Preparing psychologists to prescribe.

In this report, an investigation of the training received by professionals currently authorized to prescribe medications is considered as a step toward understanding what might be involved in preparing psychologists appropriately if prescription privileges for psychology were to be obtained. Information about admission and curriculum requirements was collected from medical schools, dental schools, physician assistant programs, nurse practitioner programs, and schools of optometry. Results suggest a high level of pharmacologically relevant coursework is required for admission to, and the completion of, programs that currently prepare their professionals to prescribe. It is argued that preparing psychologists to prescribe would likely entail similar training requirements in addition to, or instead of, those already in place, leaving clinical psychology dramatically and permanently altered.