A new federal law is poised to streamline required training for prescribers of controlled substances. The Support for Patients and Providers Act, a wide-ranging healthcare bill signed into law on December 1, includes a provision granting the American Optometric Association (AOA) formal standing as a physician-level provider of education related to controlled substances, the AOA announced.
What’s the context?
Lawmakers added provisions to address the confusion created by a previous DEA mandate requiring specific coursework for any clinician with a DEA registration. Because some state-developed CE courses did not meet federal standards, ODs practicing in those states faced the possibility of completing two versions of essentially the same training (one state, one federal). This new law allows the AOA to review and certify state-developed courses so they meet federal expectations, removing the risk of redundant requirements for optometrists.
AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, OD, said the update strengthens support for the profession. “This legislative win is a meaningful step forward for patient care and for the doctors of optometry who serve communities every day,” she said.
In their announcement, the AOA notes that to meet the DEA’s current eight-hour education requirement, doctors can continue to use the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) “Substance Use Disorder 101 Core Curriculum” (developed by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry). The 23-module program offers an overview of evidence-based approaches to substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. Modules are free with registration, and the AOA advises ODs to select “other” and specify optometry when prompted for their profession.
The AOA is also preparing an optometry-specific course that will be available in the coming months. An in-person education offering will follow at Optometry’s Meeting 2026 (June 17 – 20 in Phoenix).
