Maine collaborating physician requirements underwent a fundamental change in 2026 that every physician and clinic operating in the state needs to understand. LD 961, passed unanimously by the Maine Legislature with emergency designation and effective immediately upon signing, repealed the 24-month supervisory period that had required new nurse practitioners to practice under the supervision of a licensed physician or supervising nurse practitioner before practicing independently. Maine is now a full-practice-authority state for nurse practitioners with no supervisory period and no physician collaboration agreement requirement.
For physicians in Maine, the active collaboration framework as of 2026 centers exclusively on physician associates. Maine’s two-track PA model under Title 32, § 3270-G requires physician collaboration for PAs with fewer than 4,000 hours of clinical practice and permits independent practice for experienced PAs who document the hours threshold to the Board of Medicine. This guide covers both the landmark NP change and the full PA collaboration framework physicians need to understand in 2026.
Maine Collaborating Physician Overview: Where Maine Stands
Maine is now classified as a full-practice-authority state for advanced practice registered nurses following the unanimous passage of LD 961. The Maine State Board of Nursing governs APRN licensure, prescriptive authority, and disciplinary matters under Title 32, Chapter 31 of the Maine Revised Statutes. The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine governs physician licensure and physician associate practice requirements under Title 32, Chapter 36.
Governing Bodies
- Maine State Board of Nursing: Governs APRN licensure, prescriptive authority certificates, scope of practice, and disciplinary oversight. The Board is currently operating under a rulemaking freeze on NP practice standards until May 1, 2026, as described below.
- Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine: Governs physician licensure, physician associate licensure, collaborative agreement requirements for PAs, and disciplinary oversight under Title 32, § 3270-G.
The Landmark 2026 Change: LD 961 and the Repeal of the 24-Month Supervisory Period
LD 961, titled An Act to Repeal the Nurse Practitioner Supervision Requirement, was passed unanimously by both the Maine House and Senate and received emergency designation, allowing it to take immediate effect without the standard 90-day waiting period after the Legislature adjourned. Emergency bills require support from at least two-thirds of both chambers, and LD 961 achieved that threshold unanimously.
What the Law Did
LD 961 repealed Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, § 2102, subsection 2-A insofar as it required certified nurse practitioners to practice for at least 24 months under the supervision of a licensed physician, a supervising nurse practitioner, or at a clinic or hospital with a licensed physician serving as medical director before achieving independent practice authority.
The repeal was described by the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association as removing a critical barrier to nurse-led models of care that had created workforce access challenges in a state with significant rural and underserved population health needs.
Board Rulemaking Restriction
LD 961 also included a provision restricting the Maine State Board of Nursing from adopting new rules pertaining to practice standards for certified nurse practitioners until May 1, 2026. Any rules adopted by the Board during this period are treated as routine technical rules and are not subject to Legislative review and approval. After May 1, 2026, the Board resumes full authority to promulgate NP practice standard rules through the standard regulatory process.
What the Prior Supervisory Relationship Required
Before LD 961, Maine operated a two-tier framework for new NPs. The first 24 months required a registered supervisory relationship with the Maine State Board of Nursing. Understanding what that system required is important both for physicians who held those relationships and for NPs who completed the supervisory period under the old rules.
How the Supervisory Relationship Was Registered
The NP registered a supervisory relationship with the Maine State Board of Nursing through the Board’s online portal. When beginning supervision, the NP submitted an application to register the relationship. When the supervision was complete or when the supervisor changed, a separate Application for Approval of a Supervising Relationship had to be filed.
Physician Supervisor Requirements
The supervising physician was required to hold an active Maine medical license. If the supervisor was another APRN rather than a physician, that APRN was required to have practiced as an APRN for a minimum of five years in the same specialty and worked in a clinical health care field for a minimum of ten years.
What the Supervisory Period Covered
Under Maine Code of Regulations § 02.380.008, the NP was required to practice within their scope of practice as defined by educational preparation, national certification, and the type of employment. The supervisory relationship letter from the physician had to include information on the services the NP would be providing, the patient population, hours per week, and the anticipated start date.
