Clinical Psychopharmacology & Medical Psychology in Louisiana

Louisiana followed New Mexico as the second prescriptive-authority state in 2004, but it built something structurally different. Instead of adding prescribing to a psychology license through the psychology board, Louisiana created the "medical psychologist," a license issued and regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the same board that oversees physicians. Authority over medical psychologists moved to the medical board in 2009. It is the only state that handles prescribing psychologists this way.

The path: you must already hold a Louisiana psychologist license from the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, then complete a postdoctoral master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from a regionally accredited institution and pass the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP) within three years of applying. Medical psychologists also hold a controlled and dangerous substance permit from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy and a DEA registration. Louisiana then offers a second, advanced tier. An advanced practice medical psychologist, available after three years of practice, treatment of at least 100 patients (including 25 or more involving major psychotropics and 25 or more involving major antidepressants), recommendations from two collaborating physicians, and 100 hours of relevant continuing medical education, gains greater prescribing independence.

Louisiana does not have an in-state psychopharmacology program, so its psychologists complete one of the seven APA-designated programs online or by distance. We rank the strongest online options below and compare all seven on our best online psychopharmacology programs page.