Bill > S00263

This bill allows licensed psychologists in New York to apply for a conditional prescribing certification that would enable them to prescribe psychotropic medications under specific conditions. To qualify, psychologists must have a doctoral-level psychology license, complete a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from an accredited institution, pass a national examination, complete clinical training in physical assessment, and maintain malpractice insurance. The conditional prescribing certification is valid for two years and requires the psychologist to maintain a collaborative relationship with a qualified clinician (such as a physician or nurse practitioner) who oversees the patient's general medical care. After successfully completing two years of prescribing under the conditional certification, psychologists can apply for full prescriptive authority. The bill establishes detailed educational requirements for the master's degree program, including extensive training in areas like human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical medicine. The legislation aims to expand the scope of psychological practice by allowing trained psychologists to directly prescribe medication while ensuring patient safety through collaborative medical oversight and stringent educational and training standards.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S263