Health Occupations - Licensed Psychologists - Prescriptive Authority

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 568
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By: Senator Ellis
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Health Occupations – Licensed Psychologists – Prescriptive Authority 2

FOR the purpose of authorizing a licensed psychologist to use prescriptive authority under 3
certain circumstances if the psychologist is certified by the State Board of Examiners 4
of Psychologists; establishing the Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to 5
advise the Board on oversight and implementation of certain provisions of this Act; 6
establishing application and qualification requirements for certified prescribing 7
psychologists; establishing requirements for prescribing psychologists who use 8
prescriptive authority; and generally relating to licensed psychologists and 9
prescriptive authority. 10

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Health Occupations 12
Section 12–101(a), 18–101(a), and 18–302(a) through (f) and (h)(1) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Health Occupations 17
Section 12–101(b), 12–102(e), and 18–101(f) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20

BY adding to 21
Article – Health Occupations 22
Section 18 –3B–01 through 18 –3B–09 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 3B. 23
Prescriptive Authority” 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26

2 SENATE BILL 568

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2

Article – Health Occupations 3

12–101. 4

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5

(b) “Authorized prescriber” means any licensed dentist, licensed dental hygienist 6
with prescriptive authority under § 4 –206.4 of this article, licensed physician, licensed 7
podiatrist, licensed veterinarian, advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive 8
authority under Title 8 of this article, licensed nurse anesthetist, LICENSED 9
PSYCHOLOGIST WITH PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY UNDER TITLE 18, SUBTITLE 3B OF 10
THIS ARTICLE , or other individual authorized by law to prescribe prescription or 11
nonprescription drugs or devices. 12

12–102. 13

(e) (1) This title does not prohibit: 14

(i) A dentist, physician, nurse or midwife, or podiatrist from 15
administering a prescription drug or device in the course of treating a patient; 16

(ii) A licensed dental hygienist from administering medication under 17
§ 4–206.4 of this article; [or] 18

(iii) A nurse anesthetist from administering medication under § 19
8–513 of this article; OR 20

(IV) A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLO GIST FROM ADMINISTER ING 21
MEDICATION UNDER TITLE 18, SUBTITLE 3B OF THIS ARTICLE. 22

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection, “administering” 23
means the direct introduction of a single dosage of a drug or device at a given time, whether 24
by injection or other means, and whether in liquid, tablet, capsule, or other form. 25

18–101. 26

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 27

(f) (1) “Practice psychology” means to provide to any person: 28

(i) Any service for compensation involving the application of 29
psychological principles, psychological m ethods, or psychological procedures for 30
understanding, predicting, or influencing behavior, including the principles that relate to 31
SENATE BILL 568 3

learning, perception, motivation, emotions, organizational relationships, and interpersonal 1
relationships; 2

(ii) Any serv ice for compensation involving the application of 3
psychological methods or psychological procedures for interviewing, counseling, 4
psychotherapy, behavior modification, or hypnosis; or 5

(iii) Any service for compensation involving the application of 6
psychological methods or psychological procedures for constructing, administering, or 7
interpreting tests of mental abilities, neuropsychological functioning, aptitudes, interests, 8
attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, or motivations. 9

(2) “Practice psychology” includes: 10

(i) The application of psychological principles and psychological 11
methods in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of psychological 12
problems, emotional conditions, or mental conditions of individuals or groups; 13

(ii) The use of psychological methods to assist an individual in 14
acquiring greater human effectiveness or to modify feelings, conditions, attitudes, or 15
behavior that is emotionally, intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladjusted; [and] 16

(iii) The use of biofeedback instruments that do not pierce or cut the 17
skin to measure physical and mental functioning; AND 18

(IV) THE USE OF PRESCRIPTI VE AUTHORITY AS AUTH ORIZED 19
UNDER SUBTITLE 3B OF THIS TITLE. 20

(3) In this subsection, “psychologi cal methods”, “psychological principles”, 21
and “psychological procedures” include the body of information that can be derived from a 22
graduate program in psychology, and other education or training recognized by the Board 23
as prerequisites for a license under this title, and that does not amount to the practice of 24
medicine. 25

18–302. 26

(a) To qualify for a license or registration, an applicant shall be an individual who 27
meets the requirements of this section. 28

(b) The applicant shall be of good moral character. 29

(c) The applicant shall be at least 18 years old. 30

(d) (1) Except as provided in this subsection, an applicant shall reside or 31
practice, or intend to reside or practice, in this State. 32

4 SENATE BILL 568

(2) The Board may issue a license or registration to an applica nt who is 1
neither a resident of this State nor practicing in this State if the applicant shows that 2
issuing the license or registration would be in the interest of the citizens or government of 3
this State. 4

