Scope of Practice

Scope of practice refers to the range of responsibilities and functions that a particular group of professionals can undertake in the course of their work. Although the term scope of practice can be used in reference to almost any profession, it is most often used in discussions of healthcare.

For healthcare professionals in the United States, the scope of practice is addressed mainly by law at the state level. These laws are enacted by the state in question and create the framework within which the medical services in the state are delivered to the public. These laws determine the professions that are allowed to offer particular services, the settings in which these services can be provided, and the boundaries of professional activities offered by professionals.

Overview

Scope of practice controls what professionals—such as physicians and therapists—are allowed to do and sets parameters that prevent healthcare workers from engaging in activities that are considered beyond their knowledge and scope. For example, the scope of practice prevents nurses from performing the work of physicians, dental hygienists from doing the work of dentists, psychiatrists from doing the work of general internists, and so on.

The scope of practice controls the delivery of medical services and provides a layer of protection to the public, whose members may not understand the education, professional credentialing, and experience required to perform in a particular discipline. The legal guidelines developed by states are often referred to as practice acts.

Development

Although some exceptions exist, state governments are responsible for developing and managing the scope of practice statutes that apply within their boundaries. Dedicated licensing boards are responsible for implementing and enforcing these statutes and promulgating regulations under them. These boards are comprised of both members of the profession in question and representatives of the public. In many US states, the state governor typically appoints licensing board members, and individuals are generally chosen based on their understanding of the education, professional credentialing, and experience needed to offer trustworthy services in a particular discipline.

In addition to creating and enforcing practice acts, licensing boards set the rules and policies that concretely define the behavior of health care professionals. These rules and policies communicate the intentions of the practice acts and outline what members of the profession are allowed to do.

Because this process is individualized by state, laws and regulations may vary from one state to another. For example, some states may give more latitude to individual professionals, while others may more closely manage their services. Several states enacted scope-of-practice expansions for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and other nonphysician practitioners, including laws permitting independent prescribing authority after completion of specified supervised practice hours.

Bibliography

American Medical Association. Scope of Practice 2025 State Legislative Activity. 3 Nov. 2025, ama-assn.org/system/files/scope-of-practice-2025-legislative-summary.pdf. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

“Scope of Practice.” American Nurses Association, www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/scope-of-practice. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

“Scope of Practice.” Health and Care Professions Council, 31 Aug. 2024, www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/meeting-our-standards/scope-of-practice/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Sternstein, Michaela. “What Is Scope of Practice?” American Medical Association, 25 May 2022, www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/what-scope-practice. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.