Prescribing Psychology as a specialty in professional Psychology requires a Post-Doctoral Masters in Clinical Psychopharmacology (or its equivalent) and additional clinical supervision.  The general guidelines for this education were established by the American Psychological Association and were set forth in their 2009 Model Curriculum.   Texts and materials used in training the Prescribing Psychologist are the same as those used in medical schools around the country.

The education and supervision requirements set forth in the proposed legislation to allow Psychologists to prescribe in New Jersey follows the APA model.

Basic Science

  Anatomy and Physiology

  Biochemistry

Neuroscience

  Neuroanatomy

  Neurophysiology

  Neurochemistry

Physical assessment and laboratory exams

  Physical assessment

  Laboratory and radiological assessment

  Medical terminology

Clinical medicine and pathophysiology

  Pathophysiology with particular emphasis on cardiac, renal, hepatic, neurologic, gastrointestinal, hematologic, dermatologic, and endocrine systems

  Clinical medicine with paticular emphasis on signs, symptoms and treatment of disease states in behavioral, cognitive and emotional manifestations

  Differential diagnosis

  Clinical correlations; illustration of content on this domain through case study

  Substance-related and co-occuring disorders

  Chronic pain management

Clinical and research pharmacology and psychopharmacology

  Pharmacology

  Clinical pharmacology

  Psychopharmacology

  Developmental psychopharmacology

  Issues of diversity in pharmacological practice

Clinical pharmacotherapeutics

  Combined therapies: psychotherapy/pharmacotherapy indications

  Computer-based aids to practice

  Pharmacoepidemiology

Research

  Methodology and design of psychopharmacological research

  Interpretation and evaluation of research

  U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug development and other regulatory processes

Professional, ethical and legal issues

  Application of existing law, standards and guidelines in pharmacological practice

  Relationships with pharmaceutical industry

    Conflict of interest

    Evaluation of pharmaceutical marketing practices

    Critical consumer   

Supervised Clinical Experience

  Physical exam and mental status

  Review of systems

  Medical history interview and documentation

  Assessment: Indications and interpretation

  Differential diagnosis

  Integrated treatment planning

  Consultation and collaboration

  Treatment management