its application guidance under 21 NCAC 32M .0104.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the Approval to Practice form is, who must file it, and the exact statute that requires it.
- 🗂️ Every document, license number, and signature you must gather before you open the application.
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each field, with sample entries, edge cases, and the mistakes that get files rejected.
- 👩⚕️ Three full filled-out examples following real nurse practitioners from start to finish.
- 💵 The current fees, the 45-day deadline, the filing steps, and what happens after you hit submit.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Approval to Practice application is the official request that turns a North Carolina registered nurse into a fully authorized nurse practitioner. Under 21 NCAC 32M .0104, the rule readopted and amended through March 1, 2016, no nurse practitioner may perform any medical act until they meet the registration requirements, submit this application, supply any extra information the Board asks for, and hold a collaborative practice agreement with a primary supervising physician. The form is received by the Board of Nursing, then routed to the Medical Board, and both must sign off.
In plain English, “registration” lets you use the title nurse practitioner, while “approval to practice” lets you do the work of one. The rule 21 NCAC 32M .0101 draws this line clearly, so a nurse who is registered but not approved still cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe.
The consequence of skipping this form is serious. If you treat patients before approval, you have engaged in the unauthorized performance of medical acts, which exposes you to discipline under 21 NCAC 32M .0112 and can place your underlying RN license at risk too.
A common misconception is that a national certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) alone lets you start working. It does not. Certification is only one ingredient; North Carolina still requires the joint state approval before you see your first patient.
Who must file includes the new graduate seeking first-time approval, the nurse practitioner moving to North Carolina from another state, the previously approved NP who let approval lapse and is reapplying, and the NP adding or changing a primary supervising physician. Each of these triggers the application or a change-in-arrangement filing under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(f).
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you log in, because the Nurse Gateway portal times out and a half-finished application with missing verifications is the single biggest cause of delay. Each item below tells you why it matters and what goes wrong if it is missing.
- Active, unrestricted North Carolina RN license number. Your approval is built on top of your RN license, and any lapse or restriction freezes the whole file under 21 NCAC 32M .0103. Without a clean RN license, the Board of Nursing stops at step one.
- National certification document. You must show certification by a recognized national credentialing body such as AANP, ANCC, AACN, NCC, or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). If verification never reaches the Board, your file cannot be approved.
- Graduate transcript or proof of your NP education program. New graduates after January 1, 2005 must hold a master’s or higher degree from an accredited NP program under 21 NCAC 32M .0103(b). A missing transcript means the Board cannot verify your educational preparation.
- Primary supervising physician’s full name and NC medical license number. The Medical Board verifies this physician personally holds a valid North Carolina license under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e)(2). A wrong or expired license number blocks the Medical Board’s half of the approval.
- A signed collaborative practice agreement (CPA). The CPA must be signed by both you and the primary supervising physician and kept at each practice site under 21 NCAC 32M .0110. No CPA means no approval, full stop.
- Practice site name and physical address. Each site you work at must be named, because supervision and CPA documents are site-specific. A missing site address can leave you approved on paper but unable to demonstrate compliance at that location.
- The drugs and devices list for your CPA. Your CPA must spell out what you may prescribe under 21 NCAC 32M .0109. Leaving this out means you technically have no prescriptive authority at that site.
- Your quality improvement and meeting plan. The rule requires scheduled physician meetings, monthly for the first six months and at least every six months after, under 21 NCAC 32M .0110. Without a documented plan, your CPA is incomplete.
- The $100 application fee and a payment method. The fee is set at one hundred dollars under 21 NCAC 32M .0115 and is non-refundable. An unpaid application is never reviewed.
- A refresher course certificate, only if you have not practiced in over two years. 21 NCAC 32M .0104(b) requires a Board-approved refresher course after a two-year gap. Skipping it limits or blocks your approval.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The Approval to Practice application lives entirely inside the Board of Nursing’s online system, the Nurse Gateway portal, which is the same login you use for your RN license. North Carolina has moved away from loose paper packets, so the modern, current path is to log into your Nurse Gateway account, select the nurse practitioner application, and complete the registration and approval steps in sequence. The NC Nurses Association NP practice page confirms the application is obtained from and returned to the Board of Nursing.
