CNS · Minnesota
Collaborative Practice Agreement for Clinical Nurse Specialists in Minnesota
No. Clinical Nurse Specialists practice independently here. Minnesota does not require one.
CNS is one of Minnesota's four APRN roles (§ 148.171, subd. 5), not a separate license. Was explicitly named alongside NP in the now-repealed 2,080-hour postgraduate collaborative-agreement rule (§ 148.211, subd. 1c) — that gate no longer applies as of August 1, 2026.
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
Not codified — left to the agreement
Supervision ratio
Not codified — no cap on file
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
Same general APRN prescribing statute (§ 148.235, subd. 7a-7b) as other APRN roles.
Written agreement
Not required
Unconditional as of August 1, 2026 — before that date a collaborative agreement was required only during an initial 2,080-hour postgraduate period, same as the pre-repeal NP rule.
Practice ownership (corporate practice of medicine)
Licensee-only ownership required — Same as the general `np` entry — 'registered nursing' § 319B.02, subd. 19 eligible-owner category covers CNS licensure too.
What a collaborating physician costs here
Typical monthly cost in Minnesota
$500 – $600
Estimate for one Clinical Nurse Specialist. Standard-tier state.
About Minnesota's rules
H.F. 1794 repealed the NP/CNS 2,080-hour postgraduate collaborative-agreement rule (Minn. Stat. § 148.211, subd. 1c) effective August 1, 2026 — already in force. PA remains CONDITIONAL under a separate, still-active 2,080-hour rule (§ 147A.02(c)); 2025 reform bills (H.F. 89/S.F. 1083) to loosen it are pending, not confirmed enacted.
Other clinicians in Minnesota: see the state overview.