Clinical Psychopharmacology & Prescribing Psychology in Colorado
Colorado became the sixth state to grant psychologists prescriptive authority in 2023. Here is the path to an RxP prescription certificate, the in-state MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology at CU Denver, online alternatives, and what prescribing psychologists earn in Colorado.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado is one of only six states that grant psychologists prescriptive authority (RxP). Governor Polis signed HB23-1071 on March 3, 2023, and the implementing rules took effect November 30, 2023.
- To prescribe, a licensed Colorado psychologist must earn a prescription certificate from the State Board of Psychologist Examiners after completing an APA-designated MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology, the PEP exam, supervised experience, and independent peer review.
- Colorado requires 750 hours of supervised experience completed in 12 to 24 months, including 250 hours focused on patients under 18 or over 65 where applicable.
- The University of Colorado Denver runs the state's in-state, APA-designated MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology, with an optional Prescribing Fellowship Certificate that builds in the supervised step.
- Clinical and counseling psychologists in Colorado earn a median of $113,290 (BLS, May 2025), and prescribing psychologists generally earn above that because medication management is billable.
Colorado joined a small group of states when it passed HB23-1071 in March 2023, becoming the sixth state to let appropriately trained psychologists prescribe psychotropic medication. New Mexico and Louisiana led in the early 2000s, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho followed in the 2010s, and Colorado became the most recent addition. For Colorado psychologists, this opened a path that did not exist before: treating both the therapy and the medication side of a patient's care under one provider.
The credential is a prescription certificate issued by the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners. Under C.R.S. 12-245-309, a licensed psychologist must show that they have completed a master of science in clinical psychopharmacology with the required core instruction, passed the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP), completed board-approved supervised clinical experience, undergone independent peer review, and carry malpractice insurance. The law also requires prescribing psychologists to maintain an ongoing collaborative relationship with the patient's primary care physician. If a patient has no primary care provider, the prescribing psychologist cannot prescribe for them.
Colorado is unusual in having an in-state, APA-designated program. The University of Colorado Denver offers the MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology, primarily online and built to meet both APA and Colorado requirements, with an optional Prescribing Fellowship Certificate that folds the supervised step into one program. Colorado psychologists can also enroll in any of the other APA-designated programs nationwide, all of which are delivered online or by distance. We compare all seven on our best online psychopharmacology programs page.
Clinical Psychopharmacology Programs for Colorado Psychologists
All 3 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Denver | See program for current tuition | Primarily online | |
| 2 | Drake University | See program for current tuition | 100% online | |
| 3 | Alliant International University | See program for current tuition | Online with live class sessions |
University of Colorado Denver
In-State
See program for current tuition
Out-of-State
See program for current tuition
Length
About 2 years
Field Hours
Optional PF-C supports the 750 supervised hours Colorado requires
Concentrations
- The only in-state, APA-designated MSCP program in Colorado
- Primarily online, 33 credits across 8-week intensive courses
- Optional Prescribing Fellowship Certificate builds in the supervised prescribing step
- Designed to meet APA and Colorado RxP requirements
- Accepts both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral applicants
Drake University
In-State
See program for current tuition
Out-of-State
See program for current tuition
Length
About 2 to 3 years part-time
Field Hours
Supervised hours arranged to meet your state requirement
Concentrations
- Fully asynchronous, the most flexible APA-designated option for Colorado clinicians
- APA-designated for prescriptive authority preparation
- Available to Colorado residents entirely online
- No required live sessions to work around
- Strong fit for psychologists adding training to a full caseload
Alliant International University
In-State
See program for current tuition
Out-of-State
See program for current tuition
Length
About 2 years
Field Hours
Supervised hours arranged to meet your state requirement
Concentrations
- Founded the first postdoctoral MSCP program in the country (CSPP, 1998)
- APA-designated, available to Colorado residents online
- Live online classes that keep the cohort connected
- Deep institutional expertise in professional psychology training
- A strong national alternative to the in-state CU Denver program
Colorado Prescriptive Authority (RxP) Requirements
Colorado Prescription Certificate for Psychologists (RxP)
Issued by: Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners (Division of Professions and Occupations)
- Hold an active Colorado psychologist license (doctoral degree plus the standard licensure path).
- Complete an MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology from an APA-designated program, or one with at least 450 hours of didactic instruction in the required core content areas.
- Pass the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP).
- Complete 750 hours of board-approved supervised clinical experience in no less than 12 and no more than 24 months, including 250 hours focused on patients under 18 or over 65 where applicable.
- Successfully complete an independent peer review process.
- Maintain malpractice insurance, and keep an ongoing collaborative relationship with each patient's primary care physician.
Renewal
Prescribing psychologists must complete 40 hours of continuing education in psychopharmacology every two-year cycle, in addition to the continuing education required for psychology licensure in Colorado.
Psychologist Salary in Colorado
Job Market
BLS Employment
About 1,170 clinical and counseling psychologists in Colorado (BLS, May 2025)
Projected Growth
6% projected growth for psychologists nationally through 2034
Top Employers
Front Range health systems (UCHealth, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, Kaiser Permanente Colorado), integrated primary care clinics, community mental health centers, rural health systems, and private practices. As a new RxP state, Colorado has a growing need for psychologists who can prescribe, especially in rural and underserved areas where psychiatrists are scarce.
How to Choose
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
In-state versus online. CU Denver is the only Colorado-based APA-designated program and is built around Colorado requirements, including the optional Prescribing Fellowship Certificate. Online programs like Drake offer more schedule flexibility.
Supervised hours. Colorado requires 750 supervised hours. Confirm how each program helps you arrange or complete them, since CU Denver's PF-C is designed to fold this step in.
APA designation. Colorado accepts an APA-designated MSCP, so designation is the baseline to look for. Every program we list holds it.
Format and pace. These are postdoctoral programs for working psychologists. Decide whether you need fully asynchronous coursework or can work around live sessions.
Cost and timing. Compare total cost and how each program's start dates and pace fit your practice schedule.
Related Pages
Best Online Clinical Psychopharmacology Programs
All seven APA-designated MSCP programs, ranked, including CU Denver.
How to Become a Prescribing Psychologist
The full RxP path, the PEP exam, and which states allow prescriptive authority.
Clinical Psychologist Salary
The baseline psychologist pay that prescriptive authority builds on.
Sources
- Colorado HB23-1071, Licensed Psychologist Prescriptive Authority
- Colorado Revised Statutes 12-245-309, Prescription Authority (Psychologists)
- Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners (DPO)
- APA Services, Colorado becomes 6th state to enact prescriptive authority
- APA, Designation of Postdoctoral Programs in Psychopharmacology
- CU Denver, MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology
- BLS OEWS, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Colorado (May 2025)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists