At a Glance
Who must complete it: New York-licensed professionals who treat humans and hold a DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances, plus medical residents prescribing under a facility DEA registration.
Minimum training: At least three hours covering all eight required subject areas.
How often: Once every three years.
New prescribers: Covered prescribers licensed or registered on or after July 1, 2017 generally must complete training within one year of obtaining the applicable DEA registration.
Attestation: Completion must be reported to NYSDOH through the Narcotic Education Attestation Tracker.
Course availability: NYRequirements.com does not currently offer this training or issue certificates.
Who Must Complete Mandatory Prescriber Education?
The requirement generally applies to a person who:
- Is licensed in New York under the Education Law to treat humans; and
- Has a DEA registration number authorizing the person to prescribe controlled substances.
It also applies to medical residents who prescribe controlled substances under a healthcare facility’s DEA registration number.
The requirement is based on prescribing authority and DEA registration—not solely on professional title. A licensee who does not prescribe controlled substances or does not have an applicable DEA registration may not be subject to the requirement.
Professionals should confirm their status with the New York State Department of Health when their prescribing authority, practice status, or DEA registration is unclear.
How Much Training Is Required?
Covered prescribers must complete at least three hours of coursework or training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction.
The training must address all eight required topics:
- New York State and federal requirements for prescribing controlled substances.
- Pain management.
- Appropriate prescribing.
- Managing acute pain.
- Palliative medicine.
- Prevention, screening, and signs of addiction.
- Responses to abuse and addiction.
- End-of-life care.
The eight topics may be completed through one comprehensive program or through multiple qualifying programs. The combined training must total at least three hours and cover every required topic.
Depending on the programs selected, completing all eight topics may require more than three hours.
How Often Must Training Be Completed?
Mandatory Prescriber Education must be completed once during each three-year period.
Covered prescribers who became licensed or obtained the applicable DEA registration on or after July 1, 2017 generally must complete the training within one year and once during every three-year period afterward.
Coursework used for a particular attestation period should be completed during that period. Do not assume that the same course completion can be reused for multiple three-year attestation periods.
Because individual attestation periods may differ, prescribers should check their previous completion and attestation records rather than relying on a universal calendar deadline.
What Types of Training Qualify?
NYSDOH guidance permits training to be completed:
- Online or in person.
- Through one comprehensive program.
- Through multiple programs.
- Through qualifying accredited continuing education.
Regardless of format, the completed education must cover all eight required topics and total at least three hours.
NYSDOH sponsors a free comprehensive online program through the State University of New York that is designed to cover the state-required topic areas.
Before using any other program, confirm that its accreditation, content, and awarded hours satisfy the New York requirement.
How Do I Attest to Completion?
Covered prescribers notify NYSDOH of completion through the Narcotic Education Attestation Tracker, commonly called NEAT.
An individual prescriber must submit the prescriber’s own attestation.
For a medical resident prescribing under a healthcare facility’s DEA registration, the facility is responsible for submitting the applicable attestation.
Completing coursework does not by itself complete the reporting process. The responsible prescriber or facility must also submit the required attestation.
What Records Should I Keep?
Prescribers should maintain documentation supporting each attestation for at least six years from the applicable attestation deadline.
Records should identify:
- The training provider.
- The course or program title.
- The date of completion.
- The location or delivery format.
- The number of hours completed.
- The subject areas covered.
- The completion certificate or transcript.
Keep copies of both the training documentation and the NEAT attestation confirmation in case of an audit.
Are Exemptions Available?
NYSDOH may grant an exemption in limited circumstances when an individual prescriber clearly demonstrates that there is no need to complete the training.
An exemption is not automatic merely because a prescriber rarely prescribes controlled substances.
A professional seeking an exemption should obtain written approval from NYSDOH and retain the approval with the professional’s compliance records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Is the training required every three years or every registration period? ▶
The statutory schedule is once during each three-year period. A professional’s license-registration dates may not necessarily match the person’s prescriber-education attestation period.
Q Can I combine several shorter courses? ▶
Yes. Multiple qualifying programs may be combined when they total at least three hours and collectively address all eight required subjects.
Q Can I take the training online? ▶
Yes. NYSDOH permits qualifying online training.
Q Who submits the attestation for a medical resident? ▶
The healthcare facility submits the attestation for a resident prescribing under the facility’s DEA registration.
Q Is the state requirement the same as federal DEA training? ▶
No. New York Mandatory Prescriber Education is a state requirement. Prescribers may also have separate federal obligations. Confirm each requirement independently rather than assuming one program completely satisfies both.