PMHNP · California
Collaborative Practice Agreement for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in California
Yes, a written physician agreement is required. California does not name a specific instrument.
PMHNP is simply the psychiatric-mental-health population focus of the general NP credential — no separate statute or Board rule carves it out. Mirrors `np` exactly (same tiers/thresholds). County-level standardized-procedure documents (e.g., LA County DMH, SF DPH) exist but are LOCAL protocols, not statewide law — don't cite them as statutory authority.
Independent practice requires: Identical to `np` — PMHNP is not a distinct CA licensing category, just a national certification (e.g. ANCC PMHNP-BC) qualifying a nurse for NP licensure under the same §2836.1/§2837.103/§2837.104 framework.
What the collaboration must look like
The rules the physician relationship has to follow. Each fact comes from the statute or board rule listed under sources.
Proximity
Tier 0 — standardized-procedures PMHNP: Available remotely (no on-site requirement)
Same as `np` — telephonic availability at time of exam, no distance standard.
103/104 PMHNP: No proximity requirement
Same as `np`.
Supervision ratio
Tier 0 — standardized-procedures PMHNP: Up to 4 at a time
Same 4-NP cap as `np` (§2836.1) — no PMHNP-specific ratio exists.
Chart review
Not codified — left to the agreement
Meeting cadence
Not codified — left to the agreement
Prescriptive authority
Covered by the practice agreement · controlled substances permitted
Whether California's LPS Act (Welf. & Inst. Code §5000 et seq.) grants or restricts PMHNP-specific authority over psychiatric holds/involuntary treatment was not researched — flagged as a likely gap if finer detail is ever needed.
Written agreement
Required
Identical branching to `np` — same three tiers, same thresholds.
Practice ownership (corporate practice of medicine)
Licensee-only ownership required — Same framework as `np` — no PMHNP-specific ownership rule found.
Legal sources for these rules (2)
- Same BPC §§2836.1, 2837.103, 2837.104 as general NP — no PMHNP-specific statute exists
- rn.ca.gov — BRN certification-review documentation referencing ANCC PMHNP-BC as one of several population-focus certifications evaluated for NP licensure
What a collaborating physician costs here
Typical monthly cost in California
$500 – $600
Estimate for one Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Standard-tier state.
About California's rules
California's NPs reach genuine full independence (AB 890/SB 1451, ~6 years total) and CNMs need zero physician involvement for definitionally 'low-risk' pregnancy care — no hours threshold. NPs/PAs may also majority-own their own practice corporations (Corp. Code §13401.5), cutting against the assumption that CA's strict, actively-enforced CPOM regime (2026 AG settlements against Carbon Health, Aspen Dental) blocks all non-physician ownership. CRNA is order-based, not supervision-based. Esthetician laser use is a flat criminal misdemeanor — no delegation pathway exists.
Other clinicians in California: see the state overview.