New Hampshire

New Hampshire credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires, at minimum, an associate degree, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 6,000 hours of experience. A higher-level degree can substitute the number of hours (i.e. a person with a bachelor’s degree needs 4,000 hours). A Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires a master’s degree, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 3,000 hours of experience. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §330-C and New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals

Mental health counselors evaluate, interpret, diagnosis human behavior using psychological and systems principles, methods to help behavioral health and mental health. Counselors also diagnosis and treat the psychological and social aspects of physical illness, accident, injury or disability as well as mental and emotional disorders. N.H. Rev. Stat. §330-A:2(VI)

As of August 2018, 68 NPs in New Hampshire have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or experience an NP in New Hampshire may obtain a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products. N.H. Rev. Stat. §326-B:11.III

As of August 2018, 6 PAs in New Hampshire have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. A PA in New Hampshire may prescribe controlled substances as delegated by a supervising physician. With proper training or appropriate experience a PA in New Hampshire can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. N.H. Admin. Rules §Med 612

State law establishes the certification process for peer recovery support workers and includes experience, education, and examination requirements. N.H. Code Admin. R. Alc. 301.01, et seq.

Providers, including physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants, are authorized to sign POLST forms. N.H. Rev. Stat. tit. X §137-L

An NP has full independent practice authority and is licensed by the New Hampshire State Board of Nursing. N.H. Rev. Stat. §326-B:2.I

Full independent prescribing authority. An NP may prescribe controlled and noncontrolled substances. N.H. Rev. Stat. §326-B:11.III

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Health care professionals qualified to be considered primary care providers include advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed by the New Hampshire board of nursing in the advance practice categories of family practice, internal medicine or pediatrics. N.H. Admin. Code §Ins 2701.05

Optometrists may only perform procedures related to foreign body removal and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. N.H. Rev. Stat. §327:1-IV

Optometrists may only administer medication by injection to counter anaphylaxis or an anaphylactic reaction. N.H. Rev. Stat. §327:6-aV

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances. N.H. Rev. Stat. §327:1-III

A Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist may perform any procedure that is within the scope of practice that has been authorized under public health supervision, provided the dentist has reviewed the records once in a 12-month period. They must meet certain educational requirements. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §317-A:21-e

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

New Hampshire does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

Pharmacists may administer a COVID-19 vaccine and must notify the patient’s primary care physician. N.H. Rev. Stat. §318:16-b

New Hampshire does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

A physician or a nurse practitioner may delegate limited prescriptive authority so that a pharmacist may dispense oral contraception. A pharmacist must complete an educational training program related to hormonal contraceptives. A pharmacist must provide the patient with a standardized information sheet that includes the importance of follow-up care and health care referral information. N.H. Rev. Stat. §318:47-1

Pharmacists may provide nicotine cessation therapy and must provide each recipient of nicotine cessation therapy with a standardized information sheet written in plain language, which shall include, but is not limited to, the indication for the use of the nicotine cessation therapy, the importance of follow-up care, and health care referral information. N.H. Rev. Stat. §318:47-m

In order to practice, a physician assistant must enter into a written collaboration agreement with a physician who practices in a similar area of medicine as the physician assistant. The agreement should outline processes for collaboration and consultation and acknowledge that the PA’s scope of practice shall be limited to medical care that is within their education, training and experience. (SB228 just passed in 2022, statute not yet updated)

The PA is authorized to prescribe, dispense and administer drugs under the delegation of the supervising physician. N.H. Admin. Rules §Med 612

The PA’s scope of practice is determined in an agreement with the registered supervising physician. The PA’s scope of practice is limited to that of the supervising physician. N.H. Admin. Rules §Med 603