If you cannot find the application after logging in, call the Board of Nursing at 919-782-3211, extension 260, which is the line dedicated to the Approval to Practice application. The Medical Board, reachable at 919-828-1212, handles the physician-verification half of your file but does not take your application directly.
A common misconception is that you mail your packet to the Medical Board because two boards are involved. You do not. Everything goes first to the Board of Nursing, which then routes the physician piece to the Medical Board under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e). Sending materials straight to the Medical Board only slows you down.
Confirm you are using the current rule version. Subchapter 32M was readopted and amended through 2017 and 2018, so the fee, certification, and CPA standards in this guide reflect the version effective as of those amendment dates printed in the rule history.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the NC Approval to Practice Application Line by Line
The application moves through clear sections: your identity, your RN license, your NP education, your national certification, your supervising physician, your practice site, your collaborative practice agreement, prescriptive authority, the attestation, and the fee. Complete them in order, because later sections depend on earlier ones. Below, each section gets its own walkthrough with a sample entry, an edge case, a common mistake, and a misconception to clear up.
1. Applicant Identification (Legal Name and Contact Information)
This field asks for your full legal name and current contact details exactly as they appear on your nursing records. Enter your name in the order the form shows, usually last name, first name, middle name, and use the same spelling that is on your North Carolina RN license and your national certification.
For example, Maria Elena Lopez enters her name as Lopez, Maria, Elena and lists her personal email and cell number so the Board can reach her directly. A nuance arises if your name changed after marriage or divorce: enter the legal name on your current RN license, and if your certification still shows a former name, attach proof of the name change so the records match.
A common mistake is entering a nickname or a maiden name that does not match your certification, which forces the Board to pause and reconcile your records before approving. The direct consequence is a verification hold that can cost you the entire 45-day review cycle. A misconception here is that the name on the form just needs to be “close enough”; in a joint cross-checked system, an exact match across all records is what keeps your file moving.
2. North Carolina RN License Number and Status
This field asks for your active North Carolina registered nurse license number and confirms your RN status is current and unrestricted. Enter your license number exactly as printed in Nurse Gateway, with no extra spaces or letters, and verify the status shows active before you proceed.
For example, Maria Lopez enters her RN license number and confirms it shows Active – Unrestricted in the portal. A nuance applies if you hold a multistate compact license issued by another state: you still need an unrestricted North Carolina single-state or compact privilege, and any out-of-state NP approval must also be unrestricted under 21 NCAC 32M .0103(a)(1).
A common mistake is applying while your RN renewal is lapsed or pending, which stops the Board cold because approval cannot sit on an inactive license. The direct consequence is an automatic freeze until your RN status is restored. The misconception to drop is that a national NP certification can substitute for an active RN license; it cannot, because every medical act you perform is still anchored to your RN license under 21 NCAC 32M .0101(9).
3. Nurse Practitioner Education Program
This field asks where and when you completed your nurse practitioner education and at what degree level. Enter the school name, program track, degree earned, and graduation date, matching your transcript word for word.
For example, James Carter, an out-of-state psych NP, enters East Carolina University, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, MSN, graduated 05/2019. A nuance applies to applicants who finished a program before December 31, 1999, who may need to document the 400 didactic and 400 clinical contact-hour core curriculum spelled out in 21 NCAC 32M .0105(b), while newer graduates simply show their accredited graduate degree.
A common mistake is listing a degree track that does not match your certification specialty, which creates a mismatch the Board must investigate. The direct consequence is a request for additional information that delays your file. The misconception to correct is that any graduate nursing degree qualifies; the program must be an accredited nurse practitioner program with a primary focus on nursing under 21 NCAC 32M .0103(b).
4. National Certification (Credentialing Body and Specialty)
This field asks which national body certifies you and in what NP specialty area. Enter the credentialing body, the exact specialty title, your certification number, and the expiration date, choosing only from recognized bodies like AANP, ANCC, AACN, NCC, or PNCB.
For example, Maria Lopez enters AANP, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), with her certification number and expiration date, and arranges for AANP to verify it directly to the Board. A nuance applies if your certification is close to expiring: renew it first, because an expired certification breaks the chain required under 21 NCAC 32M .0105(a).
