Published February 12, 2026
The DEA MATE Act requires all DEA registrants who prescribe controlled substances to complete eight hours of substance use disorder training. For busy clinicians, finding high-quality, accredited opioid CME can be challenging.
With numerous providers offering MATE Act-compliant courses, distinguishing exceptional programs from those simply checking regulatory boxes can be difficult. At Pri-Med, we've evaluated the leading opioid CME providers to help you choose wisely. This guide compares top programs based on clinical relevance, faculty expertise, and real-world applicability—ensuring you select education that truly enhances patient care.
Understanding the DEA MATE Act 8-Hour Training Requirement
The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, effective June 27, 2023, requires all DEA registrants authorized to prescribe controlled substances to complete a one-time, eight-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers during initial registration or renewal. For more details, see our DEA Opioid Training Requirement Guide.
Key Exemptions
Certain practitioners are exempt, including:
- Those with board certification in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry
- Recent graduates (within five years) whose programs included 8+ hours of SUD curriculum
- Practitioners whose scope of practice excludes prescribing controlled substances
What Topics Must Be Covered?
MATE Act-compliant training must address key content areas, including:
- Safe opioid prescribing practices and risk assessment
- Identifying and diagnosing substance use disorders
- Evidence-based treatments, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Overdose prevention and naloxone prescribing
- Counseling and behavioral interventions
- Special populations and co-occurring conditions
Flexible Learning: The eight-hour requirement can be met cumulatively across multiple courses—you don't need to complete all training in one sitting. This allows clinicians to select targeted courses that address specific practice needs while fulfilling the mandate.
Why This Requirement Matters for Your Practice
Beyond compliance, MATE Act training directly improves patient care. It equips you to identify at-risk patients earlier, manage substance use disorders confidently, and implement evidence-based pain management alternatives to long-term opioid therapy. The training also enables you to prescribe buprenorphine and naloxone, allowing you to treat opioid use disorder in your own practice rather than referring patients to specialists.
How We Evaluated the Best Opioid CME Providers
To identify the top opioid CME providers for MATE Act compliance, we assessed programs based on criteria that matter most to busy clinicians:
- Accreditation & Compliance – All providers listed are accredited by recognized bodies (ACCME, ACPE, ANCC) and offer DEA MATE Act-compliant courses.
- Cost – We evaluated both free and paid options, recognizing that budget constraints vary across practices.Evidence-based treatments, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Course Format – Programs were assessed for delivery methods including online self-paced modules, live webinars, podcasts, and adaptive learning platforms.
Counseling and behavioral interventions - Credit Hours & Flexibility – We considered whether courses can be completed incrementally or require single-session attendance.
- Specialty Relevance – Programs were evaluated for content tailored to primary care, pain management, emergency medicine, and other specialties.
- Faculty Expertise – We prioritized providers with recognized experts in addiction medicine and pain management.
Why This Requirement Matters for Your Practice
Beyond compliance, MATE Act training directly improves patient care. It equips you to identify at-risk patients earlier, manage substance use disorders confidently, and implement evidence-based pain management alternatives to long-term opioid therapy. The training also enables you to prescribe buprenorphine and naloxone, allowing you to treat opioid use disorder in your own practice rather than referring patients to specialists.
Top 10 Best Opioid CME Providers for 2026
The following providers represent the most comprehensive, accessible, and clinically relevant options for meeting DEA MATE Act requirements in 2026. Several offer completely free courses, ensuring that all practitioners can access high-quality training.
1. Pri-Med – Free Online Opioid CME/CE Courses
Pri-Med offers a comprehensive library of free online opioid and pain management CME/CE courses designed specifically for busy clinicians. The platform features multi-format offerings including online modules, podcasts, and case-based learning scenarios that reflect real-world clinical challenges. Courses are accredited for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, with automated credit tracking to simplify documentation.
Explore Pri-Med's Opioid CME and Pain Management CME libraries to start earning credits today.
2. AMA Ed Hub – Opioid Therapy and Pain Management CME
The American Medical Association's Ed Hub provides curated CME tracks specifically designed for DEA MATE Act compliance. The "Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Education" bundle allows practitioners to mix and match courses to reach eight hours. AMA members gain exclusive access to specialty-specific tracks tailored for family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. The platform features automated credit tracking and integration with ASAM content. Visit AMA Ed Hub to explore offerings.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.
3. NEJM Group – Pain Management and Opioids Adaptive Learning
NEJM Group's free 10-hour adaptive learning course exceeds DEA requirements while delivering personalized education. The innovative format features 62 case-based scenarios that adjust to your strengths and knowledge gaps. Supplementary resources include 50+ videos, infographics, downloadable PDF summaries, and detailed progress reports. Developed in collaboration with Boston University School of Medicine, the course carries AAFP approval for 10.25 Prescribed credits. Access the course at NEJM Pain Management CME.