When the NP completed the 24 months, the supervisor submitted a completion letter to the Board on official letterhead, providing exact start and end dates. The NP then filed a termination of the supervisor relationship through the Board’s online portal and uploaded the letter. The Board updated the NP’s license status upon receiving both documents.
This Framework No Longer Applies
With the immediate effective date of LD 961, no newly licensed Maine NP is required to register a supervisory relationship with any physician or supervising NP. The 24-month period, the registration process, and all associated documentation requirements have been eliminated.
NP Practice Authority After LD 961
Maine nurse practitioners now hold full practice authority from the point of initial licensure. Under 32 MRSA § 2102 as amended and the Maine Board of Nursing FAQ, no collaborative practice agreement is necessary in order to practice as an APRN in Maine, nor to prescribe medications.
What Maine APRNs May Do Without a Physician
A licensed Maine APRN may independently:
- Assess and diagnose patients within their scope
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests and laboratory work
- Prescribe legend drugs and pharmacologic treatments
- Prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances with a valid Maine DEA registration
- Manage acute and chronic conditions
- Practice in any setting consistent with their advanced practice category and certification
- Sign death certificates and POLST forms
The Employment Specialty Consistency Requirement
Even under full practice authority, Maine Board of Nursing guidance states that the NP’s employment should be consistent with the specialty for which the NP was educationally prepared, certified, and licensed. For example, an NP licensed in the adult care category is not expected to accept employment treating primarily pediatric patients. This is a professional and licensing standard, not a physician collaboration requirement.
The Board of Nursing Rulemaking Freeze: What It Means Until May 2026
LD 961’s rulemaking freeze provision prevents the Maine State Board of Nursing from adopting new substantive practice standard rules for certified nurse practitioners before May 1, 2026. During this period, any rule the Board adopts must be designated as routine technical rather than major substantive.
Practical Implications
This freeze means that during the initial transition period after the supervisory period repeal, the Board cannot implement new rules that would replace the supervisory framework with another form of structured physician oversight or collaboration requirement. After May 1, 2026, the Board regains full rulemaking authority and may develop new practice standard regulations consistent with the amended statute.
Physicians considering collaboration arrangements with Maine NPs should monitor any Board rulemaking activity after May 1, 2026, as new practice standards may affect the clinical collaboration landscape even without a mandatory supervisory period.
Where Physician Collaboration Still Applies: The Physician Associate Framework
Active statutory physician collaboration requirements in Maine apply to physician associates under Title 32, § 3270-G. Every PA who has not yet documented 4,000 hours of clinical practice to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine must work within a collaborative agreement with an active physician. This is the primary active physician collaboration framework in Maine as of 2026.
The PA Two-Track Model Under Title 32, § 3270-G
Maine’s PA collaboration structure operates on a clear two-track model based on documented clinical hours.
Track 1: Collaborative Agreement (Under 4,000 Clinical Hours)
A physician associate with fewer than 4,000 hours of clinical practice experience documented to the board must work in accordance with a written collaborative agreement with an active physician. The agreement must describe the PA’s scope of practice as determined by the practice setting and must describe the decision-making process for the health care team, including communication and consultation among team members.
Under Title 32, § 3270-G, the PA must submit the collaborative agreement to the board for approval. The agreement must also be kept on file at the main location of the PA’s place of practice and must be made available to the board’s representative upon request.
Track 2: Independent Practice (4,000 or More Clinical Hours)
Upon submission to the board of documentation of 4,000 hours of clinical practice, the PA is no longer subject to the collaborative agreement requirements of this subsection. The PA transitions to independent collaborative practice, meaning the PA maintains professional responsibility for their own clinical decisions without the requirement of a formal written physician agreement governing each practice setting.
The Physician Must Be Accessible At All Times
Regardless of the track, Maine statute requires that a physician must be accessible to the PA at all times for consultation. Under the adaptable proximity standard in Maine law, the consultation may be provided electronically and does not require physical presence. There is no fixed geographic proximity requirement.
