VSPN TECH163-0222: Controlling Controlled Drugs

The real time sessions for this course will be presented via Zoom webinar platform.

Presenter: Philip Seibert, BS, CVT Course Open: February 21, 2022 - March 24, 2022
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, February 28 and March 7 and 14, 2022; 9:00-10:30pm ET (USA)    World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 4.5
RACE Category: 4.5 hours Non-Medical

Enrollment is closed.

The course fee includes a copy of "The Complete Veterinary Practice Controlling Controlled Drug Manual.
** In the comment section of the registration, please provide your mailing address for February. **
(Please review additional details below under Tuition)

Course Information:
This course is designed to provide practical guidance on the administration of a controlled substance accountability program in the veterinary hospital. The course will present an overview of the DEA regulations including, registration, ordering, security, dispensing, accountability, inventories, and problem resolution scenarios that are likely to happen in a veterinary practice setting. **This course will discuss US federal (DEA) laws only. **

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
  • Distinguish when a DEA registration is required.
  • Prepare orders and submit them for controlled substances using the proper channel.
  • Implement a suitable access control system for controlled drugs in the practice.
  • Prepare and maintain suitable physical security for controlled drugs in the practice.
  • Design and maintain a practical accountability (log) system to account for controlled substance activities.
  • Properly package and label controlled substances for dispensing pursuant to a prescription.
  • Identify “non-traditional” situations where controlled drugs are used and create an accountability system to track the drugs.
  • Conduct an “audit” or check to ensure records and stocks of controlled drugs are in agreement.
  • Accurately count controlled substances in solid and liquid form.
  • Design and complete required documentation for inventories of controlled substances .
  • Properly correct balances to reflect operational shortages or overages.
  • Properly document and report significant shortages or theft of controlled substances.
  • Identify the proper disposal method for unwanted or outdated controlled substances.
Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VSPN CE course is an essential part of practice management for all involved with controlled substance tracking and documentation. All veterinary staff members, office managers, practice managers, hospital administrators, supervisors, and veterinarians are welcome to join the course and its discussions.

RACE Accreditation: This program has been approved for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.This course is approved by VHMA for CVPM credit. (VHMA program # 09-06).
Veterinarians should check with their state/provincial boards regarding course approval for pharmacy or regulatory content requirements.(20-873257)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session February 28): Before the Drugs Arrive – Terminology, Registration, Ordering, and Access Control
In this session, we will discuss terminology and why controls are necessary, identify when a DEA registration is required and dispel myths about registrations. We’ll also discuss preparing orders for controlled drugs and submitting them through the proper channels. We will also go over suitable screening and access control systems for controlled drugs in a practice.

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 7): Drugs on Site – Security, Logs and Accountability
This week, we will discuss designing and maintaining suitable physical and procedural security for controlled drugs in a practice. We’ll discuss packaging, labeling security and refill rules related to dispensing and prescribing controlled substances. We will learn the elements necessary to design and maintain log systems to account for controlled substance activity in the clinic/hospital. We will identify “non-traditional” situations where controlled drugs are used and create an accountability system to track the drugs. We will learn to conduct an “audit” or check to ensure records and stocks of controlled drugs agree.

Week 3 (Real Time Session March 14): Inventories & Disposing of Unwanted Drugs
In this final session of the course, we will learn how to accurately count controlled substances and how to design and complete the required documentation of required inventories. We will also learn to properly correct inaccurate balances to reflect operational shortages or overages. We will discuss how to identify, document and report significant shortages or theft of controlled substances. We will learn how to properly dispose of unwanted or outdated controlled substances.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook: "The Complete Veterinary Practice Controlling Controlled Drug Manual," which is included in the course fee

Enrollment is closed.

Tuition: $154 ($145 early bird special if enrolled by February 7, 2022)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*** In the comment section of the registration, please provide your mailing address for February as the required manual is included in the tuition fee***

  • Manuals will be mailed out via USPS to participants starting 10-14 days prior to the course open date.
  • Once mailed, no refunds will be given on the manual portion of the course fee.
  • Participants registering after 02/13/2022 may not receive the manual in time for the first Real Time Session.
* Students currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on February 18, 2022 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext.792 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357