iPrescribe: Activate My Account for EPCS

Before you begin, you will need to have the following ready:

• The mobile device you intend to use for e-prescribing
• Your NPI number
• Your DEA number 
• First and last name
• Email address (of a person to provide as reference to confirm your access to EPCS) 
• Current business mailing address on your DEA profile. An authentication code required to complete the activation will be mailed to the primary business address on your DEA profile. 

  

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1. There are 2 ways you can begin the EPCS activation process: 

1. Option 1: From the main menu, select Activate EPCS > Enroll Now. 

1. Option 2: From the banner, select Continue EPCS upgrade in the message.  

2. On the next screen, tap Continue to proceed. For the best experience, set aside 15 minutes for EPCS activation. Otherwise, you may wish to select other options on the screen: 

• Remind me later to postpone EPCS activation. 
• I don't want to prescribe controlled substances to opt out of future prompts for EPCS activation. 

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3. You will be prompted to go to Google Play or Apple app store to download the ID.me Authenticator app on the app store page. Install the ID.me Authenticator app on your device. 

4. Once you have installed ID.me Authenticator app on your phone, open the iPrescribe app again.

5. Select Yes to the prompt, Have you installed ID.me Authenticator? to confirm you completed downloading the app.

6. Go back and open your iPrescribe application, then tap Yes when prompted.

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7. Next, enter a mailing address of your choice to receive a hard token (also called an authenticator device or key fob). 

• This hard token (Symantec or OneSpan brand) will generate a One-Time-Pin (OTP) each time you need to provide two-factor authentication to prescribe controlled substances. 
• The hard token will arrive by mail to the address you entered. Once you receive the hard token, you will need to associate it with your iPrescribe account by following the instructions received with the hard token. 
• Note: This is different from the mailer (letter) that you will also receive for EPCS activation and only goes to the primary address on file with the DEA.  

8. Tap the Get code generator button to continue.

9. Tap Invite reference, then enter their First Name, Last Name, and Email. Tap Continue to proceed. Your reference should receive an email once you complete this step.  

• The DEA requires a reference to verify your identity before you can prescribe controlled substances. This is a one-time action and takes less than a minute for your reference to authorize you.

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10. Tap Open instructions and follow the on-screen instructions.

• You must click Open instructions in browse to be able to click the Sign into ID.me box.
• You will be taken into a web browser outside of the iPrescribe application. If you are on an iPhone, you can close the web browser by selecting the done button on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to come back to this page.

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11. Enter your NPI Number and DEA Number. Tap Continue when finished.

• If you have an institutional DEA, check the box labeled This is an institutional DEA number with suffix, then select a DEA Schedule (optional)
• Note: When you enter your DEA number, enter as 2 letters followed by 8 digits (no spaces, no hyphens, no characters). Anything additional will cause errors.

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12. You have completed your Medical verification. Tap Continue to proceed.  

If your medical credentials were not verified, please use the on-screen prompts to start or schedule a call with ID.me. The most common cause is the nicknames or initials used on paperwork and not because your credentials are  incorrect. ID.me will manually verify your credentials.

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13. Scroll down and tap Allow to send the on-screen information to iPrescribe. 

• After your reference authorizes you, you will be prompted to confirm your EPCS activation on your next login. 

1. Next, confirm your primary business address listed with DEA. If it is not current, you will need to update your profile with the DEA so that the mailer (letter) goes to a valid address.

2. After confirming, you will receive a mailer (after 5-7 business days and up to 10 business days) at that address. This mailer (letter) will contain a 7-digit code that you will need to complete EPCS activation.

Note: If you requested a hard token to be sent to you, this was sent separately from the mailer (letter) to the address you entered into the iPrescribe app. Your token can be registered after the mailer steps and confirmation of your EPCS are completed. Please reference How to Manage my EPCS Tokens for details.

3. Once you receive your mailer (letter), log in to iPrescribe, tap the menu button in the top left corner, and select EPCS Activation. You may scan the QR code or enter the 7-digit code:

• To scan the QR code, tap the "Scan QR code" button and give iPrescribe access to your camera, then align the view of the camera with the QR code on the mailer.
• To enter the code, tap the "Enter 7-digit code" button.

4. Once successful, the app pairs the 7-digit code from the mailer (letter) to your iPrescribe account, and you will see the Success screen and tap Next

Confirm your EPCS activation to finalize and finish the activation process after your reference authorizes you.

• After your reference authorizes you, you will be prompted to confirm your application's activation on your next login.

1. Follow the steps in chronological order:

(A) Enter your login Password.

(B) Select the Code generator device from the drop-down menu (it will have the nickname you provided).

(C) Enter the 6-digit security code from the soft token that you downloaded (ID.me Authenticator app) 

If your code fails, go back to the ID.me Authenticator app and copy a new one. The 6-digit security codes are valid for 30 seconds and then resets as a new code.

(D) Tap Activate before the code changes to a new number.

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2. You can now prescribe controlled substances!