financial burden, as well as the legal fees necessary
to modify current licensing laws, would come at
the expense of existing programs. In addition, the
granting of prescription privileges would likely lead
to increases in malpractice liability costs. In short, it
may not be worth it.
Last, many fear that psychologists’ ability to
prescribe medications would lead to more drug-
company-sponsored research. Although many
drug companies are strictly regulated to conduct
ethically and scientifically sound research, many
fear that the introduction of a vested party into
the scientific research process may contaminate cur-
rent scientific practices in psychology.
Implications for Training. As more clinical psy-
chologists gain prescription privileges, this change
will significantly affect the training of future clinical
psychologists. In 1993, the Ad Hoc Task Force on
Psychopharmacology of the American Psycholog-
ical Association published its recommendations
regarding competence criteria for training psy-
chologists to provide services to individuals who
receive psychotropic medication (Smyer et al.,
1993). This Task Force outlined the following
three levels of competence and training in psycho-
pharmacology. Note that, according to the Task
Force’s recommendations, only those who suc-
cessfully complete Level 3 training would be qual-
ified to prescribe.Level 1: Basic Pharmacology Training. Compe-
tence at this level would include knowledge of
the biological basis of neuropsychopharmacology
and a mastery of the classes of medication used for
treatment as well as knowledge of substances that
are abused (e.g., alcohol or cocaine). To achieve
this level of training, a one-semester survey course
in psychopharmacology is recommended.
Level 2: Collaborative Practice. Competence at
this level, essentially enabling one to serve as a
psychopharmacology consultant, would involve a
more in-depth knowledge of psychopharmaco-
logy and drugs of abuse; competence in diagnostic
assessment, physical assessment, drug interactions,
and drug side effects; and practical (hands-on)
training in psychopharmacology. Specifically, the
committee recommended coursework in the areas
just mentioned as well as supervised practical
experience.
Level 3: Prescription Privileges. Competence must
be demonstrated at this level to practice indepen-
dently as a prescribing psychologist. The committee
recommended a strong undergraduate background
in biological sciences (including multiple courses in
biology, chemistry, mathematics, and pharmacol-
ogy), 2 years of graduate training in psychopharma-
cology (26 credit hours), and a postdoctoral
psychopharmacology residency.
The 1993 recommendations for Levels 2 and 3
have since been modified and updated (American
Psychological Association, 2009), and a summary of
the model curriculum for Level 3 training as well as
practice guidelines for psychologists’involvementObtaining the authority to prescribe medication for men-
tal health problems is a controversial issue for clinical
psychologists.
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