Physicians are urged to check their contact information on file with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure that they receive critical updates, including registration renewal notices. Every physician who administers, prescribes or dispenses any controlled substance must be registered with DEA.

DEA recently announced that it will no longer send a second registration renewal notification by mail and instead will send the second renewal notice to the email address associated with the registration.

DEA will otherwise retain its current policy and procedures with respect to renewal and reinstatement of registration. This policy is as follows:

• If a renewal application is submitted in a timely manner prior to expiration, the registrant may continue operations, authorized by the registration, beyond the expiration date until final action is taken on the application.
• DEA allows the reinstatement of an expired registration for one calendar month after the expiration date. If the registration is not renewed within that calendar month, an application for a new DEA registration will be required.
• Regardless of whether a registration is reinstated within the calendar month after expiration, federal law prohibits the handling of controlled substances or List 1 chemicals for any period of time under an expired registration.

If you want to check your registration expiration date, contact the DEA Registration Service Center at (800) 882-9539 or email dea.registration.help@usdoj.gov and include your DEA number in your email.

Providers may also renew their DEA registration on the DEA website.