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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.
- To verify the status of the veterinary license, visit the Louisiana State Board of Veterinary Medicine Website or call their office at 225.342.2176.
- To verify the status of the DEA registration, you may call their regional office at 504.840.1100.
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.
- To verify the status of a CDS license, visit the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy Website.