Education and Training of Behavioral Health Providers:

Safe Prescribing is the culmination of extensive education and training in the medical model of care. It cannot be taught in a crash course.

Physicians
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Physicians (MDs and DOs, Including Psychiatrists)

12 years min. education and training:
 

  • 4 year undergraduate degree (typically pre-med with a focus on bio-medical courses

  • 4 years medical school with clinical rotations and
    internships

  • 4 years of medical residency (if specializing in psychiatry, the residency is geared specifically to
    mental and physical diseases)

  • 2-4 additional years if choosing a sub-specialty

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

6 years min. education and training:
 

  • 4 year undergraduate degree (which includes biomedical courses and skills labs)

  • 2 year graduate degree

  • Works in an ongoing collaborative agreement with a primary care physician or  psychiatric physician

 

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Physician Assistants

6 years min. education and training:
 

  • 4 year undergraduate degree (which includes biomedical courses and skills labs)

  • 2 year graduate degree

  • Works in an ongoing supervision relationship with a  physician

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Clinical Psychologists

8 years min. education and training:
 

  • 4 year undergraduate degree

  • 2 year graduate degree for training on psychological assessments and psychotherapy

  • 2 year coursework toward a PhD or PsyD

  • No biomedical coursework or skills labs required in any of the eight years of education and training
     

  • HB 323 would allow psychologists up to five years AFTER  receiving a certificate to prescribe to obtain the necessary biomedical training (and much less than what is required of APRNs, NPs and PAs)

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Social Workers and
Clinical Counselors

6 years min. education and training:
 

  • 4 year undergraduate degree

  • 2 year graduate degree

  • Works in an ongoing collaborative agreement with a primary care or  psychiatric physician

 

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