APA?s model curriculum

To guide states as they build prescription-privilege training programs, APA?s Council of Representatives approved a model curriculum in 1996.

According to the model, a psychopharmacology training program should require every applicant to have a doctorate in psychology, a current state license to practice as a psychologist and status as a 'health-services provider' psychologist as defined by state law.

The model curriculum suggests a two-part approach involving both didactic and hands-on learning.

For the didactic portion, the model curriculum recommends 300 hours of instruction via a planned sequence of courses at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning or through continuing-education courses. Topics that should be covered include neuroscience, pharmacology and psychopharmacology, physiology and pathophysiology, physical and laboratory assessments and clinical psychotherapeutics. Training participants must also pass an examination.

The model curriculum also requires an intensive, closely supervised clinical practicum during which the psychologist should work with at least 100 patients. Those patients should represent a wide range of diagnoses, ages, genders, disabilities and ethnicities. The work should include both inpatient and outpatient settings and short-term and maintenance medication strategies. The psychologist should also undergo two hours of individual supervision a week by a physician or other trained personnel and must attend seminars or colloquia as needed.

?Rebecca A. Clay