West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

The correct answer is associated with the first letter of a DEA number that designates a mid-level practitioner, which indeed is the letter M. Mid-level practitioners include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and similar healthcare providers who are authorized to prescribe controlled substances, but have a different registration classification compared to fully licensed physicians.

The structure of a DEA number involves specific letters to categorize the registrants. For example, the letter A is generally used for practitioners, such as physicians and dentists, who are fully licensed, while the letter C is specifically for practitioners authorized to work with controlled substances, such as reverse distributors. Thus, understanding the significance of these letters is important for identifying the scope of prescription authority.

In understanding DEA registration, recognizing the specific letters and what they denote allows for a clear interpretation of which categories of practitioners can engage in prescribing controlled substances and ensures regulatory compliance within the pharmacy practice.