How to obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certification

What is a DEA license?

The Controlled Substance Act (CSA), which was signed into law in 1970, created a streamlined process for regulating the manufacture, distribution, and use of drugs that may have the potential for abuse or other harms, otherwise known as controlled substances. Controlled substances fall into one of five “schedules,” depending on their accepted medical usefulness and potential for dependence or misuse. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin and LSD, have no accepted medical use and high potential risk, and are illegal in the U.S. But many substances in lower schedules, such as opioid painkillers and anabolic steroids, are used medically, despite having potential for dependency and misuse.

Under the CSA, healthcare providers must be registered with the DEA to prescribe controlled substances, including medications commonly used in psychiatry, such as stimulants and benzodiazepines. DEA registration is issued and enforced at the federal level, and must be secured in addition to any licenses required to practice and prescribe in a particular state.

Who needs a DEA registration?

Any healthcare provider who wishes to prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances — such as physicians (including psychiatrists), nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists — must be registered with the DEA. Scientists who work with controlled substances in their research must also have a DEA registration.

Types of DEA registrations

After filling out the 224 form, you will be assigned a DEA identifier. DEA identifiers contain a mix of letters and numbers. The first letter of an identifier signifies what type of provider the assignee is.

A/B/F/G: Holders of these identifiers are high-level practitioners, such as physicians.
M: People with “M” registrations are mid-level practitioners, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
P/R: Registration numbers beginning with “P” or “R” are for researchers and people who work for drug manufacturers or distributors.

How do I get a DEA license?

Before applying for DEA registration, providers must first ensure they meet all state-level requirements for their practice level, potentially including state-specific permissions to work with controlled substances. If a provider needs a supervising or collaborating physician agreement, that must also be in place before applying.

“Be ready before you apply,” Birch says. “If you have not met your current state requirements, you may lose your application money and have to reapply.”

If prerequisite standards are met, providers can apply for or renew DEA registration online. Applicants must fill out certain forms, depending on their level of practice and the type of DEA registration they are seeking. On these forms, applicants must provide their personal information and any relevant criminal background, as well as details of their practice and their state licensure information.

As of 2023, DEA-registered practitioners (except veterinarians) must also complete a one-time, eight-hour-long training on substance use disorders.

How long does it take to get a DEA license?

It usually takes four to six weeks for the DEA to process a new application — assuming the application is accurate and complete and there are no issues that require additional investigation.

How to check the status of your DEA registration application

You can check the status of your DEA application online.

Maintaining a DEA registration

DEA registration is an ongoing requirement for medical professionals, not a one-time process.

How often do DEA registrations need to be renewed?

Providers must renew their DEA registration every three years; this process can also be completed online. Renewals are generally faster to obtain than new registrations, but “it's essential to renew your DEA license well in advance of its expiration to avoid disruptions in prescribing medications,” Birch says. “Keep a tracking document of all dates for licenses, board certifications, your DEA registration, and all continuing education you complete. The variability in years between renewal and requirements across all of these areas is a lot to keep up with, so setting reminders before due dates can be super helpful.”

Can DEA registrations be revoked?

DEA approvals can be revoked or suspended if a provider lies on their application, loses their state licensure, is excluded from Medicare or a state health care program, or is convicted of a felony related to controlled substances.

Typically, the DEA must serve a practitioner with an order that explains why their registration is being revoked or suspended, at which point the practitioner can submit a corrective action plan. The DEA will then consider whether to go forward with the disciplinary action.

In cases where a provider may pose “imminent danger” to public health or safety, however, the DEA can immediately suspend their registration.

How Headway helps with DEA licensure

Headway’s onboarding team partners with clinicians to ensure they know everything they need to do to get credentialed and begin practicing, from securing DEA registration to working with insurance panels. Headway practitioners also have access to numerous resources and free education tools to stay up-to-date on practice requirements. Just note that providers applying for DEA registration must use a brick-and-mortar practice address on the application, not Headway’s address. Learn more about how Headway supports providers here.

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