April 9, 2026
Do you hold a DEA-licensed dental registration and prescribe controlled substances? Federal law now requires you to complete opioid training before your next renewal. At GTC Consulting, we work with dental practitioners through regulatory change, and the MATE Act is one worth understanding clearly before it catches you off guard.
The Medication Access and Training Expansion Act (passed in December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act) introduced a one-time, eight-hour training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners. Dentists are included. The requirement applies to anyone applying for a new registration or renewing an existing one on or after that date.
The MATE Act is a one-time obligation tied to your DEA registration cycle. Complete it once, and you will not need to repeat it at future renewals.
The training covers a specific set of topics designed to address the opioid crisis from the prescriber’s side. Here is what the eight hours must include:
The training does not have to be completed in a single sitting. Sessions can be spread across multiple formats, including live seminars, classroom settings, or virtual courses. What matters is reaching the eight-hour total through approved providers.
This is a question we hear often, and the answer is yes. Any dentist who prescribes controlled substances, including Schedule II through V medications, must hold an active DEA registration. Opioids commonly used in dental settings fall under these schedules, meaning the MATE Act training requirement applies directly to most practicing dentists.
If you are unsure of your current registration status or need to look up your DEA license, the DEA Diversion Control Division maintains an official portal at deadiversion.usdoj.gov. Questions can also be directed to the DEA’s Policy Section at ODLP@dea.gov or by calling 571-362-3260.
Letting a DEA registration lapse is a compliance risk with real consequences. Staying ahead of renewal deadlines and understanding the attached requirements is part of maintaining a practice that operates within federal law.
Not every dentist needs to complete additional training to satisfy this requirement. The federal law carved out a specific exemption for recent graduates.
Dentists who graduated from an accredited U.S. dental school on or after June 27, 2018, may already satisfy the requirement. It also applies to those who completed a dental school curriculum that included at least eight hours of relevant training.
Certificates from that coursework can serve as documentation. Graduates who fall within this window but did not cover the full eight hours through their curriculum may still need to supplement with additional approved coursework.
A few important notes on the exemption:
If you completed relevant opioid and substance use disorder training before December 29, 2022, through a DEA-recognized organization, those hours count toward the eight-hour requirement. Past DATA-Waived training hours are also eligible.
The DEA recognizes a specific set of organizations as approved training providers for this requirement. PACE-approved programs do not qualify, which has caught some dental professionals off guard.
Approved sources include:
The ADA offers a self-directed 8.25 CE course through its online platform that satisfies the requirement in full. Many state dental associations accredited through CERP also offer qualifying programs, sometimes at no cost to members.
When selecting a course, confirm the provider’s accreditation status before committing. Completing training through a non-qualifying provider will not satisfy the federal requirement. You will need to repeat the process with an approved source.
Once training is complete, attestation happens directly on the DEA registration form. The DEA updated both Form 224 (new registration) and Form 224a (renewal) to include a checkbox confirming completion of the MATE Act training requirement.
Practitioners do not submit certificates to the DEA during registration. However, keeping thorough records is strongly advised. Should your compliance ever come into question, documentation of completed training is your first line of defense.
Best practices for recordkeeping include:
Our team at GTC Consulting has seen firsthand how documentation gaps create complications during audits and inspections. Good recordkeeping is not just a formality. It is a practical safeguard.
The MATE Act requirement is one layer of a broader compliance picture for dental practices prescribing controlled substances. Federal and state obligations often overlap, and missing one can expose both. Understanding how your DEA registration intersects with your state licensing, prescribing authority, and recordkeeping obligations is the kind of work that protects a practice in the long term.
Our controlled substance compliance services are meant for nuanced, results-oriented guidance. We take on the regulatory challenges that many firms avoid, and we do it with the experience to back it up.
Staying on top of federal training requirements keeps your registration in good standing and your practice protected. Have questions about your current compliance standing, upcoming renewals, or how the MATE Act applies to your specific situation? Reach out to our team today.
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