What the Maine PA Collaborative Agreement Must Contain
Under Title 32, § 3270-G and Maine Administrative Code, the collaborative agreement must contain all of the following:
1. The Parties to the Agreement
The agreement must identify the physician associate and the collaborating physician by name and license information.
2. Scope of Practice Description
The agreement must describe the scope of practice for the PA as determined by practice setting. This description must reflect the actual clinical services the PA will provide and must be specific enough to guide both parties in understanding what the PA is authorized to do under the arrangement.
3. The Decision-Making Process for the Health Care Team
The agreement must describe the decision-making process for the health care team, including the communication and consultation framework among team members. Maine’s collaborative agreement structure uses a team-based care model in which the physician and PA work as complementary members of a coordinated care structure.
4. Communication and Consultation Framework
The agreement must address how the PA will communicate with and consult the physician when the patient’s condition warrants it, when the PA’s education and experience indicate consultation is appropriate, and when community standards of care call for physician involvement.
Where No Requirements Exist
Maine does not require chart review percentages or co-signature requirements for PA collaborative agreements. Maine also does not impose ratio limits on the number of PAs a physician may collaborate with simultaneously.
The 4,000-Hour Independence Milestone and LD 2088
LD 2088, the legislation that made Maine the second state in the country to adopt the physician associate title following Oregon in June 2024, also removed the written collaborative agreement requirement for PAs who have documented 4,000 or more hours of clinical practice to the board.
This makes Maine one of only a small number of states where experienced PAs may practice without any formal written physician oversight agreement, a milestone recognized by the American Academy of Physician Associates as achieving optimal PA practice standards. Maine is one of the first states in the country to reach all of the AAPA’s optimal PA practice milestones.
What This Means for Physicians
Physicians who were serving as collaborating physicians for PAs approaching the 4,000-hour threshold should know that once the PA documents those hours to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, the collaborative agreement requirement ends. The physician’s formal oversight role transitions from a written agreement structure to an accessible consultation resource, which continues to be a professional practice standard even after the written agreement requirement ends.
Maine’s Physician Associate Title Change
Maine became the second state in the United States to adopt the physician associate title for PAs through LD 2088, following Oregon’s adoption in June 2024. All references to physician assistant in Maine statute were updated to reflect the physician associate designation.
Existing collaborative agreements executed under the physician assistant title remain valid and do not need to be reissued solely because of the title change. New agreements executed after LD 2088 should use the current statutory term physician associate.
Physician Eligibility for PA Collaboration in Maine
A qualifying Maine collaborating physician must hold a current, active Maine medical license. The physician must be one who can be accessed at all times for consultation with the PA, either in person or through electronic means.
Physician Group Practice Settings
Under Title 32, § 3270-G, PAs working in a physician group practice setting may have their collaboration needs met through the institutional physician structure rather than through an individually named collaborating physician in all circumstances. The collaborative agreement framework is specifically required outside of physician group practice and credentialed facility settings.
Adaptable Proximity
Maine uses an adaptable proximity standard for PA collaboration. There is no fixed geographic distance requirement. The level of consultation required is determined by the practice setting, including a physician employer, physician group practice, or private practice, or by the system of credentialing and granting of privileges of a health care facility.
Prescriptive Authority in Maine
APRN Prescribing
Maine APRNs have prescriptive authority including Schedule II through V controlled substances as part of licensure under 32 MRSA § 2102. No physician involvement is required for prescribing. DEA registration is required for controlled substance prescribing. Under Maine Board of Nursing continuing education requirements, APRNs who prescribe must submit 15 hours of pharmacology CE every two years. APRNs who have not prescribed in the past two years must submit more extensive pharmacology coursework before resuming prescribing.
PA Prescribing
PAs in Maine may prescribe medications including controlled substances within the scope of their collaborative agreement or, after 4,000 hours, within their scope of practice as a licensed physician associate. DEA registration is required for controlled substance prescribing.
