California Furnishing License

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 28, 2015

If you are certain that your Advanced Pharmacology course did not meet those key points, you will need to also submit proof of completion of Controlled Substance II certification. CANP offers the course at a discounted rate for members.

I will not claim to be an expert on California Furnishing Number application as I did mine more than 5 years ago. My understanding is that without a DEA number and the Controlled Substance II course, you could still obtain a Furnishing Number, but one that will not allow you to "furnish" controlled subtances.

Ash7187 · May 29, 2015

If you are certain that your Advanced Pharmacology course did not meet those key points, you will need to also submit proof of completion of Controlled Substance II certification. CANP offers the course at a discounted rate for members.
I will not claim to be an expert on California Furnishing Number application as I did mine more than 5 years ago. My understanding is that without a DEA number and the Controlled Substance II course, you could still obtain a Furnishing Number, but one that will not allow you to "furnish" controlled subtances.

Thank you for sending that link! It was really helpful. My program director mailed out the Advanced Pharmacology verification form. Sooo...I'm assuming she read all the requirements attached to the form and determined my Advanced Pharm course met the Furnishing License requirements? Does the BRN do their own investigation of the course to make sure it meets the requirements, or is the signature of my program director validation? I'm just eager to start working!!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 29, 2015

The BRN, for sure, have been doing their own evaluation of any document you send. You can always check the status of your application with the BRN at https://www.breeze.ca.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do

Once, you have a Furnishing License, check to see if Controlled Substances II is added to the license, if not, that means you will need the course and a DEA number.

Ash7187 · May 29, 2015

The BRN, for sure, have been doing their own evaluation of any document you send. You can always check the status of your application with the BRN at https://www.breeze.ca.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do
Once, you have a Furnishing License, check to see if Controlled Substances II is added to the license, if not, that means you will need the course and a DEA number.

I see...so how do they evaluate your course to make sure it meets that Controlled Substance II requirement? It just seems so tedious to do all these measures. So this link here (http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-16.pdf) says that: The NP authorized to furnish Schedule II by approved standardized procedure, who has a United States DEA number, shall complete, as part of their continuing education requirement, a course including Schedule II controlled substance based on the standards developed by the BRN.

Does this mean that I only need to complete the Controlled Substance II course as part of continuing education and not as a requirement to get my actual Furnishing license? Sorry for the long post, I'm so confused!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 30, 2015

How the BRN determines eligibility is a mystery, lol. Kidding aside, I think they have enough experienced assessors who could tell based on the particular program if the requirements are met. Did you attend a California program? What makes things a bit difficult is if you graduated outside of California which I did.

The Furnishing License actually has two steps, if you will. One step is being granted a Furnishing License that does not allow you to write for controlled substances. All you need is the form signed by a faculty member that vouches for your NP Advanced Pharmacology class and the application form and fee. The second step includes applying for a DEA number, sending a copy of it to the BRN and then (if your Advanced Pharmacology course did not include Controlled Substances II content) submitting proof of completion of the CME course (like the one CANP offers).

It seems so tedious I know but once you have it, you just renew at the same time you do for RN and NP licenses. It's only "painful" the first time you apply. Your questions are valid though, you won't believe how many graduating students I've talked to have the same questions and how many posters here ask about this very same issue.

Ash7187 · Jun 5, 2015

How the BRN determines eligibility is a mystery, lol. Kidding aside, I think they have enough experienced assessors who could tell based on the particular program if the requirements are met. Did you attend a California program? What makes things a bit difficult is if you graduated outside of California which I did.
The Furnishing License actually has two steps, if you will. One step is being granted a Furnishing License that does not allow you to write for controlled substances. All you need is the form signed by a faculty member that vouches for your NP Advanced Pharmacology class and the application form and fee. The second step includes applying for a DEA number, sending a copy of it to the BRN and then (if your Advanced Pharmacology course did not include Controlled Substances II content) submitting proof of completion of the CME course (like the one CANP offers).
It seems so tedious I know but once you have it, you just renew at the same time you do for RN and NP licenses. It's only "painful" the first time you apply. Your questions are valid though, you won't believe how many graduating students I've talked to have the same questions and how many posters here ask about this very same issue.

Yeah I graduated from a school on the East coast so I guess that's what would make them not grant me the CII part. Did you do the CII course? Was there an exam you had to pass? I'm sure all the CA schools have these requirements already built into their programs. Sucks for us outsiders!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jun 6, 2015

Did the CII course offered by CANP (and got a membership so it was discounted). The test itself wasn't hard and was included in the packet. CANP was prompt with sending the CME certificate to me.

scoop32 · Feb 25, 2017

I know this an old post, but I a was hoping to get some help on this topic. I did schooling out of state as well, completed the online course through CANP, and sent documentation of the course along with a letter to BON Advance Practice Unit. I have yet to hear anything as to next steps or any direction. It has almost been a year now....emailed BON/CANP/DEA multiple times, called BON (which I can never get through). Any thoughts? I am still unable to write for schedule II, good thing I work with a team, but it becoming a big issue.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 26, 2017

In this curcumstance, I would personally drive to Sacramento and have a face to face discussion (and complaint) with a person at the BRN. But Sacramento is only an hour away for me.

npcalifornia · Jul 6, 2017

What if I completed the nurse practitioner program in Canada? The Canadian pharmacology course does not meet the criteria set out by the California Board of Nursing. Can someone guide me on the list of advanced pharmacology courses available to obtain the furnishing# and DEA# in California.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 6, 2017

We're you told by the BRN that your Canadian Pharmacology course wasn't equivalent? Do you have a US-based national certification (i.e. AANP or ANCC)? In instances when the BRN determines that certain courses taken in your program were not similar to California's standards, you are asked to take the course again in a program in California. Not saying that this is your situation, but it sounds like you should be communicating directly to someone at the BRN for guidance. Good luck.