TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING
CHAPTER 22 PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGIST ASSOCIATES
PART 23 REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION AND
CONDITIONAL PRESCRIPTION CERTIFICATE
16.22.23.1 ISSUING AGENCY:
Regulation and Licensing Department Board of Psychologist Examiners.
[16.22.23.1 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.1 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.2 SCOPE: This
part applies to the board, licensees, applicants for licensure seeking licenses
under prescriptive authority, and the general public.
[16.22.23.2 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.2 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.3 STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: This part is adopted
pursuant to the Professional Psychologist Act, Section 61-9-17.1 NMSA 1978.
[16.22.23.3 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.3 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.4 DURATION:
Permanent.
[16.22.23.4 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.4 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.5 EFFECTIVE DATE:
November 15, 2006, unless a later date is cited at the end of the
section.
[16.22.23.5 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.5 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.6 OBJECTIVE: The
objective of Part 23 is to set forth the provisions, which apply to all of
Chapter 22, and all persons affected or regulated by Chapter 22 of Title 16.
[16.22.23.6 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.6 NMAC, 11/15/2006]
16.22.23.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[Refer to 16.22.1.7
NMAC]
16.22.23.8 QUALIFICATIONS
AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CONDITIONAL PRESCRIPTIVE CERTIFICATE:
A. Qualifications of applicant. The board shall issue
a conditional prescription certificate pursuant to 16.22.24.8 NMAC, of these
regulations to each applicant who submits evidence satisfactory to the board
that the applicant:
(1) has
completed a doctoral program in psychology from an accredited institution of
higher education or professional school or, if the program was not accredited
at the time of the applicant graduation, that the program meets professional
standards determined acceptable by the board;
(2) holds
an active unrestricted license to practice psychology in New Mexico;
(3) has
successfully completed psychopharmacological training that meets the standards
set forth in Subsection B below from either:
(a) an
institution of higher education that has a postdoctoral program of
psychopharmacology education for psychologists and that is accredited by a
regional body recognized by the U.S. department of education or the council for
higher education accreditation; or
(b) a
continuing education provider approved by the American psychological
association that offers a program of psychopharmacology education for
psychologists; or
(c) a
continuing education program of professional development in psychopharmacology
for psychologists that is administered in collaboration with a school and that
is a formal and organized program of study leading to a credential in
psychopharmacology from that school; or
(d) a
continuing education program of professional development in psychopharmacology
for psychologists that is administered in collaboration with a school if the
applicant successfully completed the 450 classroom hours of didactic study
referred to in 16.22.23.8 NMAC, of these regulations below prior to January 1,
2004.
B. RxP training program. The psychopharmacology training program
referred in Subparagraph (c) above, shall meet the following criteria.
(1) The
program shall be an integrated and organized program of study.
(2) The
program shall have an identifiable body of students at different levels of
matriculation.
(3) The
program shall be clearly identified and labeled as a psychopharmacology program
and shall specify in pertinent institutional catalogues and brochures its
intent to educate and train psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medication.
(4) The
program shall have a formally designated training director who is a
psychiatrist or a doctoral psychologist, trained in the area of
psychopharmacology, and licensed to practice in the jurisdiction in which the
program resides.
(5) The
training director shall be primarily responsible for directing the training
program and shall have administrative authority commensurate with those
responsibilities.
(6) The
training director’s credentials and expertise shall be consistent with the
program’s mission and goals to train psychologists to prescribe psychotropic
medication.
(7) The
program shall provide information regarding the minimal level of achievement
required for postdoctoral trainees to satisfactorily progress through and
complete the psychopharmacological training program, as well as evidence that
it adheres to the minimum levels of achievement.
(8) The
program shall have formally designated instructors and supervisors in
sufficient number to accomplish the program’s education and training.
(9) Supervisors
shall hold an active, unrestricted license in their field of practice in the
jurisdiction in which the program resides or where the supervision is being
provided.
(10) The
program instructors and supervisors shall have sufficient expertise,
competence, and credentials in the areas in which they teach or supervise.
(11) The
program instructors and supervisors shall participate actively in the program’s
planning, implementation and evaluation.
(12) The
program, with appropriate involvement from its training supervisors,
instructors, and trainees, shall engage in a self-study process that addresses:
(a) expectations
for the quality and quantity of the trainees’ preparation and performance in
the program;
(b) training
goals and objectives for the trainees and the trainees’ views regarding the
quality of the training experiences and the program;
(c) procedures
to maintain current achievements or to make changes as necessary; and
(d) goals,
objectives, and outcomes in relation to local, regional, and national changes
in the knowledge base of psychopharmacology training.
(13) The
program shall follow the guidelines for psychopharmacology training of
post-doctoral psychologists established by the American psychological
association.
