Published October 17, 2025
In response to the ongoing substance misuse crisis in the United States, Congress passed the Medication Access ad Training Expansion (MATE) Act, which the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began implementing in June 2023. The (MATE) Act aims to better equip clinicians in preventing and managing substance use disorder as the nation grapples with the devastating effects of opioids, stimulants, and other substances. To help you navigate this change, this article will break down the who, what, when, how, and why of this new mandate and help provide a clear path forward so you can confidently meet the MATE Act requirements and continue providing excellent patient care.
Who Must Complete the MATE Act DEA Opioid Training Requirement?
All DEA-registered practitioners are required to satisfy the DEA's MATE Act training requirements.
Who is Exempt from the DEA MATE Act Opioid Education Requirement?
Veterinarians, clinicians already board-certified in addiction medicine or psychiatry, and those who previously completed qualifying substance use disorder training are exempt from additional MATE Act coursework.
What is the MATE Act Training Requirement?
The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act (Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023) requires new or renewing DEA registrants, as of Tuesday, June 27, 2023, to have completed a total of at least eight hours of training on opioid or other substance use disorders. The DEA substance use disorder and opioid training requirements can be found here: MATE_Training_Letter_Final.pdf (usdoj.gov)
What is the MATE Act?
The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act is a recent development in a decade-long effort by federal and state policymakers to combat the widespread effects of substance misuse. Enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the MATE Act officially went into effect on June 27, 2023. This legislation introduces a new training requirement for all new or renewing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrants, aiming to better equip clinicians in the fight against the opioid crisis.
What is the DEA Opioid Training Requirement from the MATE Act?
As part of the MATE Act, all DEA-registered practitioners must complete a one-time, eight-hour training on opioid or other substance use disorders. You are required to fulfill this obligation before your next DEA registration renewal date. The goal is to ensure all prescribers have a foundational understanding of substance use disorder prevention, identification, and management to improve patient safety and care quality.
Why the MATE Act Was Passed
Congress passed the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act to address the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States. As tens of thousands of opioid-related deaths continue to occur each year, taking action to save lives has become a national priority. Enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the MATE Act is a direct response to this public health emergency. The primary goal of this legislation is to increase the number of clinicians who can prescribe buprenorphine safely and with knowledge of evidence-based substance use disorder prevention and treatment.
How to Complete the DEA Opioid Training Requirement
The DEA's new training requirement offers the flexibility to learn on your own time, in the format that works best for you. The eight required hours can be completed through a range of continuing medical education (CME) options, from in-person classroom settings and seminars at professional society meetings to convenient virtual platforms and other accredited sources. Pri-Med supports your learning by offering in-person conferences, virtual conferences, and on-demand CME/CE courses to help you meet these requirements.
Online CME/CE Courses
One of the most convenient ways to satisfy the MATE Act's eight-hour training requirement is through online continuing medical education (CME) courses.These asynchronous options allow you to complete your training at your own pace, fitting it into your schedule whenever and wherever it works best for you. This flexibility is ideal for busy clinicians who need to balance educational requirements with patient care and personal commitments.
To fulfill the requirement, the training must cover the prevention, recognition, and care of people with substance use disorders. You can look for courses on topics like appropriate opioid prescribing and pain management, the fundamentals of addiction medicine, or strategies for treating and managing patients with opioid and other substance use disorders. Pri-Med offers a variety of free online CME/CE courses and podcasts designed to help you meet the DEA's new training requirement while staying current on the latest evidence-based approaches to patient care.
CME/CE Podcasts and Webcasts
For clinicians who prefer to learn on the go, podcasts and webcasts offer a flexible way to meet the MATE Act’s eight-hour training requirement. These accredited programs feature expert-led discussions on safe opioid prescribing and tapering, chronic pain management, and treatment of opioid use disorder. Pri-Med makes it easy to meet the DEA’s education requirement with free CME/CE podcasts and webcasts designed for flexible, evidence-based learning.
Virtual and In-Person CME/CE Conferences
In addition to fulfilling your requirement through on-demand courses, you can also fulfill your DEA MATE Act requirement through in-person and virtual conferences. Both of Pri-Med's in-person and virtual CME/CE conference offerings regularly include sessions on pain management and controlled substances.
Completing the DEA MATE Act's Opioid Training Requirement
In summary, all all DEA-registered practitioners, except for veterinarians, must now complete a one-time, eight-hour training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. You can satisfy this requirement by exploring Pri-Med’s curated selection of MATE Act-specific courses. For a deeper dive into the specifics, review the DEA's detailed letter to practitioners. If you're looking to learn more about satisfying other CME requirements, visit our How to Earn CME Credits blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DEA Opioid Training Requirement
What is the opioid DEA requirement?
The DEA’s opioid training requirement mandates that all DEA-registered practitioners complete a total of eight hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
How often do you have to do opioid training for the DEA?
The DEA’s opioid training requirement is a one-time obligation. The deadline for satisfying this new training requirement is the date of a practitioner’s next scheduled DEA registration submission—regardless of whether it is an initial registration or a renewal registration—on or after June 27, 2023. Once completed and attested, the training will not need to be repeated for future renewals.
Do past substance use disorder trainings count toward the MATE Act training requirement?
Yes, previous trainings on the prevention, treatment, or management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders can count towards the eight-hour requirement, as long as they were accredited CME/CE activities. This includes prior education completed through medical school, residency, or other professional training programs that meet the MATE Act's content criteria.
Does the MATE Act training have to occur within one session?
No, the training does not have to occur in one session. It can be cumulative across multiple accredited activities, totaling eight hours of training.