No Recommendations from Study of Prescriptive Authority
November 12, 2025
The Psychiatric Society of Virginia (PSV) and the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Washington Psychiatric Society (WPS) appreciate the opportunity to participate in the workgroup directed by SB 752 (Favola) to study the education, training, and experience of clinical psychologists to “…assess under what conditions it may be appropriate for clinical psychologists to be granted prescriptive authority.”
We commend the Board of Psychology and Board of Medicine for their effective organization and management of this workgroup and praise the Virginia Department of Health Professions for producing a thorough and detailed report of the workgroup’s discussions. Below is our reaction to this report.
The report results in three main takeaways from the two sessions:
- No consensus for policy changes was achieved among members as to whether any conditions exist where Virginia should grant prescriptive authority to licensed clinical psychologists.
- Extensive gaps in education, training, and experience exist between licensed clinical psychologists and medical professionals who prescribe drugs.
- As compared to prescribing clinicians such as physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists lack foundational medical training necessary to being able to appropriately prescribe psychotropic medications.
- The curriculum of clinical psychology education is focused on behavioral health as opposed to the comprehensive medical education of the human body.
- Patient safety requires medical training.
- Any model for prescriptive authority must require additional, extensive scientific and medical education and supervision.
- The ability to prescribe must require medical science-based knowledge, clinical experience, passage of a national exam, and structured supervision.
- There are only 7 states with some level of prescriptive authority for clinical psychologists, and these programs have additional requirements. There was no consensus on whether it was sufficient for Virginia.
No legislative recommendations were offered by this multi-disciplinary workgroup of professional who treat mental illness and conditions. After a thorough study, Virginia should maintain its high standard for the prescription of powerful drugs that is consistent with 43 other states.