A common mistake is assuming the Board pulls your certification automatically; if you do not trigger the verification, the field stays unverified and your file cannot close. The direct consequence is an approval stalled in “pending verification.” The misconception to drop is that any certification counts; it must match both your education and the medical acts in your CPA, so a pediatric certification cannot support a family-practice scope.
5. Primary Supervising Physician Information
This field asks for the licensed physician who will provide your ongoing supervision, collaboration, and evaluation. Enter the physician’s full legal name and current North Carolina medical license number, and confirm the physician is fully licensed, not a resident in training.
For example, Maria Lopez enters Dr. Robert Nguyen and his active NC medical license number. A nuance from 21 NCAC 32M .0101(10) is that a physician holding only a resident’s training license cannot serve as your primary supervising physician, though a fully licensed physician who also moonlights in a non-training setting may supervise you there.
A common mistake is entering a physician whose North Carolina license is inactive or out of state, which the Medical Board catches immediately under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e)(2). The direct consequence is that the Medical Board’s half of your approval fails even if the nursing half is perfect. The misconception to correct is that a verbal agreement is enough; the physician must formally assure both Boards that you are qualified for the medical acts in your CPA.
6. Back-Up Supervising Physician (If Applicable)
This field asks for any physician who covers supervision when your primary physician is unavailable. Enter the back-up physician’s name and NC license number, and keep the signed back-up agreement on file at each practice site.
For example, Dr. Angela Pierce is listed as the back-up for Maria Lopez, with a signed and dated agreement stored at the clinic. A nuance from 21 NCAC 32M .0101(2) is that the same resident-license restriction applies: a physician in a training program cannot be your back-up unless they are fully licensed and practicing in a separate non-training role.
A common mistake is naming a back-up but never producing the signed agreement, which leaves a compliance gap an auditor can cite. The direct consequence is a documentation violation at inspection even though your primary arrangement is sound. The misconception to drop is that a back-up is optional fluff; while it is the CPA’s safety net, the signed agreement is a real requirement kept at each site.
7. Practice Site Name and Address
This field asks for each location where you will perform medical acts as an NP. Enter the legal practice name and full physical street address for every site, not a billing address or P.O. Box.
For example, Maria Lopez enters Cardinal Family Health, 412 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603. A nuance arises when you work at more than one site: each site needs its own CPA and its own signed supervision and back-up agreements on file, because the rules treat compliance site by site under 21 NCAC 32M .0110(2)(a).
A common mistake is listing only your employer’s headquarters when you actually treat patients at several clinics, which leaves the other sites uncovered. The direct consequence is that any medical act at an unlisted site falls outside your approval. The misconception to correct is that one CPA covers you “everywhere you work”; in North Carolina, your authority is tied to the specific sites and agreements you document.
8. Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) Details
This field asks you to confirm and describe the written agreement between you and your primary supervising physician. Enter confirmation that the CPA is signed and dated by both parties, includes the required elements, and is maintained at each site under 21 NCAC 32M .0110.
For example, James Carter confirms his CPA with Dr. Susan Hale lists his psychiatric drugs and devices, a yearly review signature sheet, a pre-determined emergency plan, and a quality improvement process. A nuance is that the CPA must be reviewed at least yearly with a fresh dated signature sheet appended, and it must spell out the drugs, devices, tests, and procedures you may use.
A common mistake is using a generic template that omits the emergency plan or the quality improvement process, both required by 21 NCAC 32M .0110(2)(d) and .0110(4). The direct consequence is a CPA that fails inspection and can trigger discipline. The misconception to drop is that the CPA is a one-time document; it is a living agreement reviewed yearly, with physician meetings monthly for the first six months and at least every six months after.
9. Prescriptive Authority and Drugs/Devices
This field asks whether you will prescribe and what you are authorized to prescribe at each site. Enter the drugs and devices list built into your CPA, and indicate whether you will prescribe controlled substances, which requires a separate DEA registration.
For example, Maria Lopez confirms her CPA includes common primary-care medications and notes she will obtain a DEA number for Schedule II–V prescribing under 21 NCAC 32M .0109. A nuance is that for any controlled substance, your supervising physician must hold the same DEA schedules you do, and your assigned DEA number must appear on every controlled-substance prescription.
