More than 500 psychologists have completed training to become prescribing clinical psychologists nationally. In Illinois, there are currently 13 licensed prescribing psychologists as of June 2022, with several more slated to become licensed in 2022.
Prescribing psychologists in Illinois are required to have a doctoral degree (PsyD/PhD) in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology (most often a Master of Science in clinical psychology [MSCP]) from an APA-designated training program. In addition to this master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology, they must complete undergraduate biomedical coursework, such as medical terminology, biology, general chemistry, microbiology, and human anatomy & physiology. Prescribing psychologists are also required to pass a national, standardized exam, the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP), which is administered and maintained by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). The final requirement is successful completion of a prescribing psychology residency consisting of 9 medical rotations (family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, emergency medicine, surgery, and one elective) over the course of at least 14 months and not more than 28 months. These rotations must total at least 1,620 hours and each resident must accumulate at least 20 hours per week while undertaking this residency. There are currently five APA-designated programs of study in clinical psychopharmacology: The California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Mexico State University, Idaho State University, and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
There are also institutions in the state of Illinois that offer pre-prescribing psychology undergraduate majors, such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is also developing this undergraduate major.
For more information, contact Robert Rinaldi, Ph.D. at 847-678-6200 (brinaldi@aaoms.org).
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These guidelines are designed to educate psychologists and provide a framework for making decisions regarding professional record keeping. State and federal laws, as well as the American Psychological Association’s (APA, 2002b) “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct” (hereafter referred to as the Ethics Code), generally require maintenance of appropriate records of psychological services. The nature and extent of the record will vary depending upon the purpose, setting, and context of the psychological services. Psychologists should be familiar with legal and ethical requirements for record keeping in their specific professional contexts and jurisdictions. These guidelines are not intended to describe these requirements fully or to provide legal advice.
Records benefit both the client1 and the psychologist through documentation of treatment plans, services provided, and client progress. Record keeping documents the psychologist’s planning and implementation of an appropriate course of services, allowing the psychologist to monitor his or her work. Records may be especially important when there are significant periods of time between contacts or when the client seeks services from another professional. Appropriate records can also help protect both the client and the psychologist in the event of legal or ethical proceedings. Adequate records are generally a requirement for third-party reimbursement for psychological services.
The process of keeping records involves consideration of legal requirements, ethical standards, and other external constraints, as well as the demands of the particular professional context. In some situations, one set of considerations may suggest a different course of action than another, and it is up to the psychologist to balance them appropriately. These guidelines are intended to assist psychologists in making such decisions.
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