(14) As
part of the admission and training process, the training program shall evaluate
and assure that every student completes necessary prerequisite training in
basic science (e.g. physiology, chemistry, and biochemistry), the biological
bases of behavior, and psychopharmacology.
(15) When
students are not in residence, the program provides on-line access to a library
of sufficient diversity and level to support the advanced study of the
psychopharmacological treatment of mental disorders from wherever the student
resides. This access shall remain
available throughout all didactic and clinical phases of the training
program. Frequent face-to-face
evaluation and discussions shall be included in the didactic training.
(16) The
program provides formal, written measurement of the mastery of course content.
(17) The
program demonstrates in its written materials or course syllabi that it
integrates into the training the following areas; socio-cultural issues in
psychopharmacological treatment, ethno-pharmacology, use of translators, the
cultural context of compliance and noncompliance with prescribed medication,
creating a culturally appropriate environment to meet patient care treatment
and language needs, and working collaboratively with traditional healers.
C. Didactic instruction.
(1) Within
the five years immediately preceding the date of application for a conditional
prescription certificate, the applicant shall have successfully completed
didactic instruction of no fewer than 450 classroom hours in at least the
following core areas of instruction:
(a) neuroscience;
(b) pharmacology;
(c) psychopharmacology;
(d) physiology;
(e) pathophysiology;
(f) appropriate
and relevant physical and laboratory assessment;
(g) clinical
pharmaco-therapeutics; and
(h) cultural
competence.
(2) At
least three-fourths of the 450 classroom hours of didactic instruction shall be
awarded by one certification or degree-granting institution or continuing
education program.
D. Eighty hour practicum in clinical assessment and
pathophysiology.
(1) The
80 hour practicum shall be part of the psychopharmacology training program from
which the applicant obtains the certification or degree.
(2) The
80 hour practicum shall provide the opportunity for the applicant to observe
and demonstrate competence in physical and health assessment techniques within
a medical setting under the supervision of a physician.
(3) The
80 hour practicum shall be completed in a timeframe of full-time over two weeks
to 30 weeks.
(4) If
the applicant cannot complete the 80 hour practicum within the time frame
designated in Paragraph (3) of Subsection D of 16.22.20.8 NMAC, because of
illness or other extenuating circumstances, the applicant may request an
extension from the board explaining in writing the extenuating circumstances
and the additional time requested.
(5) The
supervising physician and the training director of the psychopharmacology
training program shall certify in writing that the applicant:
(a) assessed
a diverse and significantly medically ill patient population;
(b) observed
the progression of illness and continuity of care of individual patients;
(c) adequately
assessed vital signs;
(d) demonstrated
competent laboratory assessment; and
(e) successfully
completed the 80-hour practicum.
E. Four-hundred hour practicum. Requirements for the general 400 hour
practicum treating a minimum of 100 patients with mental disorders include:
(1) The
400 hour practicum shall be part of the psychopharmacology training program
from which the applicant obtains the certification, degree or certification of
completion.
(2) One-hundred
patients shall mean 100 separate patients.
(3) The
four-hundred hours shall refer to 400 face-to-face hours. The 400 face-to-face hours shall include only
time spent with patients to provide evaluation and treatment for medical
psychopharmacotherapy of patients and time spent in collaboration with the
patient’s treating health care practitioner(s).
(4) The
applicant must have supervised experience in the evaluation and treatment of 100
patients, representing as diverse a patient population as possible, including
diversity in the patients:
(a) gender;
(b) different
ages throughout the life cycle, including adults, children/adolescents, and
geriatrics; as possible and appropriate;
(c) range
of disorders listed in the most recent diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association and acute
and chronic disorders;
(d) ethnicity;
(e) socio-cultural
background; and
(f) economic
background.
(5) The
applicant and the training program shall maintain a log on patient seen, which
shall include: a coded identification number for the patient, patient’s age,
gender, diagnosis, date and time seen, amount of time seen for psychopharmacotherapy. The log shall be available to the RxP
application committee or the board upon request. The log shall contain the name and signature
of the supervisor.
(6) The
applicant and the training program shall keep records of the time spent during this
practicum. The records shall be
available to the psychopharmacology application committee or the board upon
request. The records shall not contain
patient identifying information.
(7) A
psychiatrist or other appropriately trained physician, licensed in good
standing in the jurisdiction in which the psychiatrist or other physician
rendered supervision shall be the primary supervising physician of the
practicum. The primary supervising
physician shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the applicant;
however, training may be assigned to other licensed physicians, i.e., secondary
supervisors, as designated by the primary supervising physician and the
training director of the program.
(8) One
to one supervision will be provided either face to face or by video
conference. The applicant shall consult
with the primary or secondary supervising physician, before a decision is made
regarding the psychopharmacological treatment of the patient.
