Who determines the legal authority for Nurse Practitioners to practice in any state?

The legal authority for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to practice in any state is determined by state legislatures. Each state has its own laws and regulations governing the practice of nursing and the role of nurse practitioners. State legislatures create and amend these laws, which specify the scope of practice, licensing requirements, and other essential criteria that govern how NPs can operate within their state.

State governors may facilitate or influence legislation through their support or veto powers, but they do not directly create the laws governing NPs. National medical boards do not have the authority to confer practice rights; rather, they set standards for medical education and practice that states can refer to but do not dictate what NPs can do. State nursing boards enforce the laws established by the state legislature, but they do not create them; instead, they implement and oversee compliance with the regulations laid out by the legislature. Therefore, it is the state legislatures that hold the responsibility for determining the legal authority for nurse practitioners to practice.