Summary

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requires all DEA-registered Physician Associates (PAs) to complete an 8-hour training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This article explains who is affected, how to satisfy the requirement, and where to find qualifying courses.

Before You Begin

• Confirm that you hold an active DEA registration.
• Know your next scheduled DEA registration date (initial or renewal), as that is your deadline to satisfy this requirement.
• Have access to AAPA's Learning Central if you plan to complete the requirement through an AAPA course.

Overview of the Requirement

Effective June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered PAs must complete a one-time 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This is a one-time requirement — it applies to your next DEA registration (initial or renewal) and does not need to be repeated for future registrations. Once you have completed the training, you will report it by checking the appropriate box on your DEA registration form at the time of your next registration submission.

Steps to Resolve

Step 1: Determine Whether You Have Already Satisfied the Requirement

You may have already met this requirement if any of the following apply to you:

• You graduated in good standing from a PA program in the United States within the five years prior to June 27, 2023, and your program included a comprehensive curriculum with at least 8 hours of training covering:
  • Treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for treating a substance use disorder.
  • Safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.
• You previously completed any of the following courses:
  • The 24-hour DATA-waiver training
  • The ASAM Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Course
  • The ASAM 16-Hour Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Course

If any of the above apply, you have already satisfied the requirement. No additional training is needed.

Step 2: Determine Whether Previous Training Counts

If you have previously completed training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders — including past DATA-waiver trainings — that training may count toward the 8-hour requirement, regardless of how long ago it was completed.

Trainings completed before the requirement was enacted on December 29, 2022, are still eligible to count. The only time-based limitation applies to PA program graduation (within five years of June 27, 2023, as described in Step 1).

Step 3: Complete the Required Training (If Needed)

If you have not yet satisfied the requirement, you must complete a total of 8 hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This training does not need to be completed in a single session — multiple sessions that collectively total 8 hours are acceptable.

The following course is available in AAPA's Learning Central and satisfies the full requirement:

•  Substance and Opioid Use Disorder Training 

Step 4: Access Your Certificate of Completion

After completing the training in AAPA's Learning Central, your certificate of completion will be available on your transcript within Learning Central.

Step 5: Report Completion on Your DEA Registration

When submitting your next DEA registration (initial or renewal), check the appropriate box on the registration form to confirm you have completed the required training.

Confirmation / Expected Result

You have successfully satisfied the DEA 8-hour training requirement when:

• You have completed at least 8 hours of qualifying training, and
• You have checked the confirmation box on your DEA registration form at the time of your next registration submission.

If you completed your training through AAPA's Learning Central, your certificate will appear on your transcript as confirmation of completion.

Troubleshooting

If you are unable to access AAPA's Learning Central, locate your certificate, or have questions about whether your previous training qualifies, contact AAPA Customer Care for assistance:

• Email: customercare@aapa.org
• Phone: 703-836-2272, Option 1
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST

Important Notes

• This is a one-time training requirement. Once satisfied, it does not need to be repeated for future DEA registrations.
• The requirement must be satisfied by your next scheduled DEA registration — whether that is an initial registration or a renewal.
• The training does not need to be completed in a single session. Multiple sessions totaling 8 hours are accepted.
• Previously completed trainings — including those completed before December 29, 2022 — may count toward the requirement, with no limitation on how long ago they were completed (except for the PA program graduation rule noted above).

Related Articles or Links

•  Substance and Opioid Use Disorder Training — AAPA Learning Central 
• Additional information and frequently asked questions about the DEA training requirement can be found here