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The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will be closed on Tuesday, February 17 in observance of Mardi Gras.

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Prescribers with Authority for Controlled Substances

Louisina State Board of Medical Examiners

Physicians (whether allopathic [MD] or osteopathic [DO]), surgeons, and podiatrists [DPM] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in the Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) License issued to them by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.  With a Louisiana CDS license, the practitioner may then apply to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to obtain a DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II, II-N (nonnarcotic), III, III-N (nonnarcotic), IV, and V.  The prescriber must be in possession of both the CDS license and DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances - one credential without the other is insufficient.

Physician assistants [PA-C] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II, II-N, III, III-N, IV, and V.   

Medical psychologists [MP] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II-N, III-N, IV, and V.  They may prescribe medications recognized and customarily used for mental and emotional disorders; however, they shall not prescribe any narcotics.  

  • To verify the status of a medical practitioners' license, visit the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners Website or you may call their office at 504.568.6820.
  • To verify the status of the DEA registration, you may call their regional office at 504.840.1100.

Louisiana State Board of Dentistry

Dentists and oral surgeons [DDS] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and their DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II, II-N, III, III-N, IV, and V.  

  • To verify the status of the dental license, visit the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry Website or call their office at 504.568.8574.
  • To verify the status of the DEA registration, you may call their regional office at 504.840.1100.

Louisiana State Board of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinarians [DVM] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Veterinary Medicine.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II, II-N, III, III-N, IV, and V.

Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners

Optometrists [OD] are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II, II-N, III, III-N, IV, and V.  

  • To verify the status of the optometric license, you may contact the Board of Optometry Examiners at 318.335.2989 or lsboe@yahoo.com.
  • To verify the status of the DEA registration, you may call their regional office at 504.840.1100.

Louisiana State Board of Nursing

Advanced practice registered nurses [APRN], also known as nurse practitioners, are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.  They have been authorized by the legislature to prescribe controlled substances; that authorization is evident in their CDS license and DEA registration.  In most cases, the CDS and DEA credentials include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules III, III-N, IV, and V.  In some cases, their credentials may also include the authority to prescribe drugs in Schedules II and/or II-N.  

  • To verify the status of the nursing license, visit the Louisiana State Board of Nursing Website or you may call their office at 225.763.3570.
  • To verify the status of the DEA registration, you may call their regional office at 504.840.1100.

Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Licenses

Practitioners referenced above who are authorized to prescribe and / or possess Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) are issued a CDS license by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.