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Format checker

DEA Number Validator

Check whether a DEA registration number is well-formed: two letters plus seven digits, with the seventh digit acting as a checksum. The test runs in your browser; nothing is sent to a server. A passing checksum does not confirm an active registration.

How the DEA check digit works

  1. Take the seven digits; set the seventh aside as the check digit.
  2. Add the 1st, 3rd, and 5th digits.
  3. Add the 2nd, 4th, and 6th digits and double that sum.
  4. Add the two results; the last digit of the total must equal the check digit.

Worked example: AB1234563

Digits 123456: (1 + 3 + 5) = 9; (2 + 4 + 6) × 2 = 24; total 33. The last digit of 33 is 3, which matches the check digit of AB1234563, so the number is well-formed.

What the letters mean

The first letter encodes the registrant type: B (hospital/clinic), C (practitioner), E (manufacturer), F (distributor), G (researcher), M (mid-level practitioner such as an NP or PA), P-U (narcotic treatment programs), among others. The second letter is normally the first letter of the registrant's last name or business name.

Format validity is not registration status. To confirm a prescriber's identity alongside the DEA format check, look them up in the NPI registry with the NPI lookup by name, and see NPI vs Tax ID vs DEA vs CLIA for how the identifiers relate.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a DEA number valid?
A DEA registration number is two letters followed by seven digits. The first letter identifies the registrant type (for example B for hospitals, F for distributors, M for mid-level practitioners), the second usually matches the first letter of the registrant's last name, and the seventh digit is a checksum over the first six digits.
Does a valid checksum mean the DEA registration is active?
No. The checksum only shows the number is well-formed. Registration status, schedules, and expiration can only be confirmed through the DEA registration database or a commercial verification service.
Is a DEA number the same as an NPI?
No. The NPI is a healthcare identifier used on claims; the DEA number authorizes prescribing and handling of controlled substances. Most prescribers have both. See NPI vs Tax ID vs DEA vs CLIA for how the identifiers differ.
Why does the second letter matter?
The second letter of a practitioner's DEA number is normally the first letter of their last name at the time of registration. A mismatch (for example a DEA number starting "BK" for Dr. Smith) is a red flag that pharmacies use to spot forged prescriptions, though name changes can produce legitimate mismatches.