What is Psychopharmacological Psychology?
Psychopharmacological psychology is a professionally recognized specialty field within psychology dedicated to the study and therapeutic use of psychotropic medication, in addition to traditional psychological interventions, for the treatment of mental disorders and promotion of overall patient health and well-being. The required expertise for psychopharmacological psychology includes knowledge of the main principles of pharmacology: pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug) and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body). Prescribing or consulting regarding psychotropic medications requires an understanding of neuroscience, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, clinical science, pathophysiology, biochemistry, and differential diagnosis of mental disorders.
A board-certified specialist in psychopharmacological psychology has the knowledge and experience to perform psychopharmacological evaluations to determine if the use of psychotropic medication is indicated as part of the treatment plan, in addition to the full range of psychotherapeutic treatments. Knowledge of and commitment to understanding the role of individual differences and diversity in delivering treatment is imperative. The specialist in psychopharmacological psychology employs psychological, behavioral, social, and medical assessment methods to evaluate patients’ biopsychosocial functioning, as well as cognitive and emotional strengths and weaknesses. Examples of psychological disorders that commonly include psychotropic medication as part of the treatment plan include, but are not limited to, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic and related disorders, bipolar-related disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, substance use disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. Specialists in psychopharmacological psychology also have the expertise to perform medication reconciliation and medication discontinuation.
Creating a New ABPP Board
The rationale for creating a new ABPP board may appear obvious; ABPP has long been a desired credential that communicates advanced competence to the public and other professionals. Because clinical psychopharmacology is a relatively new American Psychological Association (APA) specialty, recognized by APA only since 2020, ABPP certification is of increased importance for communication of the highest standard of professional credibility. Further, many psychopharmacological psychologists work in medical and/or integrated healthcare settings practicing alongside physicians for whom board certification is a standard and often required credential for specialty practice. Although there are differences in the meaning of board certification between psychologists and physicians, the message is that the professional has met rigorous, peer-reviewed standards that ensure knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice. Hospitals and healthcare settings generally consider board certification for psychologists in a positive light during the credentialing process, and some systems provide a pay differential for it.
The process for establishing the American Board of Psychopharmacological Psychology (ABRxP) was led by the APA Division 55 (Society for Prescribing Psychology). Members of Division 55’s ABPP Committee presented the initial brief proposal in June 2021. The ABPP Board of Trustees’ (BoT) vote on the brief proposal at this time was a tie, which effectively was the same as voting it down. The BoT requested more information and suggested a survey of those who might be interested in applying to a new board. A survey was created, distributed to several APA divisions and academic clinical psychopharmacology programs, and analyzed. Results of the survey and support letters were subsequently presented in a second brief proposal in June 2023. This time, the BoT voted affirmatively, which allowed preparation of a formal application. The formal application was presented and approved by the BoT in their December 2024 meeting. The implementation phase came next. This phase consisted of creating the candidate and examiner manuals, which were submitted in March 2025 and ultimately approved by the BoT in May 2025. Further review of the manuals by the Standards Committee and revisions followed. After final approval, we earned provisional affiliation and entered the monitoring phase. The first examination committee conducted the first two oral examinations in mid-December 2025 and the third in March 2026. The remainder of the seven-member founding board will be examined in early and mid-2026, after which the application will open to all-comers.
Specialty Requirements
In addition to meeting the generic requirements for ABPP, applicants for standard option ABRxP must have:
- A Master of Science in clinical psychopharmacology (MSCP) degree or equivalent [e.g., Master of Arts in clinical psychopharmacology, (MACP)]
There are six APA-designated programs that offer MSCP degrees: Alliant International University, Drake University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Idaho State University, New Mexico State University, and The Chicago School. The University of Colorado at Denver has a new program that is not yet designated by APA.
- Supervision of clinical and/or consultative psychopharmacological services to at least 100 patients supervised by a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or prescribing/medical psychologist.
Candidates with prescriptive authority will have easily met this requirement since all states with prescriptive authority far exceed this requirement for independent licensure.
Applicants for the senior option ABRxP must have:
- A Master of Science in clinical psychopharmacology (MSCP) degree or equivalent (e.g., MACP)
- 15-years post-licensure experience as a psychologist
- At least five (5) years of professional experience prescribing, consulting, or engaged in professional work in the field of psychopharmacological psychology (e.g., clinical research in psychopharmacology, teaching, writing). One year should equal approximately 2,000 hours of professional work.