A common mistake is prescribing a drug not listed in your CPA without first getting a specific physician order, which violates the prescribing rules. The direct consequence is a prescribing violation documented against your approval. The misconception to correct is that NP approval automatically grants controlled-substance authority; it does not, because controlled prescribing needs a DEA number and dispensing at your site needs a separate Permit to Dispense from the NC Board of Pharmacy.
10. Attestation and Signature
This field asks you to certify that everything you entered is true and that you understand you cannot practice until approved. Enter your electronic signature and the date, reading each attestation statement before you check the box.
For example, Dana Whitfield, reapplying after a lapse, signs and dates the attestation only after confirming her refresher course and certification are current. A nuance from 21 NCAC 32M .0104(c) is that this signature is also your acknowledgment that you will not perform any medical act until the Board of Nursing sends written notice of approval from both Boards.
A common mistake is signing while a verification is still outstanding, assuming the signature “starts the clock” on practice; it does not. The direct consequence is that practicing on the strength of a signed but unapproved application is unauthorized practice. The misconception to drop is that the attestation is a formality; a false statement here is grounds for discipline under 21 NCAC 32M .0112.
11. Fee Payment
This field asks you to pay the application fee to submit your file. Enter your payment for the one-hundred-dollar fee set by 21 NCAC 32M .0115(a), or the twenty-dollar fee if you are applying for volunteer approval.
For example, Maria Lopez pays the $100 fee by card inside Nurse Gateway and saves the receipt. A nuance is that volunteer approval, meant for NPs practicing without expectation of payment, carries a reduced $20 application fee and a $10 renewal under 21 NCAC 32M .0115(b)–(c).
A common mistake is treating the fee as refundable if you withdraw or get denied; it is not, because no portion of any fee is refundable under 21 NCAC 32M .0115(d). The direct consequence is lost money if you file prematurely. The misconception to correct is that the fee covers renewal too; annual renewal carries its own separate $50 fee under 21 NCAC 32M .0115(b).
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers show how the same application looks for different situations. Use them to see what belongs in each major section.
Scenario A: Maria Lopez, New-Graduate FNP Joining a Primary Care Clinic
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Lopez, Maria, Elena |
| NC RN license status | Active – Unrestricted |
| NP education | UNC-Chapel Hill, Family NP, MSN, 05/2025 |
| National certification | AANP, FNP-C, verified directly to the Board |
| Primary supervising physician | Dr. Robert Nguyen, active NC license |
| Practice site | Cardinal Family Health, Raleigh, NC |
| CPA confirmation | Signed, dated, drugs/devices list, emergency plan included |
| Prescriptive authority | Primary-care meds; DEA number pending for controlled substances |
| Fee paid | $100.00 application fee |
Scenario B: James Carter, Out-of-State Psychiatric NP Relocating to North Carolina
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Carter, James, Allen |
| NC RN license status | Active – Unrestricted (compact privilege confirmed) |
| Out-of-state NP approval | Listed as unrestricted in prior state |
| NP education | East Carolina University, PMHNP, MSN, 05/2019 |
| National certification | ANCC, PMHNP-BC, verification requested |
| Primary supervising physician | Dr. Susan Hale, active NC license |
| CPA confirmation | Psychiatric drugs/devices, yearly review sheet, QI process |
| Prescriptive authority | Schedule II–V noted; physician holds matching DEA schedules |
| Fee paid | $100.00 application fee |
Scenario C: Dana Whitfield, Previously Approved NP Reapplying After a Lapse
| Form Section | What Dana Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Whitfield, Dana, Rae |
| NC RN license status | Active – Unrestricted |
| Reapplication basis | Approval previously lapsed; reapplying under .0108(c) |
| Practice gap | Over two years; refresher course certificate attached |
| NP education | Duke University, Adult-Gerontology NP, MSN, 05/2014 |
| National certification | AANP, AGNP-C, current and verified |
| Primary supervising physician | Dr. Marcus Bell, active NC license |
| CPA confirmation | New signed CPA with full QI and meeting plan |
| Fee paid | $100.00 application fee |
How to File the Completed Form
North Carolina runs this application through one main channel, the online portal, and routes the physician half to the Medical Board internally. Below is each step, with the contact details and proof you should keep.