(e) The applicant shall submit to a criminal his tory records check in accordance 5
with § 18–302.1 of this subtitle. 6

(f) In addition to the other requirements of this section, to qualify to be a licensed 7
psychologist, an applicant must have: 8

(1) (i) A doctoral degree in psychology as defined in § 18–101(c)(1)(i) or 9
(iii) of this title; and 10

(ii) At least 2 years of professional, supervised experience in 11
psychology that is approved by the Board in accordance with regulations adopted by the 12
Board; or 13

(2) (i) A doctoral degree in psychology as defined in § 18–101(c)(1)(ii) of 14
this title; 15

(ii) Received a postdoctoral respecialization certificate from a 16
department of psychology that, at the time the certificate was issued, had a degree program 17
that was accredited by the American Psychological A ssociation or the Canadian 18
Psychological Association and that included a minimum of 1,750 hours in a supervised 19
internship in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board; and 20

(iii) Completed a minimum of 1,500 hours of postcertification 21
advanced t raining hours or precertification hours of service as a registered psychology 22
associate in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. 23

(h) (1) An applicant for a psychologist license shall successfully pass: 24

(i) A national examination in the practice of psychology; and 25

(ii) The State jurisprudence examination. 26

SUBTITLE 3B. PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY. 27

18–3B–01. 28

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 29
INDICATED. 30

(B) “ADVISORY COMMITTEE” MEANS THE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY 31
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 32
SENATE BILL 568 5

(C) “CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 5–101 OF 1
THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 2

(D) “DRUG” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 5–101 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 3
ARTICLE. 4

(E) “PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOG IST” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MEETS 5
THE REQUIREMENTS OF § 18–3B–04 OF THIS SUBTITLE AND IS CERTIFIED BY THE 6
BOARD TO USE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY. 7

(F) “PRESCRIPTION” MEANS AN ORDER FOR A DRUG, A LABORATORY TEST, 8
OR ANY MEDICINES , DEVICES, OR TREATMENTS , INCLUDING CONTROLLED 9
SUBSTANCES. 10

(G) (1) “PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORIT Y” MEANS THE AUTHORITY TO 11
PRESCRIBE, ADMINISTER, MODIFY, DISCONTINUE, OR DISTRIBUTE WITHOU T 12
CHARGE STARTER DOSAGES, DRUGS, OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES RECOGNIZED IN 13
OR CUSTOMARILY USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS , TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF 14
INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHIA TRIC, MENTAL, COGNITIVE, NERVOUS, EMOTIONAL, 15
DEVELOPMENTAL, OR BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS. 16

(2) “PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY” INCLUDES: 17

(I) ISSUING ORAL, WRITTEN, OR ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS; 18

(II) IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRESCRIPTION, THE ORDERING 19
OF LABORATORY TESTS , DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATI ONS, AND PROCEDURES 20
NECESSARY TO OBTAIN THE LABORATORY TESTS OR DIAGNOSTIC EXAMIN ATIONS; 21
AND 22

(III) OTHER PROCEDURES DIRE CTLY RELATED TO THE SCOPE 23
OF PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY AS DETERMINED IN REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE 24
BOARD. 25

18–3B–02. 26

(A) THERE IS A PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 27

(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO ADVISE THE BOARD 28
ON OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBTITLE. 29

(C) THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF: 30
6 SENATE BILL 568

(1) THREE LICENSED PSYCHO LOGISTS WHO CURRENTL Y SERVE ON 1
THE BOARD; 2

(2) ONE LICENSED PHYSICIA N WHO CURRENTLY SERV ES ON THE 3
STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIANS OR IS APPO INTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF 4
PHYSICIANS; AND 5

(3) ONE LICENSED PHARMACI ST WHO CURRENTLY SER VES ON THE 6
STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY. 7

(D) EACH MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE RES PECTIVE BOARD OF 8
EACH MEMBER. 9

(E) (1) THE TERM OF A MEMBER IS 3 YEARS. 10

(2) A MEMBER MAY BE REAPPOINTED. 11

(F) THE BOARD MAY REMOVE A MEMBER, AFTER A NOTICE AND A HEARING, 12
FOR INCAPACITY , INCOMPETENCE, NEGLECT OF DUTY , OR MALFEASANCE IN 13
OFFICE. 14

18–3B–03. 15

(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A 16
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD AS A PRESCRIBING 17
PSYCHOLOGIST BEFORE THE LICENSED PSYCHOL OGIST MAY USE PRESCR IPTIVE 18
AUTHORITY IN THE STATE. 19

(B) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST WHO 20
HAS SUCCESSFULLY COM PLETED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 21
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 22

