DEA Pharmacist's Manual Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

A valid prescription is one that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an appropriately licensed healthcare provider. This ensures that the treatment prescribed is necessary for the patient's health and safety rather than for non-medical reasons, such as diversion or abuse. The prescription must also contain the provider's accurate information, the patient's details, and the specifics of the medication, including dosage and instructions for use. This underscores the importance of the practitioner-patient relationship in the context of appropriate medication use.

The other choices fail to capture the essential requirements for a prescription to be considered valid. A prescription written by any medical professional does not ensure that it serves a legitimate purpose or that the professional is licensed to prescribe for that specific medication. Merely including the patient's name and medication does not meet the complexity and necessity of a legitimate treatment regimen. Lastly, the time frame for filling a prescription is not a determining factor of its validity; rather, what matters is whether the prescriptions were issued appropriately and for a legitimate medical purpose.