2026
Continuing Education Resources { Act 124 of 2016 }
Pennsylvania enacted a new law requiring all licensees considered to be“ prescribers” or“ dispensers” of controlled substances to complete at least two hours of board-approved continuing education credits in pain management or identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids, as a condition of renewal every two years.
There are two exemptions for licensees:
• Licensees who are exempt from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency ' s( DEA) requirements for a registration number.
• Licensees who do not use the registration number of another person or entity, as permitted by law, to prescribe controlled substances in any manner.
The continuing education( CE) requirement does apply to all licensees who have a current DEA registration or use another DEA number( as permitted by law) to prescribe controlled substances.
PDA offers CE courses that meet the state’ s requirements. Visit padental. org / availableCE
Guidelines for Dental Providers
PDA encourages members to use dental professional guidelines when prescribing controlled substances to patients. These guidelines are intended to be used as a resource and not a substitute for dentists using their best clinical judgment when determining the course of treatment for patients.
Pennsylvania Guidelines on the Use of Opioids in Dental Practices
In 2014, PDA joined the Department of Drug and Alcohol Program’ s( DDAP) Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices and Pain Management task force. DDAP, in collaboration with the Departments of Human Services and Health, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the health care provider community and other stakeholders, created this task force in an effort to reduce prescription drug abuse and overdoses in Pennsylvania.
The task force reviewed prescribing practices and drafting guidelines for health care providers who treat chronic non-cancer pain. The dental prescribing guidelines address the use of opioids for the treatment of acute dental pain, and are intended to help health care providers improve patient outcomes when providing dental treatment, including avoiding potential adverse outcomes associated with the use of opioids to treat pain.
https:// www. pamedsoc. org / PAMED _ Downloads / opioid _ dental _ prescribing _ guidelines3 _ 13 _ 15. pdf? utm _ source = PDF & utm _ medium = web & utm _ campaign = DentalGuidelines
CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain- United States, 2016
This guideline provides recommendations for primary care clinicians who are prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care.
https:// www. cdc. gov / mmwr / volumes / 65 / rr / rr6501e1. htm
2026