Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Certification FAQs

Effective July 31, 2022, functionality is added to NCTracks to allow Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Certifications to be automatically loaded into the NCTracks system. Providers completing an initial enrollment, re-enrollment or manage change request (MCR) application with their DEA Certification are no longer be required to submit their DEA license as described in the previous workaround process; instead, providers only need to enter their DEA Certification number on the application for NCTracks to verify. 

For existing providers enrolled with their DEA Certification, NCTracks will automatically update their DEA Certification expiration date going forward. However, if the DEA number changes, an MCR is required to report the change to the NCTracks provider record so the credential update will occur as intended.

If a provider designated as a prescriber on the Provider Permission Matrix (PPM)* does not have a DEA certification, they must still complete the DEA Designation Form as described in the previous announcement.

*The PPM may be found under Quick Links on the Provider Enrollment page.

Please visit the website https://www.dea.gov/

Certain providers (based on provider type) must have a DEA certification. Please refer to the Provider Permission Matrix (PPM) under Quick Links on the Provider Enrollment page to determine if you are affected. Please see the Details on Prescribing Provider DEA Requirements communication for more details.

If a provider designated as a prescriber on the Provider Permission Matrix does not have a DEA certificate number, they must:

1. Enter 123456789 as the DEA certificate  number.

2. Complete the DEA Designation Form (found on the Provider Policies, Manuals, Guidelines and Forms page under Provider Forms) indicating the reason for not having a DEA certification, selecting one of the following reasons on the form:

• The prescribing provider is currently working on obtaining their DEA certification (it is in process or is still pending). They must elect a temporary alternate prescriber to write prescriptions for controlled substances on their behalf until they have a valid certification. The form must be completed providing the alternate prescriber’s information.
• The prescribing provider elects not to prescribe controlled substances themselves but prescribing controlled substances is in their scope of practice. They must identify another doctor to write these prescriptions on their behalf. The form must be completed providing the alternate prescriber’s information.
• The prescribing provider does not prescribe or refer prescriptions for controlled substances because they believe their patients do not require controlled substances. In this circumstance, the provider must sign the statement on the form indicating this and describe their process for handling instances when a patient requires a controlled substance.

3. Upload the form to the Upload Documents page under Status Management when submitting an application.

 

Future  communications will provide additional information. Providers are encouraged to check their email and NCTracks provider announcements regularly.

The DEA Designation Form can be found on the Provider Policies, Manuals, Guidelines and Forms page under Provider Forms. 

Note: Providers with a current DEA certification may enter their DEA certification number on the application for NCTracks to verify; they are not required to submit the DEA license as described in the previous workaround process. However, providers designated as a prescriber on the Provider Permission Matrix (PPM) who do not have a DEA certification must still complete the DEA Designation Form as described in the previous announcement. More information can be found here. 

Upload this form to the Upload Documents page under Status Management when submitting an application.

Note: Providers with a current DEA certification may enter their DEA certification number on the application for NCTracks to verify; they are not required to submit the DEA license as described in the previous workaround process. However, providers designated as a prescriber on the Provider Permission Matrix (PPM) who do not have a DEA certification must still complete the DEA Designation Form as described in the previous announcement. More information can be found here. 

NCTracks will automatically verify the DEA certification number. If the name and DEA certification number on the application match the information on file with DEA, the application will continue processing. If the  information does not match, the provider will receive an Application Incomplete letter detailing actions required to resolve the mismatch.

Prescribing providers have been required to provide their DEA certification number on initial enrollment, re-enrollment or manage change request (MCR) applications since Oct. 1, 2020.