DEA Licenses and Controlled Substances

Proper registration with the state of Pennsylvania and the Drug Enforcement Agency is required when purchasing government controlled substances.

Under the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, researchers are authorized to receive prescription drugs and are exempt from registration or licensure as long as the research is within the scope of their professional approved research protocol. However, a licensed distributor must perform due diligence and obtain verification documentation to ensure that parties to whom they ship product are authorized to receive it.

The University has consulted with a large distributor of prescription drugs and devices, Covetrus, (formerly Henry Schein Animal Health and Butler Schein Animal Health), and has developed a Certification of Exemption which can be found on the Office of Research Protection's website.

Researchers should complete the Certificate of Exemption, and the investigator’s Department Chair or Dean must sign the form to verify that they have a need to order prescription drugs. The signed Certificate of Exemption must then be submitted to Covetrus North America.

University Guidelines regarding Controlled Substances

Obtaining a DEA License

All principal investigators who desire to purchase, possess, and use controlled substances (Schedule I-V) for laboratory research must register, and maintain active registration, with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

  • To apply for a federal registration, contact the DEA office
  • Principal investigators who hold a DEA registration for the clinical use of controlled substances should incorporate, into this same registration, the controlled substances that will be used for laboratory research being conducted under their direction.