Scope of Practice Policies for Clinicians by State. The National Conference of State Legislatures provides this interactive map to educate state policymakers about scope of practice issues for behavioral health providers, nurse practitioners, oral health providers and physician assistants. The site features an in-depth look at three professions that are essential for recovery from opioid misuse: peer support specialists, licensed professional counselors, as well as nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can prescribe buprenorphine-containing products. While more than 60% of rural counties lack a physician with a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, rural communities tend to have more providers like these, who require fewer years of education and training.
