Receive loan repayment application priority preference
Health professionals in eligible disciplines who have specialized training to provide substance use disorder treatment (for example, licensure/certification as a SUD counselor or a previously earned X-waiver) can receive priority consideration for their application to the:
- NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
- NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
You can complete a free 8-Hour Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Training and be ready when the next application cycle opens.
The National Health Service Corps is partnering with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to increase the number of clinicians trained to prescribe buprenorphine, and other medications, as part of a wholistic treatment plan for opioid use disorders in high-need communities.
SAMHSA’s Provider Clinical Support System-Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (PCSS-MOUD) offers the most effective, evidence-based clinical practices in preventing, identifying, and treating opioid-use disorder. PCSS-MOUD provides free 8-Hour MOUD Training year-round.
Who should complete the training?
You should complete the training to:
- Be a part of the solution to our nation's opioid epidemic
- Help increase access to comprehensive SUD treatment in rural and underserved areas
- Make your application more competitive to our substance use disorder-focused loan repayment programs
Are you eligible for the training?
You are eligible for the free 8-Hour MOUD Training if you have an active Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number to dispense controlled substances and are one of the following:
- Physician (Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO))
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Physician assistant (PA)
- Certified nurse midwives (CNM)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA)
- Medical students*
The training is eight (8) hours. You can take the training in-person or online. The training can also be split into more than one session.
*As a medical student, you may complete the 8-Hour MOUD training. However, you will not be eligible for a DEA number until after you are fully licensed.
What if I completed X-waiver training?
If you have completed training for the DATA Waiver, also known as the X-waiver, you have satisfied this training requirement. This training also satisfies the June 2023 mandate for health professionals who are registering or renewing a DEA license. Visit the Drug Enforcement Agency's Medication Assisted Treatment page to learn more about the training and how to obtain your DEA number.
What else does the PCSS-MOUD offer?
You can also access free mentoring services with the PCSS-MOUD. This helps you employ evidence-based practices when prescribing opioids and effectively use medications in treating opioid use disorder.
The mentoring program is available by telephone, email, or in person, in some cases.