4. Mayo Clinic – Opioid Treatment Best Practices DEA Requirement Course
Building on their reputation for clinical excellence, Mayo Clinic’s 8-10 hour online CME course is specifically designed to meet DEA requirements.The curriculum covers opioid pharmacology, evidence-based prescribing guidelines, tapering strategies, legal considerations, and alternatives to opioid therapy. The course features lectures from Mayo Clinic pain medicine experts with Q&A sessions addressing common clinical dilemmas. Learn more at Mayo Clinic CE.
5. SCOPE of Pain (Boston University) – Safer/Competent Opioid Prescribing Education
SCOPE of Pain offers a unique case-study format following a patient through acute and chronic pain management. The program offers four ways to complete the core curriculum: online training (2 hours), podcast series (6 episodes), live webinars, or archived webinars. Brief audio cases (2-4 minutes each) provide quick educational boosts for on-the-go training, such as during commutes. Supplemental modules allow deeper exploration of specific topics. Visit SCOPE of Pain to begin.
6. ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) – DEA Education Requirements
As the premier specialty society for addiction medicine, ASAM offers comprehensive SUD education from leading experts. The eight-hour requirement can be completed across multiple courses and activities. ASAM members gain access to the 56th Annual Conference recordings featuring 75+ hours of cutting-edge content. As a named accredited organization in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, ASAM's education carries significant credibility. Explore offerings at ASAM DEA Education.
7. NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) – CME/CE Activities
NIDA offers free, government-backed CME/CE courses developed by federal addiction research experts. As a National Institutes of Health institute, NIDA brings unmatched credibility and evidence-based content. Courses cover screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), along with clinical practice guidelines and research updates. Access courses at NIDA CME/CE Activities.
8. CDC – Health Care Provider Trainings on Overdose Prevention
The CDC offers free clinician training focused on pain management, opioid use disorder, naloxone prescribing, and overdose prevention. Central to their offerings is education on the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain. Practical tools include an opioid prescribing checklist, patient counseling resources, and state PDMP information. Visit CDC Overdose Prevention Trainings.
9. HealthStream – DEA MATE Opioid and Substance Use 8-Hour Online Training
HealthStream offers a comprehensive, self-paced 8-hour course specifically designed for MATE Act compliance in one convenient package. While this is a paid option ($149), it provides all required training without piecing together multiple courses. The curriculum covers identifying and treating OUD/SUD, state PDMPs, building therapeutic relationships, MAT programs, and HIPAA compliance. The course is accredited for physicians, PAs, NPs, pharmacists, dentists, and nurses. Learn more at HealthStream CME.
10. AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) – Pain Management CME
AAFP offers adaptive learning and live CME options tailored specifically for family medicine physicians. The specialty-specific content addresses pain management challenges unique to primary care settings, where continuity of care and long-term patient relationships shape treatment approaches. Courses integrate seamlessly with AAFP's broader CME portfolio and Prescribed credit system. Explore options at AAFP Pain Management CME.
Beyond Compliance: Choosing Opioid CME That Improves Patient Care
Meeting the DEA MATE Act requirement is essential, but the real value lies in selecting education that genuinely enhances your clinical practice. The best courses go beyond regulatory checkboxes to address real-world challenges: having difficult conversations about tapering, identifying prescription diversion, managing patients with co-occurring mental health conditions, and navigating medication-assisted treatment complexities.
Pri-Med's Commitment to Accessible Opioid Education
At Pri-Med, we believe high-quality continuing medical education should be accessible to all primary care clinicians, regardless of budget constraints. Our opioid and pain management course library features diverse topics delivered by nationally recognized faculty with deep expertise in addiction medicine, pain management, and primary care.
Courses are available on-demand with mobile-friendly access, allowing you to learn on your own schedule. Automated credit tracking simplifies compliance documentation, and our full accreditation ensures your education meets all state and federal requirements.
Start exploring Pri-Med's Opioid CME offerings and begin earning credits toward your MATE Act requirement today.
Taking the Next Step in Your Opioid CME Journey
The DEA MATE Act's one-time 8-hour requirement represents both an obligation and an opportunity. While compliance is mandatory for DEA registration, this training offers something far more valuable: the knowledge and skills to provide better care for patients struggling with pain and addiction.
Choose courses that align with your specialty, learning style, and clinical practice setting. Quality opioid education directly impacts patient safety and outcomes. The skills you develop through MATE Act training—from recognizing early signs of substance use disorder to confidently prescribing buprenorphine—can be life-saving for your patients.
Start exploring the CME providers listed in this guide and begin earning your eight hours today. View this requirement not as a burden, but as an investment in your clinical expertise and your patients' wellbeing.
Pri-Med remains dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality continuing education that empowers medical professionals to deliver exceptional patient care. We're here to support your learning journey every step of the way.
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.