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Federal & State Compliance Guide

Complete Guide to US Prescribing & Dispensing Laws

DEA/FDA regulations and state-specific requirements for all 50 states — every answer cited to statute.

Medically reviewed · RX Agent Team, PharmD · Updated January 2026

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PDMP requirements, prescribing limits, drug regulations — get the answer in seconds, cited to statute.

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Browse by State (A-Z)

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Key Compliance Topics Across All States

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)

Nearly all states require prescribers to check PDMPs before prescribing controlled substances. Check your state for specific query timeframes and exemptions.

Telemedicine Prescribing

State requirements vary for establishing patient relationships, prescribing controlled substances, and out-of-state licensure. Ryan Haight Act restricts Schedule II-V telemedicine prescribing without in-person exam (federal).

Collaborative Practice Agreements

Many states allow pharmacists to prescribe under collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) with physicians. Scope varies by state.

Controlled Substance Limits

Many states impose day-supply limits for initial controlled substance prescriptions (typically 3-7 days). Check your state for specifics.

Naloxone Co-Prescribing Requirements

Some states require or recommend prescribing overdose reversal agents alongside controlled substances for high-risk patients.

Drug Regulations

Federal schedules set the baseline, but states can classify drugs more strictly. Some states schedule additional substances not listed federally, impose tighter dispensing limits, or restrict certain drug categories outright. Always verify both federal and state scheduling before prescribing or dispensing.

Prescribing Across State Lines

A valid license in one state does not automatically authorize prescribing to patients in another. Prescribers must hold a license — and in most cases a DEA registration — in the state where the patient is located at the time of the encounter. Telehealth compact agreements and interstate licensure compacts are expanding reciprocity, but coverage is uneven across states.

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