Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Practice Exam

Which DEA number is valid?

1. AW2976452

2. BF8976134

3. AS8524616

4. XD7491655

The correct answer is: AS8524616

To determine the validity of a DEA number, a specific formula derived from the digits in the number is used. A legitimate DEA number consists of two letters, followed by seven digits. The second letter typically represents the first letter of the registrant's last name. The validation involves summing specific digits: the first, third, and fifth digits are added together and multiplied by 3, then added to the sum of the second, fourth, and sixth digits, and finally, the last digit of the DEA number is checked to see if it matches the last digit of this total sum. In the case of the DEA number AS8524616, it follows this format and matches the requirement for registration. The calculation would yield a result that confirms its legitimacy against the rules set by the DEA for issuing these numbers. On the other hand, the other options do not validate correctly when reviewed against the DEA verification method or do not follow the correct format based on the structure of a valid DEA number.