Can I Continue to Prescribe While My DEA Registration is Pending Renewal?

Pursuant to 21 CFR 1301.36(i), if you submit your DEA renewal form at least 45 days prior to the expiration of your DEA registration, your registration will be automatically extended. It will continue in effect until the date on which the DEA chooses to take formal administrative action.

This can provide those under DEA investigation some relief, as they may continue to prescribe while administrative or criminal action is pending.

Administrative action is a lengthy process, sometimes taking years to receive a final order by the DEA administrator revoking a registration. But if you renew your registration at least 45 days prior to its expiration, you will be able to continue to prescribe until a final order is issued.

If you submitted your DEA renewal application prior to expiration, but not within 45 days of expiration, the DEA may allow you to prescribe, provided no final action has been taken on your renewal application.

However, your DEA registration status will be “expired” until it is renewed or final action is taken. Under this status, pharmacies will probably be unwilling to fill your controlled substance prescriptions. Our attorneys have helped prescribers resolve this issue with big-box pharmacies, allowing controlled substance scripts to be filled.

If you did not submit your renewal prior to expiration, you may not continue to prescribe, but the DEA has authority to extend your current (expired) registration during its investigation. 

If you are a physician, dentist, veterinarian, PA, NP or other prescriber, we strongly advise that you renew your registration at least 45 days prior to expiration. The typical processing time for a DEA 224a is four to six weeks. If your registration remains pending for more than six weeks, you may be under a DEA investigation.