Common Compliance Considerations for Maine Collaborating Physicians
With the NP supervisory requirement repealed, Maine’s active physician compliance obligations are concentrated in the PA framework.
- Collaborative agreement not submitted to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. Unlike most states, Maine requires the PA’s collaborative agreement to be submitted to the Board for approval. Agreements that are signed and executed but not submitted to the Board have not been formally approved and do not satisfy the statute.
- Agreement not kept on file at the main practice location. In addition to the Board submission, the agreement must be kept on file at the main location of the PA’s place of practice and made available to the Board’s representative upon request.
- Scope of practice description not specific to the practice setting. The agreement must describe the PA’s scope as determined by the practice setting. A generic scope description that does not reflect the actual clinical services and patient population at that location does not satisfy the specificity standard.
- Physician not genuinely accessible at all times. Maine requires that a physician be accessible to the PA at all times for consultation. A physician who is routinely unreachable during the PA’s practice hours is not meeting this statutory standard.
- 4,000-hour milestone not tracked. The transition from Track 1 to Track 2 is triggered by the PA’s submission of documentation to the Board. Physicians should know where each PA they collaborate with stands relative to the 4,000-hour threshold so they can plan for the transition in their collaboration relationship.
Maine Collaborating Physician Requirements: Quick Reference
NP Practice Authority
- Maine is a full-practice-authority state for APRNs effective immediately upon passage of LD 961 (2026)
- No supervisory period, no physician agreement, no registration required for NP practice or prescribing
- Board of Nursing rulemaking freeze on NP practice standards until May 1, 2026
- APRNs may prescribe Schedule II through V controlled substances with DEA registration
PA Collaboration Framework (Active Requirement)
- Every PA with fewer than 4,000 documented clinical hours must operate under a written collaborative agreement with an active physician
- Agreement submitted to Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine for approval
- Agreement kept on file at main practice location; made available to Board on request
- PA with 4,000+ hours: no written agreement required upon documentation to Board
Required Collaborative Agreement Content
- Parties to the agreement
- Scope of practice as determined by practice setting
- Decision-making process for the health care team
- Communication and consultation framework
Physician Accessibility
- Physician must be accessible at all times for consultation
- Adaptable proximity standard: no fixed geographic requirement
- Electronic consultation is permitted
Maine PA Title Change
- LD 2088: Physician assistant title changed to physician associate; Maine became second state to adopt (after Oregon, June 2024)
- LD 2088 also removed written agreement requirement for 4,000+ hour PAs
No Ratio Limit; No Chart Review Requirement
Clinics Also Need to Understand Maine Collaboration Requirements
While this guide primarily covers the physician collaboration framework in Maine, these regulations directly affect PA-operated clinics and healthcare practices that depend on physician collaboration for their PAs under 4,000 hours. NP-operated clinics in Maine no longer require physician collaboration under state law following LD 961. PA-operated clinics must have a Board-approved written collaborative agreement in place for every PA who has not yet reached the 4,000-hour milestone.
Need Help Finding a Maine Collaborating Physician?
For clinics with PA providers in Track 1, the next challenge is finding a qualified physician who understands Maine’s Board submission requirement for collaborative agreements, is prepared to describe a specific scope of practice for the PA’s actual clinical setting, and will remain genuinely accessible at all times for consultation. Whether you are launching a new PA-operated clinic, adding a new PA to an NP-led practice, or managing the transition as a PA approaches the 4,000-hour independence threshold, having the right physician relationship in place matters.
If your clinic is actively looking for a Maine collaborating physician, our team can match you with a qualified physician, often within 24 to 48 hours. We work with clinics across Maine to simplify the physician matching process while supporting collaborative agreement drafting, Board submission coordination, and long-term collaboration needs.
