Florida controlled substance prescribing CME (2 hours) for physicians

Who must take it

Section 456.0301, Florida Statutes, requires each person registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a board-approved 2-hour continuing education course on prescribing controlled substances as part of every biennial license renewal. For physicians this means MDs (Board of Medicine) and DOs (Board of Osteopathic Medicine) who hold a DEA registration. If you do not hold a DEA registration, the course is not required; CE Broker notes that you remove the requirement by recording your non-DEA status in your Florida Department of Health MQA account.

The course had to be completed by January 31, 2019, and must be completed at each renewal since. The Department of Health may not renew the license of a DEA-registered prescriber who has not completed it. The 2 hours count within the 40 hours of continuing medical education each Board requires per biennium.

What the course covers

The statute requires the course to include information on:

• the current standards for prescribing controlled substances, particularly opiates;
• alternatives to these standards;
• nonpharmacological therapies;
• prescribing emergency opioid antagonists;
• the risks of opioid addiction following all stages of treatment in the management of acute pain; and
• the treatment of pain for patients with sickle cell disease — added by CS/SB 844 (chapter 2026-6, Laws of Florida), effective July 1, 2026.

CS/SB 844 made only this change: it added sickle cell pain content to the existing course. It did not create a separate sickle cell course requirement. The course may be taken in a distance learning format.

Only Board-named providers count

This is the part most often missed. Each Board approves the course only as offered by the organizations it names in its rule. A course from any other provider does not meet the requirement, even if it is accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Board of Medicine (MDs), Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(d), F.A.C. (effective June 15, 2026): "The Board approves the controlled substance prescribing courses offered by the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, Baptist Health South Florida/Quality Network, InforMed, Florida Psychiatric Society, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, the University of Florida, NetCE, The Doctors Company, CE Group, AchieveCE, the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine, Integris Group, White Coat Institute d/b/a GetMyCME, Orlando Health, and Florida Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network for the purpose of meeting this continuing education requirement."

Board of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs), Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(e), F.A.C. (effective June 15, 2026): the list is similar but not identical. It names the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, Baptist Health South Florida/Quality Network, InforMed, Florida Psychiatric Society, NetCE, The Doctors Company, TeamHealth Institute, CE Group, AchieveCE, the UCF College of Medicine, Integris Group, White Coat Institute d/b/a GetMyCME, Orlando Health, and Florida AHEC. The University of Florida is on the MD list but not the DO list; TeamHealth Institute is on the DO list but not the MD list.

Pending (not yet in force): in September 2026 both Boards published proposed rule amendments that would add the Miami-Dade County Medical Association to their lists.

The lists change by rule amendment several times a year — each Board approves a new provider at a public meeting and then amends its rule. Check the current rule, or the "Prescribing Controlled Substances" subject area in CE Broker, on the day you take the course.

Checklist

1. Confirm you hold an active DEA registration (if not, update your status in your MQA account; the course is not required).
2. Choose a course from a provider named in your Board's current rule — the MD and DO lists differ.
3. Check the completion appears in CE Broker before you renew. CE Broker says providers have up to 30 days to report, and you can self-report sooner.
4. Repeat every renewal cycle.

Requirements change. This guide was checked against the sources below on October 6, 2026; confirm with the Board before you rely on it.