Prescribing Psychologist Update

July 2011: Read the results of my new prescribing psychologist survey, conducted on this website.

February 2009: Credentialing procedure in place for military psychologists to obtain prescriptive authority: "7.8.3.17. Those clinical psychologists designated by the HQ USAF/SG, who participated in the DoD Psychopharmacology Demonstration Project (PDP) and were thereby granted prescriptive authority, may continue to have prescriptive authority for the remainder of their tenure with the AFMS. Prescriptive authority may also be granted to fully qualified psychologists who have completed a Master’s Degree in clinical psychopharmacology, successfully passed the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologist (PEP), and who have received a minimum of one year of documented supervision. Supervision must be provided by a psychiatrist or a psychologist with prescriptive authority."

April 25, 2008: A psychologist prescribing bill  (SB1427) was introduced in California by the NAPPP, an organization created to support the interests of practicing clinical psychologists.  The California Psychological Association lobbied against the bill, contributing to it quickly stalling out in committee.  The politics behind this move by CPA can be found in the April NAPPP newsletter, The Clinical Practitioner.  See pages 6 through 8.  Also see CPA's rebuttal.

February 9, 2006: A Federal lawsuit has been filed against the State of California.  The suit alleges that the State has harmed the plaintiffs and other mental health patients and by preventing appropriately trained psychologists from prescribing.

May 2004: the Governor of Louisiana signed HB1426, authorizing psychologists with additional training to prescribe.  This law was implemented on January 20, 2005.

On March 5, 2002, the Governor of New Mexico signed SB170, authorizing psychologists with additional training to prescribe.  On January 7, 2005, these regulations went into effect, ushering in a new era in professional psychology.

[Click to read SB170 text & history]

On December 30, 1998, Guam authorized prescriptive privileges for psychologists, becoming the second jurisdiction after Indiana pass such legislation.

California Senate Bill 983 was passed into law on 9/25/98, directing the Board of Psychology to encourage psychologists to obtain training in psychopharmacology.

Click here to read SB983 text and history

Click here for the CA Board of Psychology position on medication

A study by the United States General Accounting Office shows that military psychologists with additional training are safely and effectively prescribing psychotropic medication

APA press release reviewing this report

Text of the GAO Report

APA Council approved a new division as the American Society for the Advancement of
Pharmacotherapy (ASAP) on 2-27-2000. This became Division 55 in 2002 and is for APA members seeking prescriptive authority.

Survey conducted on this website shows strong 
support for psychologist prescribing