DEA to Require 8-Hour Training on Opioids and Pain Management for Registrants

In March, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sent a guidance letter to registrants concerning a new, one-time training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners, including dentists. The Medication Access and Training Expansion Act, which was passed by Congress on December 29, 2022 as part of an omnibus bill, requires all prescribers of schedule II – V controlled substances to meet a one-time, eight-hour training requirement on identifying, treating, and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. Information about the DEA’s new 8-hour training requirement can be found here. Some pertinent details include:

• This is a one-time requirement and does not have to be repeated
• Training does not need to be continuous and can be done in a variety of settings, including virtually.
• New applications must comply effective June 27, 2023.
• For renewals, after June 27^th, a dentist must complete the required training or attest to having completed past training by the next time DEA license is renewed.
• Exempted from this are new dentists who are less than five years out of dental school.
• Relevant trainings from accredited organizations prior to the enactment of the new law on December 29, 2022 may count toward the eight-hour requirement.

Currently, training is only available through the organizations listed in the federal statute, which can be found in the DEA guidance letter (see page 2).

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a registered continuing education provider in the state of California, specializing in Dental Practice Act, infection control, and OSHA training.