CDS Application

Notice to All Applicants:

Over the weekend of 12/4/2021, a network security incident occurred involving the Maryland Department of Health’s (MDH) information technology systems. As a result, external connections from the MDH network have been blocked, including internet access. OCSA's access to its registrant database has been affected by this and we are unable to verify CDS registration status at this time. MDH's Office of Enterprise Technology is working to assess the situation and we will provide updates accordingly.

Renewal Applicants:

Per State Government Article 10-226, if at least 2 calendar weeks before a license expires, the licensee makes sufficient application for renewal of the license, the license does not expire until the unit takes final action on the application. All pending renewal applications that were submitted at least 2 weeks before their expiration date are hereby extended until a final determination on the application has been made by OCSA. Any registrant whose registration is due for renewal should submit their renewal application timely, and their existing registration will similarly be extended until OCSA makes a final determination. When the MDH network resumes normal operations, an email notification will be sent to all registrants and a notice will be posted on our website at https://health.maryland.gov/OCSA.

New Applicants:

​OCSA will be processing new applications manually in order to avoid a disturbance to patient care. OCSA will verify PDMP registration and professional license status when reviewing applications, and will contact applicants for any additional needed information. New applicants whose applications are approved will receive a letter with a temporary CDS registration number. This letter can be used as verification of your active CDS registration. When the MDH network resumes normal operations, a permanent CDS number will be issued and you will receive a registration certificate in the mail.​


​​Effective March 12, 2020, the State of Maryland has suspended the expiration date on all licenses, including registrations issued by the Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA), ​until 30 days after the end of the current State of Emergency due to COVID-19.  Please see the for additional information on how this affects your CDS registration.


Effective December 31, 2020, OCSA will no longer be accepting paper CDS applications for a new registrtion and renewal registration within the current renewal period. 

OCSA is accepting paper CDS applications for an address change, name change, change of ownership, replacement/duplicate copy of CDS certificate, and expired renewal registration.​

​Online CDS Registration & Renewal Information​​
​Click Here to Begin CDS Online Regist​ration​



Phy​sical Practitioner CDS Application Information
Practitioner - 3 Year Application (Fillable)​​​​
Practitione​r - 3 Year Application Instructions​​​

​Physical Establishment CDS Application Information
​​Establishment - 3 Year Application (Fillable)​



PDMP Mandate Effective February 15, 2018

All MD licensed healthcare providers must register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) prior to obtaining a new or renewal of CDS Registration. To register with PDMP, go to CRISP website at https://crisphealth.org/   Submit to OCSA the PDMP email confirmation that includes the confirmation code number.