Meets the MATE Act Training Requirements

Highly Recommended by 87% of the People Who Have Taken the Courses

Online Continuing Education 20-Credit Advanced Certificate Program for Healthcare Clinicians and Laypersons

In partnership with Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Office of Continuing Education, Overdose Lifeline has developed healthcare clinician and layperson continuing education courses and a 20-hour certificate program on Addiction / Substance Use Disorder with an Opioid Specialization.

Substance use disorders are a pressing health concern in the United States, where rates of morbidity and mortality increase every year. Over 20 million people in the U.S meet the criteria for an SUD, an estimated 23 million are in recovery, and over 100,000 people died from an overdose in 2022 (Morreale et al., 2020; National Center for Health Statistics, 2021).

The Overdose Lifeline certificate program assist laypersons and clinicians in building knowledge and competency in the underserved area - substance use disorder / opioid health crisis. Allowing individuals across community sectors to work together more efficiently and effectively in prevention efforts and to better serve those affected.

Continuing Education Accreditations

Nursing: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

Pharmacy: Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)

Physician: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) 

Other CE Areas: AMA PRA Category 1™ (ACCME) which will service all other healthcare clinical and layperson CE hours

DEA Prescriber Requirements MATE Act Training Requirements

The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act requires new or renewing DEA licensees to complete 8 hours of addiction continuing education.

The required 8 hours can be satisfied through a combination of courses or activites.

Six of the eight on-demand, online courses in the ANCC and ACCME 20-Credit Advanced Certificate programs meet the MATE Act training content requirements. See the MATE Act marker on indivividual course listing below.

CE Credits - delivered upon 100% individual course completion, achievement of 80% (minimum) passing grade on the final exam, and completing the course ending survey. 

If you need assistance, or have any questions please contact [email protected].

Law Enforcement Online Continuing Education 20-Credit Advanced Certificate

As an approved Law Enforcement Training Board training provider (#47-1333720), Overdose Lifeline online training courses meet annual in-service training requirements for Indiana Law Enforcement officers and support personal, specifically for Mental Illness, Addiction & Disabilities IC 5-2-1-9(g). First Responders may take individual courses for continuing education credits or complete the entire 20-hour certificate program.

Outside of Indiana: before beginning any of the Overdose Lifeline online courses we recommend that you verify that the course is of suitable subject matter and content for annual in-service training with your department’s Certified Instructor.

Certificate Program Learning Outcomes

8 Online Courses and Practicum Assignment

  • Increase knowledge about SUD and treatment, result in a more informed and aware professional, improved interaction with patients with SUD or recognition of early-stage display of risk factors.

  • Raised confidence, better able to serve individuals affected by SUD.

  • Improve attitudes and alleviate discomfort working with patients who have SUDs.

  • Reduce barriers to care and improved health outcomes with individuals accessing/receiving support and services more easily/earlier in the disease cycle.

About the Certificate Program Course Track

Students will complete eight online courses and a brief practicum assignment. Each video-based course includes "Check My Knowledge" activities to assist in preparing for the course final exam. CE credits are issued automatically at the successful completion of each course.

Certificate Program Course Track

The Brain and Disease of Addiction (BDA) — 2.0 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

Removing the Shame and Stigma of Substance Use Disorder / Addiction (RSS-SUD) — 3.0 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

Guide to Harm Reduction — 3.0 Continuing Education Credits 

Guide to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (SUD-TR) — 3.0 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

Medication Assisted Treatment: Understanding the Role of Medication Assisted Treatment in Recovery (MAT) — 3.0 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

ACEs and Trauma's Role in Substance Use Disorder (ATR-SUD)  — 1.5 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

The Opioid Public Health Crisis (OPHC) — 3.0 Continuing Education Credits - MATE Act Approved

Layperson Naloxone Administration (LPN) — 1.5 Continuing Education Credits

PLUS: Certificate Practicum Assignment VIEW Practicum-Assignment-Overview.pdf

20-Credit Advanced Certificate Programs

Select your accreditation from the available options

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

  • What is an Advanced Continuing Education Certificate Program?

    Advanced professional certificates are professional credentials designed to help professionals enhance their job performance and marketability in their respective fields. Completion of a certificate program indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific concentration that is different from an educational degree program. The end goal of an advanced professional certificate is so that professionals may demonstrate knowledge of course content at the end of a set period.

  • How many courses make up the certificate program?

    The certificate program includes a practicum assignment and eight (8) online courses, which may be taken in any order. The submission of a practicum assignment completes the certificate track.

  • How many CE hours does the certificate program provide?

    20 hours.

  • Do I have to buy the certificate program in order to take the courses?

    No. Many people take two or three courses before committing to the entire certificate program. Others simply take courses they find interesting without ever intending to pursue the certificate program.

  • I am not a nurse, pharmacist, or physician. How does AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (ACCME) work for other disciplines / professions?

    AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™(ACCME) is accepted for many clinical continuing education requirements and many societies and credentialing bodies accept the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as an equivalent as long as the topic is relevant to the applicant’s field or discipline.

    If in question, review information provided from your accrediting organization.

  • What is required to earn CE credits for a course?

    100% course completion. 80% (minimum) passing grade on the final exam. Complete the course ending survey.

  • Have more questions? Visit our Support page.

    Visit the Support webpage for information on how to navigate through the course and other helpful information.

    Or you can email [email protected] or call 844-554-3354, ext. 4.

What People Are Saying About the Online Courses

  • “I have never thought of shopping, materialistic items as a comparison to fill a void to make one feel better. Excellent comparison to bridge that gap and find commonality."

    "This helped me understand what I can personally do to help my family and others and that the solutions work when all are used, and everyone works together."

    "I developed a better understanding of how illicit drugs affect the brain and why it is so difficult to actually recover."

  • "In the past when I thought about stigma and addiction, I typically thought about how another person (family member, neighbor) stigmatize someone with this disease. I now have a better understanding of how stigma from other areas of ones' life (medical communities, law enforcement, etc.) affects someone with this disease."

    "This course allowed me to truly understand the science behind the disease, which allowed me to really grasp addiction in terms of a disease rather than a moral failing."

  • "As a public health educator, this course gave me a fantastic overall view of addiction, the opioid crisis (both historically and currently), and how to help."

    "I now have a better understanding of efforts the community and I personally can take to help with the opioid and overdose epidemic."

    "I have developed a basic understanding of addiction and will be able to articulate this information to classes of middle school students and college students, in the near future. I also have a greater understanding of terminology used to describe patterns of addition."