Has anyone worked without DEA license?

[Jlvh1985]

Has anyone been able to work without a DEA license? I have voluntarily surrendered mine for a year, due to working for two physicians who were overprescribing and having me prescribe while they were out of the office (I 100% own up to my fault in the situation, and hope I never have to write for another narcotic again). 
I am very concerned I won’t be able to get another job for a year or so. I’m hoping someone has had a similar experience and can tell me how it worked out or what types of groups would still hire. Any info would help. Thanks in advance. 

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

I had one in my end of career position (no cost since it was a school district) and didn't use it once in 4 1/2 years (last day was Halloween).

Edited January 25, 2020 by GetMeOuttaThisMess

[jmj11]

For several years I chose not to have one, as not even to temp me or patients to prescribe or ask for narcotics for headaches, which is usually contraindicated. However, after a while (I was at Mayo Clinic) the credentialing people required me to have a DEA number, for their credentialing with insurance companies. I thought that was a silly requirement, but the credentialing forms had space for the provider's DEA and if left blank, they would not process the application. There may be a way around that via phone calls and etc, but Mayo as a big institution, it became black or white. 

[rev ronin]

Is one required in correctional medicine?

[bovineplane]

Federal positions don't require a dea license. I haven't ever had one as I recently retired from the military. Currently working as a contractor for federal prison. 

Check into border medical jobs, federal positions, Indian health services, etc. 

[Mayamom]

In Mass you need a DEA in correctional medicine.    I used to work with a psychiatrist who did not have a DEA license.  

[bovineplane]

11 hours ago, Mayamom said:

In Mass you need a DEA in correctional medicine.    I used to work with a psychiatrist who did not have a DEA license.  

This is true for state and county corrections but not federal. I was asked by the contractor for a dea#. I declined to provide one. The medical director at the facility confirmed to the contractor a dea# was not required. 

It is interesting to hear but the feds have a generic federal dea# by medical facility which the providers work under. Not sure if it is associated with the feres doctrine and not allowing individuals to be named in lawsuits or not. 

While in the military the only time a specific individual dea# was needed was when I deployed to Jordan. Again, the government provided the # at no cost. It was needed for the by mail scripts our soldiers had or if I needed to order controlled substances while deployed. Truthfully I don't even know what the number was. It was handled at levels above me after I signed a piece of paper requesting it. 

In 7 years in federal work I haven't ever needed one domestically. 

Another option might be working as a special foreign service officer for the state department. These positions can be found on the department of state website. You are assigned as a provider at an embassy. I'd love to do this but haven't been able to sell the wife/family on it. . . Yet. 

[Cideous]

^^^ I read Wuhan China might have some openings going forward....

 

lol too soon?

[dphy83]

I had one but let it lapse (big mistake?) since I dont need it for my current EM position. All scheduled prescriptions have to be signed by docs, per facility policy, so I just print what I want and have the doc sign it.

[tenjjetnis]

The state of Kentucky still does not allow PAs to prescribe scheduled drugs.