# CURES exemptions use current 7-day language, not stale 5-day wording

> Use the current DCA flyer language that describes a 7-day nonrefillable exemption lane instead of outdated 5-day shorthand.

Published: 2026-03-24
Last verified: 2026-03-24
Reviewed by: Mahtab Mansour, DDS on 2026-04-25

## What changed

Current California CURES guidance uses `7-day` nonrefillable exemption language in the emergency-department, surgical or procedural, and timely-access lanes. A lot of older prep still repeats `5-day` wording.

## Why it matters for exam prep

- CURES questions often test small number changes.
- A stale number is enough to turn a broadly correct answer into the wrong California-specific answer.

## What to purge from old summaries

- "The current California emergency-style exemption is 5 days."

## Primary source

- `A12` DCA CURES overview. <https://www.dca.ca.gov/licensees/cures_update.shtml>
- `A13` DCA CURES mandatory-consultation flyer and exemptions. <https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/cures_flyer.pdf>
- `A32` BPC section 688 e-prescribing and exemptions. <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=688.>