Written Examination
After the specialty review, Candidates for both the standard and senior option must submit proof they passed the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP). The PEP is a 150-item national exam administered and maintained by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) that covers 10 content areas. Content areas include integrating clinical psychopharmacology with the practice of psychology, neuroscience, nervous system pathology, physiology and pathophysiology, biopsychosocial and pharmacologic assessment and monitoring, differential diagnosis, pharmacology, clinical psychopharmacology, research, and professional, legal, ethical, and interprofessional issues. Passing the PEP is required for licensure in all states that have prescriptive authority. Candidates do not need to be licensed to prescribe to obtain an ABRxP, but they must have passed the PEP.
Practice Samples & Oral Examination
The oral examination focuses on the examination of the functional competencies of assessment, consultation, and intervention, as well as all the other foundational competencies through practice samples. For the standard option, the practice sample consists of two de-identified notes of patients they have treated or for whom they have provided consultation over the past two years. A statement addressing how assessment, consultation, intervention, diversity, and ethics were considered in these samples is required, along with a current curriculum vitae (CV). The initial portion of the exam consists of a professional identity query and examination of the practice samples. The second part of the oral examination contains a fact-finding session in which the candidate is given a few details about a patient. They may ask any questions they would like for 20 minutes to obtain more information. After that time, they will be expected to discuss their conceptualization and treatment plan, to include prescribing or deprescribing medication. This portion of the exam ends with the presentation of an ethical case scenario in which the candidate is expected to address all potential ethical issues.
For the senior option, candidates are expected to submit a professional practice statement discussing their career and how their work furthered psychopharmacological psychology and/or prescriptive authority for psychologists, as well as 4 samples of their work and a CV. Examples of practice activities are authorship of journal articles, books, or scholarly presentations; grant funding in psychopharmacology; program development; significant leadership roles; research, and/or design of MSCP programs or curricula.
The Future of Psychopharmacological Psychology
Prescriptive authority for psychologists has proceeded in fits and starts over the past 25+ years. The experience of obtaining an increased scope of practice is not dissimilar to that experienced by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical pharmacists. A growing body of research shows the safety and efficacy of practice (Hughes, et al., 2024) and that even the small number of psychologists with prescriptive authority in New Mexico and Louisiana has resulted in a decrease in suicides and increased access to care (Choudhury & Plemmons, 2023; Hughes, Phillips, McGrath, & Thomas, 2023). Psychologists with prescriptive authority are making a difference in access to needed care.
The significant requirements needed to obtain competence in psychopharmacological psychology assist both the patient and the professional. The patient finds a “one-stop shop” for treatment, reducing the suffering that occurs when access to combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is unavailable or requires long waits. Even when prescriptive authority or consulting is not the goal, MSCP students and alumni communicate that their practice substantially improves when they are more versed in the “bio” portion of the biopsychosocial model, particularly since most patients have been or are currently taking psychotropic medication. Because prescriptive authority is value-added and billing insurance companies includes additional procedure codes, reimbursement for treatment can be higher. Professionals who are interested in becoming a psychopharmacological psychologist may contact the authors of this article, any of the training directors at schools listed above, and/or by joining Division 55. The new ABRxP Board is an important addition to the professional status of psychopharmacological psychology.
References
Choudhury, A. R. & Plemmons, A. (2023). Effects of giving psychologists prescriptive authority: Evidence from a natural experiment in the United States. Health Policy, 134, 1-6. https://doi.org.10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104846
Hughes, P. M., Phillips, D. C., McGrath, R. E., & Thomas, K. C. (2023). Examining psychologist prescriptive authority as a cost-effective strategy for reducing suicide rates. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 54, 284-294. https://doi.org.10.1037/0490000519
Hughes, P. M., Niznik, J. D., McGrath, R. E., Tak, C. R., Christian, R. B., Sleath, B. L., & Thomas, K. C. (2025). Assessing the safety and efficacy of prescribing psychologists in New Mexico and Louisiana. American Psychologist, 80(7). 1019-103. https://doi.org.10.1037/amp0001373
Lynette Pujol, PhD, MSCP, ABRxP
Board Certified in Psychopharmacological Psychology
Correspondence: lynette.pujol@gmail.com
Derek Phillips, PsyD, MSCP, ABRxP
Board Certified in Psychopharmacological Psychology
Correspondence: drderekphillips87@gmail.com