Collaborative Agreements, also known as Collaborative Practice Agreements, serve as a foundational element formalizing a cooperative relationship between Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and physicians, ensuring adherence to state-specific legal and regulatory standards for practice. Recognizing that the stipulations governing these agreements can significantly differ from one state to another, we have assembled a collection of templates and examples from across all states mandating their use. These templates can be used to create your own Collaborative Practice Agreements when you are kcking off collaboration between a Nurse Practitioners and a physician.
In Alabama, creating a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) involves a series of essential documents, each serving a distinct purpose in the establishment of a collaborative partnership between Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and physicians. For NPs embarking on this journey, understanding and accessing the right forms is crucial.
Firstly, detailed guidance on completing a CPA in Alabama is available through the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission's website, which you can visit here.
In most cases, three documents are required to establish the protocols of the collaborative practice in Alabama.
Standard Protocols: Templates tailored to various specialties are accessible here.
Collaborative Practice Quality Assurance plan: Template available here.
Commencement of Collaborative Practice: Template available here.
See full details on Alabama Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
In Arkansas, the process for establishing a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) is facilitated by resources provided by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. For Nurse Practitioners (NPs) looking to form a collaborative partnership with physicians, the state offers a structured approach and essential templates.
For comprehensive instructions on completing a CPA, you can refer to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing's guidelines, available here.
The CPA documentation set in Arkansas includes two primary documents, for which the state has provided templates:
Collaborative Practice Agreement: The template is accessible at here.
Quality Assurance Plan: The template can be found here.
See full details on Arkansas Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
In California, the collaborative practice agreement between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a physician must include "standardized procedures," which are agreements on the scope of practice and protocols for patient care. These procedures are crucial for NPs to legally collaborate with physicians within the state.
The California Board of Registered Nursing offers a template for these standardized procedures, which can serve as a guideline for creating a collaborative practice agreement. This template is available here.
Additionally, there are numerous publicly available examples of standardized procedures from various medical specialties across California, providing insight into how different organizations implement these agreements:
Psychiatry Examples
See full details on California Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
For Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Florida, establishing a collaborative practice with a physician is guided by specific processes outlined by the Florida Board of Nursing.
The Florida Board of Nursing provides detailed information on the requirements and steps for setting up a collaborative practice, available here.
Additionally, a template for creating a collaborative practice agreement is offered by the Board. This template is designed to help NPs and their collaborating physicians structure their partnership and ensure all necessary components are included. The template can be downloaded here.
See full details on Florida Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
In Georgia, the development of a collaborative practice agreement, referred to as a Nurse Protocol Agreement, is clearly defined and regulated. The Georgia Composite Medical Board provides comprehensive resources to guide Nurse Practitioners (NPs) through this process.
For an overview and detailed instructions on establishing a Nurse Protocol Agreement in Georgia, you can visit this page. Additionally, step-by-step instructions are provided in a document accessible here.
A template for the Nurse Protocol Agreement, is available directly from the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The template can be downloaded here.
See full details on Georgia Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
In Illinois, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) may need to develop a collaborative practice agreement, termed a Written Collaborative Agreement (WCA), to formalize the collaborative relationship with a physician. The Illinois State Medical Society provides guidance on this process.
Details on developing a WCA, including a template, can be found in a document available here. The document contains a section titled "SAMPLE WRITTEN COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT" which serves as a template for these agreements.
Additionally, for NPs intending to prescribe controlled substances, the state of Illinois mandates a specific process for a collaborating physician to delegate prescriptive authority. Guidance on this process is available here.
As part of this delegation, the collaborating physician must complete and submit a form, which can be accessed here.
See full details on Illinois Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency outlines a detailed process for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to establish a collaborative practice relationship with physicians. This guide is designed to ensure NPs in Indiana can form compliant and effective collaborative practices.
For a step-by-step guide on establishing these collaborative relationships, see this guide.
To aid in the development of a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA), the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency provides a checklist and a filled-out template example, which can serve as valuable resources:
Checklist for Developing a CPA
Additionally, another example of an Indiana CPA can be found here.
See full details on Indiana Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
The Kentucky Board of Nursing outlines the process for developing a collaborative practice relationship, specifically designed for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) seeking prescriptive authority. This guidance can be found here.
In Kentucky, there are two distinct types of Collaborative Agreement for Prescriptive Authority (CAPA) that enable an NP to prescribe both non-controlled and controlled medications: CAPA-NS for Nonscheduled Legend Drugs and CAPA-CS for Controlled Substances.
CAPA-NS Board Notification Template
CAPA-CS Board Notification Template
See full details on Kentucky Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) and State Board of Medical Examiners jointly define the process for establishing collaborative practice relationships. You can find their guidelines on the LSBN website.
The LSBN also provides a specific template for the Louisiana Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA). This template can be found on the LSBN website.
See full details on Louisiana Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides guidelines for collaborative practice agreements between nurse practitioners and physicians. According to the guidance, agreements must include the following key elements:
For NPs seeking examples of Michigan collaborative practice agreements, multiple organizations have made their CPAs publicly available.