- Online portal (primary channel). File through the Board of Nursing’s Nurse Gateway portal using your existing RN login, complete every section, upload your CPA and supporting documents, and pay the $100 fee. The accepted payment is a card inside the portal, and your proof of filing is the on-screen confirmation and emailed receipt, which you should save as a PDF.
- Phone support for the application. If a field or upload fails, call the Board of Nursing at 919-782-3211, extension 260, which is the dedicated Approval to Practice line. Keep a note of the date, time, and the representative’s name as your record of the contact.
- Medical Board verification (handled internally). You do not file separately with the Medical Board, but its staff verify your primary supervising physician’s North Carolina license under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e)(2); for questions on that piece, the Medical Board’s general line is 919-828-1212.
- Timing and the 45-day rule. Medical members of the Joint Subcommittee review NP applications at Medical Board meetings, and applications are due to the Board of Nursing 45 days before those meeting dates, per the NC Nurses Association. Submitting inside that window pushes your review to the next cycle, so the proof you most want is a timestamp showing you filed before the cutoff.
There is no separate fax or in-person filing path for the modern application; the portal is the route, and processing time is driven by the Joint Subcommittee’s meeting calendar rather than a fixed number of business days.
What Happens After You File
After you submit, the Board of Nursing first verifies your RN license, education, and certification, then the Medical Board verifies your supervising physician’s license, and only after both approve does the Board of Nursing send your written approval. This two-board sequence is set out in 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e), and the rule is explicit that you may not practice until that notice arrives.
Once approved, you must keep proof of your current licensure, registration, and approval available for inspection at each practice site under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(j). Agents of either Board can ask to see these documents, so store copies on site rather than only at home.
Your approval is not permanent paperwork that sits untouched. It terminates automatically if you stop working within your approved CPA or if your RN license is interrupted, and you must notify the Board of Nursing in writing when that happens under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(d). The Boards can extend your approval in emergencies, such as the sudden injury, illness, or death of your supervising physician.
Going forward, you renew annually by the last day of your birth month, maintaining your RN license and national certification, completing 50 contact hours of continuing education, and paying the $50 renewal fee under 21 NCAC 32M .0106 and .0107. Miss your birth-month deadline and your approval lapses, which means you must stop practicing until it is restored.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Practicing before your approval letter arrives, which is unauthorized practice of medicine and risks discipline plus your RN license.
- Naming a primary supervising physician who holds only a resident’s training license, which voids that supervision under 21 NCAC 32M .0101(10).
- Submitting a CPA missing the emergency plan or quality improvement process, which makes the agreement fail inspection.
- Filing inside the 45-day window before the Joint Subcommittee meeting, which bumps your review to the next cycle.
- Using a name that does not match your RN license and certification, which triggers a records-reconciliation hold.
- Assuming the Board auto-verifies your national certification, leaving your file stuck in pending verification.
- Listing only one practice site when you treat patients at several, which leaves the other sites uncovered.
- Prescribing a drug not in your CPA without a specific physician order, which is a prescribing violation.
- Prescribing controlled substances without your own DEA number while your physician holds different schedules, which breaks the matching-schedule rule.
- Letting your RN license lapse before or during review, which freezes the entire approval.
- Treating the $100 fee as refundable, then losing it after a premature or denied filing.
- Forgetting the annual birth-month renewal, which silently lapses your approval and forces you to stop working.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do verify your RN license shows active and unrestricted before you start, because everything is built on it.
- Do request your national certification verification early, since it is the slowest piece to arrive.
- Do confirm your supervising physician holds a current North Carolina medical license, because the Medical Board checks it.
- Do include the drugs, emergency plan, and QI process in your CPA, because all are required elements.
- Do file well before the 45-day cutoff, because late files wait for the next Joint Subcommittee meeting.
- Do keep proof of licensure, registration, and approval at each site, because either Board can inspect.
Don’t:
- Don’t see a single patient until your written approval arrives, because that is unauthorized practice.
- Don’t name a resident-licensed physician as primary or back-up, because the rules forbid it.
- Don’t reuse a generic CPA template that skips required sections, because it will fail an audit.
- Don’t assume one CPA covers every clinic, because authority is site-specific.
- Don’t prescribe controlled substances without a matching DEA setup, because schedules must align.
