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Find Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Training
SAMHSA funds the Providers’ Clinical Support System (PCSS) to provide practitioner training in the evidence-based prevention and treatment of OUD and offers the trainings needed to apply for DEA registrations to prescribe Schedule II-V medications.
SAMHSA offers tools, training, and technical assistance to practitioners in the fields of mental and substance use disorders. Find information on SAMHSA training and resources.
Find information on the training and accreditation/approval organizations included in the MATE Act.
Elimination of the Waiver and DEA Training Requirements Frequently Asked Questions
Buprenorphine is a Schedule III medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat individuals with opioid use disorder. It significantly reduces mortality, and it can be prescribed in office-based settings.
All licensed practitioners, except veterinarians, who hold a DEA registration with Schedules II – V authority, and where state law allows, can now prescribe buprenorphine.
Changes went into effect immediately after the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, on December 29, 2022.
No. The patient limits were eliminated along with the waiver.
Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 requires that beginning June 27, 2023, practitioners applying for a new or renewed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration will need to attest to having completed a total of at least 8 hours of training on opioid or other substance use disorders, as well as the safe pharmacological management of dental pain.
The passage of section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 means that when it is time to renew your DEA Registration or when you apply for a new DEA Registration to prescribe any Schedule II – V controlled medications, you will need to attest on your DEA application that you have either:
- Completed at least 8-hours of training (training can be cumulative; it does not have to be complete in one session) on opioid/other substance use disorders that has been approved by certain specified organizations; or
- Hold a current board certification in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Board of Addiction Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Association; or
- Graduated within five (5) years in good standing from a medical, advanced practice nursing, or physician assistant school in the United States that included successful completion of an opioid or other substance use disorder curriculum. Training must include the treatment and management of patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, and the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of a substance use disorder.
- The American Society of Addiction Medicine
- The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
- The American Medical Association
- The American Osteopathic Association
- The American Dental Association
- The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- The American Psychiatric Association
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- The American Academy of Physician Associates
- Any other organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the Commission
- Any organization accredited by a State medical society accreditor that is recognized by the ACCME or the CCEPR
- Any organization accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide continuing medical education
- Any organization approved by the ACCME, or the CCEPR
If you previously held a waiver from the DEA and SAMHSA that was granted because you met the training requirements to prescribe buprenorphine, you have already met the criteria, and can attest to meeting the training requirement. However, practitioners who received a 30E waiver (one in which they did not have to complete any special training), must meet the new training criteria under section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
The organizations listed by name in section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 approve organizations that provide training. Some of the listed organizations also provide training. If you took qualifying training provided by one of the listed organizations, the training would meet the criteria. If you took a training from an organization whose name is not specifically listed, it is best if you contact the training entity that provided the training to see if their organization or the specific training, they provided is approved by any of the entities named in section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
The DEA and SAMHSA do not approve or review training content, and therefore, do not determine whether the training meets this requirement.
No, at this time, SAMHSA will not approve training organizations who were not specifically named in the Act.
No, SAMHSA will not approve accreditation bodies for this purpose. However, there are several accrediting bodies authorized to accredit or approve organizations that provide relevant substance use disorder training.
Yes, if the 8 hours includes:
- Treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder; or
- The safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.
Since Residency and Fellowships are tied to medical, advanced practice nursing, and physician assistant schools, these training programs count the same way.
Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 does not stipulate that the curriculum from a medical, advanced practice nursing, or physician assistant school in the United States must be approved by one of the organizations listed in the Act. However, the school from which the practitioner is graduating must be an accredited school of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dental surgery, or dental medicine.
In addition, the training must include 8 hours of training regarding the treatment and management of patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, and the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of a substance use disorder, or the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.
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SAMHSA DEA Webinar: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
On June 14, 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials, Yngvild K. Olsen, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Neeraj Gandotra, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, SAMHSA, HHS; Matthew J. Straight, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control Regulatory, DEA, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); and Claire M. Brennan, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy for the Diversion Control Division, DEA, DOJ participated in a webinar to discuss the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 and the elimination of the DATA waiver (MAT Act) and new training requirements for DEA registrants (MATE Act).
MATE Act Training Requirements (June 2023)
As Congressionally mandated, medical practitioners have a new role to help patients fighting to sustain recovery and prevent opioid overdoses. All medial registrants submitting a new or renewing a current registration must attest to completing an eight-hour training to treat patients overcoming opioid use disorder. Learn more.
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) Podcast
Navigating the NEW DEA 8-Hour Training Requirements for SUDs - What Prescribers Should Know
Dr. Yngvild Olsen, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment joined the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) to discuss the new requirements per the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 or MAT (Section 1262) and MATE Act (Section 1263) effective as of June 27, 2023, and what clinicians should know about the changes.
Resources
- 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (PDF | 3.7 MB)
- DEA Medication Assisted Treatment and Training Information
- DEA Buprenorphine (MOUD) FAQs
- DEA Informational Documents
- SAMHSA Information on Removal of DATA Waiver (X-Waiver) Requirement
- SAMHSA Information on Training Requirements (MATE Act) Resources
- Recommendations for Curricular Elements in Substance Use Disorders Training
- Buprenorphine Quick Start Guide (PDF | 1.4 MB)
- Pocket Guide (PDF | 211 KB)
- Guide to Substance Abuse Services for Primary Care Clinicians Based on TIP 24
- TIP 49: Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies Into Medical Practice
- Advisory: Prescribing Pharmacotherapies for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder
Disclaimer
The views expressed in these courses and related materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Acknowledgements
SAMHSA-supported courses are planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through joint sponsorship with the host organizations and SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).
Learn more about buprenorphine.