VermontQualified doctoral psychologists may prescribe some mental health drugs
Starting July 1, 2029, qualified doctoral-level psychologists may prescribe some mental health drugs for eligible patients under written agreements with psychiatrists.
What it does
Doctoral-level psychologists may qualify for a prescribing specialty after approved training, clinical rotations, and an exam. The Board’s Director may approve some applicants from other jurisdictions without an exam.
Psychologists with the specialty must work under a written agreement with a psychiatrist. Their authority covers some mental health drugs, with limits on eligible patients and controlled drugs.
The professional regulation office must report on the number of prescribing psychologists, access to collaborating practitioners, and whether qualification rules need changes.
Argument forEligible adults with mental health conditions could gain another way to receive medication care from psychologists with specialized training and a psychiatrist’s agreement.
Argument againstSome patients may have fewer medication options because psychologists cannot prescribe for people under 18, over 80, or pregnant.
More detail
The Board may grant a prescribing specialty to qualified doctoral-level psychologists. Applicants must hold a current Vermont doctoral-level psychology license, complete approved postdoctoral psychopharmacology training, complete at least 14 months of clinical rotations in at least five settings, and pass a national exam, among other requirements. Applicants must meet the Board’s requirements and pay any required fee. The Board’s Director may grant the specialty without an exam to applicants with active prescribing authority elsewhere if the Director finds that jurisdiction’s requirements substantially equivalent. These provisions take effect July 1, 2029.
A prescribing psychologist must prescribe under a written agreement with a collaborating psychiatrist. Prescribing authority covers diagnosing, treating, or managing a condition recognized in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It excludes people under 18, over 80, or pregnant, and does not include dispensing, administering, or distributing prescription drugs. The psychiatrist may authorize only mental health drugs they generally provide to their own patients. The psychiatrist must file the agreement with the Board and notify it if the agreement ends. For Schedule II–V controlled drugs, the agreement must name the specific drug. Psychologists may not prescribe or give controlled drugs by injection. These provisions take effect July 1, 2029.
The Office of Professional Regulation must report to two legislative committees about prescribing psychologists. The report goes to the House Committee on Health Care and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. The report must cover the number of psychologists with the specialty, access to collaborating practitioners, and whether qualification rules need updates to balance access and public protection. The report is due on or before November 15, 2032.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 29House message: Governor approved bill on April 27, 2026Latest
- Apr 28Signed by Governor Phil Scott on April 27, 2026Became Law
- Apr 21Delivered to Governor on April 21, 2026To Governor
- Apr 17House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 16Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- Apr 16Action Calendar: Action postponed until April 16, 2026
- Apr 15Rep. Black of Essex moved to postpone action until April 16, 2026, which was agreed to
- Apr 15Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- Apr 14Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- Apr 10Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 9Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 9Division Yeas-11, Nays-15, as requested by Senator Brock
- Apr 9Pending third reading, Senator Brock, and Chittenden proposal of amendment, disagreed toMinor
- Apr 9New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Apr 83rd reading ordered
- Apr 8Proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare agreed toMinor
- Apr 8Motion by Senator(s) Brock to substitute report of Committee on Finance agreed to
- Apr 8Reported favorably by Senator Brock for Committee on Finance with proposal of amendmentMinor
- Apr 8Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Gulick for Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Apr 8Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 8Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Apr 8Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 7Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 7Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Apr 7Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 3Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 3Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Apr 3Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 2Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on FinanceMinor
- Apr 2Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Apr 2Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 2Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 27Referred to Committee on Finance per Senate Rule 31
- Feb 27Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Feb 27Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 27Entered on Notice Calendar
- 2025
- Apr 1Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and WelfareMinor
- Mar 27Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 27Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 26Report of Committee on Health Care, as amended, agreed to
- Mar 26Report of Committee on Health Care amended as recommended by Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 26Rep. Branagan of Georgia recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 26Rep. McFaun of Barre Town reported for the Committee on Health Care
- Mar 26Read second timeMinor
- Mar 26Action Calendar: Action postponed until 3/26/2025
- Mar 25Rep. McFaun of Barre Town moved to postpone action until 3/26/2025, which was agreed to
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 21Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 18Referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)
- Mar 18Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Feb 18Read first time and referred to the Committee on Health CareIntroduced
HealthcareMental Health