Can a nurse practitioner treat without a supervising physician in Ohio?
Who treats · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
No — an Ohio certified nurse practitioner must practice in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, within their nursing specialty; the cited rule requires that collaboration, though it does not describe it as on-site supervision.
A certified nurse practitioner, in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, may provide preventive and primary care services, provide services for acute illnesses, and evaluate and promote patient wellness within the nurse’s nursing specialty, and may prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices, within limits consistent with their education and certification.
Ohio Rev. Code §4723.43(B) · verified Aug 17, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
The rest of what Ohio says on this
A physician assistant may be delegated light-based device application only where the physician holds an effective supervision agreement with that physician assistant, and the assistant meets the training requirements that apply to physician assistants under Chapter 4730.
Ohio Admin. Code 4731-18-03 · Ohio Rev. Code §4730.21 · verified Aug 17, 2026
The delegation rule sets a floor for nurses rather than recognizing an independent nursing scope for these devices: an RN or LPN applies the device as the physician’s delegate, under that physician’s on-site supervision, not on their own license.
Ohio Admin. Code 4731-18-03 · verified Aug 17, 2026
How other states answer this
- Alabama
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Related Ohio questions
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- Can a physician assistant inject or prescribe in Ohio?
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