(9) The
primary or secondary supervising physician shall review the charts and records
of any patient seen by the applicant during the practicum while under the
supervision of the primary or secondary supervising physician.
(10) The
practicum shall be completed in a period of time of not less than six months
and not more than three years.
(11) If
the applicant cannot complete the 400 hour practicum within the timeframe
designated in Subsection E of 16.22.23.8 because of illness or other
extenuating circumstances, the applicant may request an extension from the
board explaining in writing the extenuating circumstances and the additional
time requested. The applicant shall receive a minimum of one hour of
supervision for every eight hours of patient time. The applicant is responsible to keep a log of
the dates and time of supervision. The
supervisor may meet with the applicant for additional education at his or her
discretion.
(12) The
practicum shall be completed within the five years immediately preceding the
date of application for a conditional prescription certificate.
(13) Upon
request of the RxP application committee or the board, the primary supervising
physician shall provide an affidavit stating that:
(a) the
supervisor does not have conflict of interest and is not a member of the applicant’s family or household
as defined in 16.22.26 NMAC, of these regulations;
(b) the
supervisor or a designated secondary supervisor reviewed and discussed with the
applicant the charts and records of patients seen by the applicant during the
practicum;
(c) the
practicum included a diverse group of patients, as defined in these
regulations; and
(d) the
applicant did not write any prescriptions without the primary or secondary
supervisor’s supervision and signature or authorization.
(14) The
primary supervising physician shall conduct a formal, written evaluation on at
least two occasions, at the midpoint and at the end of the practicum. The evaluation shall assess the applicant’s
progress and competencies and shall describe any deficiencies or areas where
competency has not been achieved. The
primary supervisor shall submit copies of the evaluations to the applicant and
the training director.
(15) In
the event of documented deficiencies the training director of the
psychopharmacology program shall specify in writing:
(a) the
areas in need of remediation;
(b) the
process and procedures by which these areas are to be re-mediated; and
(c) the
method by which the training director and supervisor shall determine that the
applicant has achieved the competencies necessary to successfully complete the
practicum.
(16) The
psychologist in practicum training or the conditional prescribing psychologist
is responsible for informing the patient or the patient’s legal guardian, when appropriate,
or explain to the patient through the recommendation system at an institution
if the institution itself generally handles such informed consent. The name and role of the supervisor and
sufficient information of the expectation and requirements of the practicum
shall be provided to the patient or the patient’s legal guardian at the initial
contact necessary to obtain informed consent and appropriate releases. The applicant shall provide additional information
requested by the patient or the patient’s legal guardian concerning the
applicant’s education, training and experience.
(17) The
primary supervising physician and the training director of the
psychopharmacology program from which the applicant obtained a certification of
successful completion or a degree in psychopharmacology shall certify to the
board in writing that the applicant has successfully completed the practicum.
F. National examination. To qualify for a conditional prescription or
prescription certificate, the applicant must demonstrate competency by passing
a national examination.
(1) Applicant
must pass the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP),
administered and maintained by the Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
(2) Applicant
must be eligible to take the PEP after the applicant successfully completes the
didactic portion of the postdoctoral program of education in
psychopharmacology.
(3) The
passing score shall be the passing score recommended by the association of
state and provincial psychology boards (ASPPB).
(4) If
the applicant fails the examination, the applicant may take the examination a
second time after a mandatory 90-day waiting period.
(5) If
the applicant fails the examination on the second attempt, the applicant will
be required to wait one year before repeating the examination.
(6) If
the applicant fails the examination on the third attempt, the applicant is
required to take the remedial didactic program recommended by the
psychopharmacology application committee and approved by the board before the
applicant is allowed to repeat the examination.
G. An applicant who has successfully completed a
psychopharmacology educational program, an 80 hour practicum in clinical
assessment and pathophysiology, a 400 hour/100 patient practicum treating
patients with mental disorders or the national certification examination prior
to the effective date of these regulations may include the completed portion(s)
of the training in the application for a conditional prescription
certificate. The applicant who has
completed the 400 hour practicum shall include certification in writing from
the primary supervising physician that the applicant has successfully completed
the practicum and is trained to competently treat a diverse patient population
as defined in these regulations. The
board shall approve the prior training program(s) that satisfy the requirements
as listed in 16.22.23 NMAC, of these regulations.
[16.22.23.8 NMAC -
Rp, 16.22.23.8 NMAC, 11/15/2006; A, 3/21/2009; A, 02/10/2022]
HISTORY OF
16.22.23 NMAC:
History of Repealed
Material:
16.22.23 NMAC,
Requirements for Education and Conditional Prescription Certificate - Repealed 11/15/2006