Sterling Area Health Center Example
See full details on Michigan Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
The Missouri Board of Nursing provides comprehensive guidelines for Nurse Practitioner (NP) Collaborative Practice Agreements on their website. These agreements are a legal requirement for NPs practicing in Missouri.
Key Requirements
Collaborative Practice Agreement Examples
Some Missouri healthcare organizations openly share their collaborative practice agreements. NPs can use these examples to structure their own agreements.
Mississippi Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are required to have collaborative practice agreements with state-licensed physicians.
The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure offers a sample collaborative practice protocol on their website. This document outlines the structure of how collaborative relationships between NPs and physicians can be implemented in Mississippi.
In New Jersey, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are required to establish a Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA), referred to as a "joint protocol," with a licensed physician in the state.
The NJ Board of Nursing provides a framework for these collaborative relationships. Additionally, the Society of Psychiatry Advanced Practice Nurses offers a specific guide for creating CPAs in New Jersey.
There are multiple organizations that have publicly shared New Jersey collaborative practice agreement examples:
The New York State Department of Education offers guidance for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and physicians who wish to form collaborative relationships. You can find their information on collaborative practice on their website.
The Department of Education offers a sample collaborative practice agreement template.
Multiple New York organizations have publicly shared examples of New York collaborative practice agreements:
SUNY Upstate University Hospital
In Ohio, the process for completing a collaborative practice agreement, known as a Standard Care Arrangement (SCA), is facilitated by resources from the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN). The OAAPN outlines the steps and necessary components for these agreements on their website.
Additionally, the OAAPN offers a template for a Standard Care Arrangement. While the template is provided for a fee, it can serve as a guide for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) looking to establish a collaborative practice in Ohio. The template can be accessed here.
For NPs seeking examples of Standard Care Arrangements in practice, several organizations have made their SCAs publicly available. These can provide practical insights into how different healthcare settings implement SCAs:
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
In South Carolina, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) must establish a Collaborative Practice Agreement with a licensed physician to legally practice within their scope. This agreement is essential for defining the NP’s responsibilities, scope of practice, and protocols for patient care, ensuring compliance with South Carolina regulations. The collaborative agreement should include clear guidelines on consultation and referral processes, performance evaluations, prescriptive authority (if applicable), and emergency protocols.
South Carolina law requires that the collaborating physician be licensed in-state and accessible for consultations. NPs in South Carolina who have prescriptive authority, including for controlled substances, must document this explicitly in the agreement. The South Carolina Board of Nursing provides guidance for these agreements but does not offer a standardized template. However, resources like the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (SCAFP) collaborative agreement template offer examples that can be customized for primary care and other specialties.
Under state rules, NPs must notify the Board within 15 business days of any new, changed, or terminated agreement. For more information on maintaining compliance and accessing resources, visit the South Carolina Board of Nursing APRN section.
In Tennessee, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are required to create a Collaborative Practice Agreement with a licensed physician to practice legally within the state. This agreement is essential for defining the NP’s responsibilities, protocols for patient care, prescriptive authority, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Tennessee’s collaborative agreement must outline key elements such as the NP’s scope of practice, which details specific medical tasks the NP is permitted to perform under physician supervision, as well as emergency protocols and guidelines for consultation and referral processes. Notably, Tennessee law mandates that NPs and their collaborating physicians meet in person at least twice per year to review patient care, discuss practice needs, and evaluate protocols.
To comply with chart review requirements, Tennessee regulations require collaborating physicians to review at least 20% of the NP's patient charts every 30 days, which supports quality assurance and adherence to state standards. Resources from the Tennessee Board of Nursing provide helpful guidance for structuring collaborative agreements, including a notice and formulary form required for NPs with prescriptive authority (Form PH-3625).
For sample templates and protocols, the Advanced Practice Providers and Supervising Physician’s Guidelines offer valuable insights on collaborative agreements, quality review processes, and supervisory responsibilities. By ensuring compliance with these Tennessee-specific requirements, NPs can confidently establish their practice within the state’s regulatory framework.
Texas Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have a unique requirement for their collaborative practice agreements (CPAs), consisting of two key components:
These two parts are frequently combined into a single collaborative agreement document.
Texas Board of Nursing: Offers guidance and a comprehensive FAQ on collaborative practice relationships for Texas NPs.
Texas Nurse Practitioners: This non-profit organization provides a template CPA for a fee.
Many Texas healthcare organizations publicly share their collaborative practice agreement templates. Here are a few examples:
Texas Tech University Delegation Protocol
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prescriptive Authority Agreement
Tiopa IPA Collaborative Practice Agreement
In Wisconsin, the process for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) entering collaborative relationships with physicians is straightforward, owing to the simplicity of the relevant laws. To aid NPs in formalizing these agreements, the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) provides a template for a Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Collaborative Agreement. This template is publicly accessible and has been reviewed and accepted by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. NPs are encouraged to use and modify the template as needed to suit their specific circumstances.
Download the Wisconsin Collaborative Practice Agreement Template
See full details on Wisconsin Collaborative Practice Agreement Templates.
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