Who is legally allowed to write prescriptions?

Physicians (MD or DO), advanced practice nurses (such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, or certified nurse anesthesiologists), dentists, podiatrists, & optometrists. Medical physicians (MD or DO) have full prescriptive authority. Advanced practice nurses have different levels of prescriptive authority that varies state to state. Depending on the state, other non-MD/DO physicians may have varied limitations to their prescriptive authority. Some states allow chiropractors prescriptive authority for over the counter medications and are considering limited prescriptive authority for legend medication.