Glossary
Scope of Practice
The set of procedures and actions a provider is legally authorized to perform under their license and state law.
Scope of practice describes the range of clinical activities a provider may legally perform, as defined by their license type, training, and the laws of the state where they work. It varies by profession and by jurisdiction, so the same role may carry broader or narrower authority depending on the state. For certain advanced-practice clinicians, the scope may depend on a collaborative practice agreement. Scope also informs facility privileging, since a provider can only be granted privileges that fall within what they are authorized to do.