- Don’t ignore your birth-month renewal, because a lapse stops your practice immediately.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Employer or Legal Help
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With Employer or Professional Help |
|---|---|
| Pro: You save money since there is no third-party cost beyond the $100 fee. | Pro: A credentialing team or attorney catches CPA gaps before they delay you. |
| Pro: You control the timeline and can file the moment your documents are ready. | Pro: Large employers often coordinate the physician-verification piece for you. |
| Pro: You learn your own compliance duties, which helps at renewal and inspection. | Pro: Help reduces the risk of the records mismatches that cause holds. |
| Pro: Direct contact with the Board builds your understanding of the process. | Pro: Experienced staff know how to hit the 45-day Joint Subcommittee window. |
| Con: A single missed required element can cost you a full review cycle. | Con: It can add cost and you may lose direct visibility into your file’s status. |
| Con: You alone track verifications, deadlines, and certification expirations. | Con: You may rely on others who do not prioritize your start date as you would. |
Key Entities That Interact With This Form
The NC Board of Nursing receives and processes your application and issues your approval, while the NC Medical Board verifies your supervising physician. The Joint Subcommittee, a six-member group of three nursing and three medical members created under the statute, reviews applications and writes the NP rules in Subchapter 32M. For prescribing, the DEA issues your controlled-substance number and the NC Board of Pharmacy issues a Permit to Dispense, and your national certification flows from bodies like AANP, ANCC, or the PNCB.
FAQs
Do I have to file this form if I already hold a national NP certification?
Yes. National certification is only one requirement; North Carolina still requires the joint Approval to Practice from both Boards before you perform any medical act under 21 NCAC 32M .0104.
Can I start seeing patients as soon as I submit the application?
No. You may not practice until the Board of Nursing sends written notice that both Boards approved you, per 21 NCAC 32M .0104(c).
Is the $100 application fee refundable if I am denied?
No. No portion of any fee is refundable under 21 NCAC 32M .0115(d), so file only when your documents are complete.
Do I write my maiden name or current legal name in the name field?
No maiden name unless it matches your records; use the legal name on your current RN license and certification so the joint cross-check matches.
Can a resident physician be my primary supervising physician in that name field?
No. A physician holding only a resident’s training license cannot be your primary or back-up supervising physician under 21 NCAC 32M .0101(2) and (10).
Do I list every practice site or just my main one in the site section?
Yes, list every site where you perform medical acts, because each site needs its own CPA and supervision agreements under 21 NCAC 32M .0110.
Does approval automatically include controlled-substance prescribing authority?
No. Controlled prescribing requires your own DEA number, and your physician must hold the same DEA schedules under 21 NCAC 32M .0109.
Do I need a refresher course before reapplying after a gap?
Yes, if you have not practiced as an NP in more than two years, you must complete a Board-approved refresher course under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(b).
Can I send my packet directly to the NC Medical Board to speed things up?
No. Everything goes first to the Board of Nursing, which routes the physician verification to the Medical Board under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(e).
Is there a separate fee or form to add a new supervising physician later?
Yes. Adding or changing a primary supervising physician is filed as a change in practice arrangement with the Board of Nursing under 21 NCAC 32M .0104(f).
Do I have to renew this approval every year?
Yes. You renew annually by the last day of your birth month, with a current RN license, certification, 50 CE hours, and the $50 fee under 21 NCAC 32M .0106.
Does my CPA need a physician meeting schedule written into it?
Yes. Your CPA must include scheduled meetings, monthly for the first six months and at least every six months after, documented under 21 NCAC 32M .0110.
Can I apply for a reduced fee if I only volunteer?
Yes. Volunteer approval carries a $20 application fee and $10 renewal under 21 NCAC 32M .0115, for practice without expectation of payment.
Does an out-of-state NP approval need to be unrestricted to qualify here?
Yes. Any out-of-state NP approval, registration, or license must be unrestricted, along with your North Carolina RN license, under 21 NCAC 32M .0103(a)(1).
Related reading
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- How to Fill Out the North Carolina Board of Nursing RN License Application + FAQs
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- How to Fill Out the North Carolina NCMB Physician Assistant License Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the North Carolina Psychology Board License Application + FAQs
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