Final Thoughts
Maine collaborating physician requirements have fundamentally changed in 2026. The 24-month NP supervisory period is gone. Maine NPs now join colleagues in full-practice-authority states across the country in practicing and prescribing without physician involvement. For the PA framework, Maine’s two-track model under Title 32, § 3270-G remains active, with a Board-submitted written agreement required for PAs under 4,000 hours, and full independence available once that threshold is documented.
For physicians entering the Maine market, the active collaboration opportunity is in PA arrangements. Ensuring agreements are submitted to the Board for approval, filed at the main practice location, and drafted with practice-setting-specific scope content are the foundations of a compliant Maine PA collaboration.
Build a Compliant Maine Collaboration With Collaborating Physician
Are you looking for a collaborating physician role in Maine? If you are a licensed Maine physician interested in a structured, compliant PA collaboration arrangement, Collaborating Physician handles the infrastructure so you do not have to navigate it alone. The platform connects licensed physicians with vetted clinics across Maine and 50-plus other states. Every arrangement is built to meet state-specific requirements, including Maine’s PA collaborative agreement framework under Title 32, § 3270-G, Board of Licensure in Medicine submission requirements, practice-setting-specific scope descriptions, the 4,000-hour independence milestone, and physician accessibility obligations under the adaptable proximity standard. Physicians receive compliance support throughout the collaboration, not just at the start. Applications take under ten minutes. Clinic matches typically happen within 24 to 48 hours. There is no cost to physicians at any stage.
If you are a clinic owner who found this page, we have something for you as well. Collaborating Physician also matches Maine clinics with qualified, vetted collaborating physicians who understand the post-LD 961 landscape, the Board submission requirement for PA agreements, and the two-track PA framework under Title 32, § 3270-G. Whether you are launching a new PA-operated clinic, managing a PA approaching the 4,000-hour transition, or restructuring your APRN practice model following the repeal of the supervisory period, the network is active and placements happen within 24 to 48 hours. For clinics looking for a collaborating physician, get matched fast.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or medical advice. Maine healthcare regulations are actively changing following the passage of LD 961 and LD 2088 in 2025 and 2026. Always verify current requirements directly with the Maine State Board of Nursing, the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, and a qualified healthcare attorney before making any practice decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Maine NP still need a collaborating physician after LD 961?
No. LD 961, passed unanimously with emergency designation, repealed the 24-month supervisory period that previously required new Maine NPs to practice under a licensed physician or supervising NP. Maine NPs now have full practice authority from initial licensure with no supervisory period, no registration requirement, and no physician collaboration agreement required for practice or prescribing.
Do Maine PAs still need a collaborating physician?
Yes, for PAs under 4,000 hours. Under Title 32, § 3270-G, a physician associate with fewer than 4,000 documented hours of clinical practice must work within a written collaborative agreement with an active physician that must be submitted to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine for approval. Upon documenting 4,000 hours to the Board, the PA is no longer subject to this requirement.
What did LD 2088 change for Maine PAs?
LD 2088 made Maine the second state to adopt the physician associate title (following Oregon in June 2024) and removed the written collaborative agreement requirement for PAs who have documented 4,000 or more clinical practice hours to the Board. This makes Maine one of the few states in the country to achieve all of the AAPA’s optimal PA practice milestones.
Does the Maine PA collaborative agreement need to be filed with any board?
Yes, and this distinguishes Maine from most other states. Under Title 32, § 3270-G, the PA must submit the collaborative agreement to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine for approval. The agreement must also be kept on file at the main practice location.
What is the rulemaking freeze on Maine NP practice standards?
LD 961 prohibited the Maine State Board of Nursing from adopting new substantive rules on NP practice standards until May 1, 2026. Any rules adopted during this period are treated as routine technical rules and are not subject to Legislative review. After May 1, 2026, the Board regains full rulemaking authority.
Can Maine APRNs prescribe controlled substances?
Yes. Maine APRNs have prescriptive authority for Schedule II through V controlled substances as part of licensure. DEA registration is required. No physician agreement is required for prescribing. APRNs who prescribe must submit 15 hours of pharmacology CE per two-year renewal cycle.
