Reporting and Recordkeeping for Digital Certificates - Form 251

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form 251 Controlled Substances Ordering System	Form	Modified	Repair queued
10.14.25 Final DEA732 FR Supporting Statement.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2025-11-14	Available
10.14.25 Final DEA732 FR Supporting Statement.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2025-11-14	Repair queued
CSOS2.0-UI-Enroll-Revoke-Flow-20210611-v01.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2024-11-01	Repair queued
CSOS2.0-UI-Enroll-Revoke-Flow-20210611-v01.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2024-11-01	Repair queued
21 USC 828.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-04-22	Repair queued
21 USC 828.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-04-22	Repair queued

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
12346	Reporting and Recordkeeping for Digital Certificates	Form	Modified	Controlled Substances Ordering System
12346	Reporting and Recordkeeping for Digital Certificates	Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1117-0038	ICR Reference No: 202511-1117-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202410-1117-004
Agency/Subagency: DOJ/DEA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Digital Certificates - Form 251
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 01/16/2026
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 11/14/2025
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, this information collection is approved

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2029	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2026
Responses	93,516	0	93,516
Time Burden (Hours)	70,137	0	187,032
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	16,393,355

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Abstract: The DEA collects information in regards to reporting and recordkeeping for digital certificates. The application for a digital certificate is required to ensure that the person applying for the certificate is either a DEA registrant or someone who has power of attorney from a DEA registrant to sign orders for Schedule I and II substances. The DEA Certification Authority uses the information to verify the person’s identity and eligibility to hold a DEA-issued digital certificate.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 21 USC 828 Name of Law: Controlled Substances Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1117-AB79	Final or interim final rulemaking	90 FR 47566	10/02/2025

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 42986	09/05/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Reporting and Recordkeeping for Digital Certificates	251	Controlled Substances Ordering System

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	93,516	93,516	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	70,137	187,032	0	-116,895	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	16,393,355	0	-16,393,355	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Changes in the annual burden hours is the result of estimated time savings from the implementation of online for. The changes in annual cost burden is due to change in methodology. For the 2023 approved burden, annual cost burden was based on the monetized value of respondent time from section 12. In the new requested burden, annual cost burden is based on the annual cost burden in section 13 of the Supporting Statement. The table in Section 15 of the Supporting Statement summarizes the changes since the last renewal of the collection of this information.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $5,521,909

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 11/14/2025

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