DEA Training Requirement Now in Effect; Free CME for Members

As of June 27, 2023, prescribers of controlled substances in schedules II, III, IV, and V are required to complete 8 hours of CME training on managing and treating opioid and other substance abuse disorders. This one-time training must be completed prior to a prescriber’s first registration or renewal of their Drug Enforcement Administration license.

When applying for or renewing a DEA license, you will be asked to attest, by checking a box, that you completed the training. You will not be required to provide additional documentation; however, you must be able to provide documentation (e.g., CME certificates, letters of participation, course overviews) if ever requested to do so as part of an audit.

To avoid redundancy, the DEA-mandated 8 hours of training satisfies Michigan’s requirement that healthcare professionals complete 3 hours of pain and symptom management training per every 3-year renewal cycle.

Free CME through AAFP

American Academy of Family Physicians is offering its substance use disorder on-demand CME free of charge for members for a limited time. AAFP members who need the training for their license renewal can access the training at no charge when logged into AAFP’s website. Click here for a list of other compliant trainings.

Who Needs to Complete the Training

Physicians who completed residency more than five years ago and are a prescriber of schedules II-V medications must complete the training before their next DEA license renewal date or before obtaining their DEA license for the first time.

Who Doesn’t Need to Complete the Training

• Anyone who previously held an X-waiver (this does not apply to physicians who received a 30E waiver during the COVID-19 pandemic)
• Physicians who graduated from medical school, residency, or fellowship within five years immediately preceding June 27, 2023, and received at least eight hours of training related to substance use disorder and safe prescribing for pain while in school, residency, or fellowship. (It is advised to save course overviews or specific hours of classes and training related to SUD screening, treatment, or safe prescribing to ensure you have documentation should you ever need it during a DEA audit for other purposes.)
• Physicians-in-training who plan to graduate, complete residency, and obtain their DEA license in 2025