H.B. 1432 - Prescriptive Authority for Psychologists

• Establishes a new licensing category of "prescribing psychologist" allowing qualified clinical psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications after meeting specialized education and training requirements.

• Requires applicants to hold a current psychology license, complete a post-doctoral master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology with at least 580 hours of supervised clinical experience and 100 patient cases, and pass the nationally recognized Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists.

• Restricts prescribing psychologists from prescribing Schedule I, II, or III controlled substances, opiates, and narcotic drugs; however, stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are permitted regardless of schedule classification.

• Mandates prescribing psychologists work in consultation and collaboration with a patient's primary care provider and requires written collaborative agreements before prescribing; includes additional restrictions for forensically involved patients and those with serious mental illness requiring department of health psychiatrist protocols.

• Requires prescribing psychologists to complete 18 hours of continuing education biennially and obtain Drug Enforcement Administration registration; grants expedited approval to psychologists already licensed to prescribe in other states for 6+ years or those authorized in U.S. Military or Indian Health Service.