QACSC
To prescribe, administer, authorize for administration a Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance in Alabama, Physician Assistants (PA) must obtain annually a Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSC).
A QACSC is specific to each registration agreement.
- How to Apply/What Happens Next
- Eligibility Requirements
- Forms
- Fees (Non-Transferable/Non-Refundable)
- Renewal Requirements
- FAQ
- Check Pending Application
- Agenda Deadlines
How to Apply/What Happens Next
Complete the application forms and submit with fee payment.
- The application will be placed on the next Board agenda for approval.
- After the Board meeting, approved applicants will be notified of approval/non-approval.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be in a registration agreement with a physician who holds and maintains a current, unrestricted Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate.
- Submit proof of successful completion of a course or courses (AMA PRA Category 1™) approved by the Board which includes eight (8) hours of instruction regarding the prescribing of controlled substances and four (4) hours of advanced pharmacology and prescribing trends relating to controlled substances within one (1) year preceding the filing of an application for a QACSC.
- Have a minimum of 12 months of active clinical practice in Alabama.
- Apply for registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration after receiving the initial QACSC.
Forms
- Prescribing Protocols for QACSC and LPSP
- Initial QACSC Application for PAs Application and Instructions
- Additional QACSC Application for PAs Application and Instructions
- QACSC Covering Letter-PA (How to add coverings to QACSC)
Fees (Non-Transferable/Non-Refundable)
- Initial QACSC: $110
- Additional QACSC: $60
- QACSC renewal: $60
Print receipts at the Licensee Portal
Renewal Requirements
- QACSCs are renewed annually on or before Jan. 1 of each year.
- QACSC renewals begin on Oct. 1 and are online only through the Licensee Portal.
- As a requirement for renewal, applicant must:
- Obtain four AMA PRA Category 1 credits every two years through a Board-approved course regarding the prescribing of controlled substances.
- Have a current registration to access the Prescription Drug Monitoring Databank.
- Have a current Drug Enforcement Administration registration.
NOTICE: The ACSC CME requirement was waived for all licensees for 2020. The two-year period to obtain two credits is extended by one year. If your two-year period was 2018-2020, it is now 2018-2021, 2019-2021 is now 2019-2022, and so forth. The two-year period for QACSC holders to obtain four CME credits is likewise extended.
List of Approved Prescribing Courses
FAQ
What are the regulations regarding prescribing controlled substances in Alabama?
Please see Prescribing Issues.
Can I use my DEA registration from another state?
No, DEA registrations are location-specific. Please see DEA Registration for more information.
How do I register for the 12 CME credits required for an initial QACSC?
The eight-hour course, “Prescribing Controlled Drugs; Critical Issues and Common Pitfalls,” is presented by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners . Please see the prescribing course web page.
The four-hour course(s) must be approved by the Board. The approved courses are listed here.
I am a physician assistant (or nurse practitioner) with a QACSC. Do I have to meet the CME requirement in the Risk and Abuse Mitigation Strategies rule?
No. As a QACSC holder, you have an existing CME requirement to which you must adhere [see Rules 540-X-12- .05(3) and 540-X-18-.05(2)].