CNS · Maine
Supervision Agreement for Clinical Nurse Specialists in Maine
No. Clinical Nurse Specialists practice independently here. Maine does not require one.
Maine APRN sources describe CNSs as practicing independently within their scope, prescribing pharmacologic/non-pharmacologic interventions per their professional preparation and institutional privileges. This wasn't confirmed against as detailed a primary-source citation as the other APRN categories in this pass — treat the FULL classification as reasonably supported but not as thoroughly verified as CNM's.
What the supervision must look like
The rules the physician relationship has to follow. Each fact comes from the statute or board rule listed under sources.
Proximity
No proximity requirement
No physician availability/proximity standard was identified in this pass.
Supervision ratio
Not codified — no cap on file
Chart review
Not codified — left to the agreement
Meeting cadence
Not codified — left to the agreement
Prescriptive authority
Covered by the practice agreement · controlled substances permitted
CNSs prescribe within their population focus and institutional privileges per Maine APRN licensure; exact schedule-level limits not independently confirmed in this pass.
Written agreement
Not required
No collaborative agreement identified as required in this pass, consistent with CNM's framework — flagged as less thoroughly verified than other entries.
Practice ownership (corporate practice of medicine)
Licensee-only ownership required — Same open item as the general `np` entry.
Legal sources for these rules (2)
- 32 M.R.S. § 2102 — Advanced practice registered nursing
- Maine State Board of Nursing — Advanced Practice Registered Nurse FAQ
What a supervising physician costs here
Typical monthly cost in Maine
$500 – $600
Estimate for one Clinical Nurse Specialist. Standard-tier state.
About Maine's rules
Maine's provider categories follow different independence models: NPs graduate to full practice after 24 months of registered (not written-agreement) supervision; PAs graduate after 4,000 documented clinical hours but still need a lighter 'practice agreement' afterward; CNMs/CNSs appear independent from initial licensure; and CRNAs remain physician/dentist-accountable except in critical-access/rural hospitals. Do not assume a single APRN framework applies uniformly.
Other clinicians in Maine: see the state overview.