18–3B–04. 23

(A) TO QUALIFY TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST, 24
AN APPLICANT MUST: 25

(1) BE A LICENSED PSYCHOL OGIST IN GOOD STANDI NG WITH THE 26
BOARD; 27

(2) HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COM PLETED AN EDUCATIONA L PROGRAM 28
RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD THAT INCLUDES: 29
SENATE BILL 568 7

(I) BASIC SCIENCE; 1

(II) FUNCTIONAL NEUROSCIENCES; 2

(III) PHYSICAL EXAMINATION; 3

(IV) INTERPRETATION OF LABORATORY TESTS; 4

(V) PATHOLOGICAL BASIS DISEASE; 5

(VI) CLINICAL MEDICINE; 6

(VII) CLINICAL NEUROTHERAPEUTICS; 7

(VIII) SYSTEMS OF CARE; 8

(IX) PHARMACOLOGY; 9

(X) CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY; 10

(XI) PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY; 11

(XII) PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH; 12

(XIII) PROFESSIONAL, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL ISSUES; AND 13

(XIV) AT LEAST 30 HOURS OF DIDACTIC INSTRUCTION TO ENSURE 14
ACQUISITION OF THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO PRESCRIBE IN A SAFE 15
AND EFFECTIVE MANNER; 16

(3) HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COM PLETED A POSTDOCTORA L 17
PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGY FELLOWSHIP THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST 400 HOURS OF 18
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF AT LEAST 100 PATIENTS OF A DIVERSE 19
PATIENT POPULATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF QUALIFIED PRACTITIONERS; AND 20

(4) HAVE PASSED: 21

(I) THE PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAMINATION FOR 22
PSYCHOLOGISTS OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND PROVINCIAL 23
PSYCHOLOGY BOARDS; OR 24

8 SENATE BILL 568

(II) AN EXAMINATION DEVELO PED BY A NATIONALLY 1
RECOGNIZED BODY APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 2

(B) THE BOARD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 3
SHALL ESTABLISH A JO INT POLICY FOR THE R ENEWAL OF THE LICENS E AND 4
CERTIFICATION OF A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST THAT REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST 5
20 HOURS OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION INSTRUCTION REQUIRED FOR LICENSE 6
RENEWAL BE RELEVANT TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY. 7

(C) THE BOARD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 8
SHALL DEVELOP AND IM PLEMENT PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING EDUCATION AND 9
TRAINING CREDENT IALS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT STANDAR DS OF 10
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. 11

18–3B–05. 12

TO APPLY TO BECOME CE RTIFIED TO USE PRESC RIPTIVE AUTHORITY , A 13
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST SHALL SUBMIT A FOR M AND EVIDENCE OF CO MPLIANCE 14
WITH THIS SUBTITLE AS REQUIRED BY THE BOARD. 15

18–3B–06. 16

THE BOARD SHALL CERTIFY A S A PRESCRIBING PSYC HOLOGIST ANY 17
APPLICANT WHO MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 18

18–3B–07. 19

(A) A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST MAY USE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY IN 20
THE STATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM THE PRESCR IBING PSYCHOLOGIST HAS 21
AN ESTABLISHED CLIEN T OR PATIENT RECORD AT THE TIME THE PRES CRIBING 22
PSYCHOLOGIST USES THE PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY. 23

(B) A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST WHO USES PRESCR IPTIVE AUTHORITY 24
SHALL: 25

(1) COORDINATE WITH THE P ATIENT’S LICENSED MEDICAL 26
PROVIDER; AND 27

(2) MAKE AND DOCUMENT REA SONABLE EFFORTS TO E NCOURAGE 28
THE PATIENT TO MAINT AIN OR ESTABLISH A R ELATIONSHIP WITH A L ICENSED 29
MEDICAL PROVIDER. 30

SENATE BILL 568 9

(C) FOR EACH PRESCRIPTION ISSUED BY A PRESCRIB ING PSYCHOLOGIST, 1
THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST SHALL: 2

(1) ENSURE THAT THE PRESCRIPTION: 3

(I) COMPLIES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW; AND 4

(II) IS IDENTIFIABLE AS BE ING ISSUED BY THE PR ESCRIBING 5
PSYCHOLOGIST IN A MANNER DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; 6

(2) DOCUMENT THE PRESCRIPTION IN THE PATIENT’S RECORD; AND 7

(3) AS APPLICABLE , REPORT THE PRESCRIPT ION TO THE 8
PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 21, 9
SUBTITLE 2A OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 10

(D) BEFORE A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST PRESCRIBES A CONTROLLED 11
SUBSTANCE, THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST SHALL FILE WITH THE BOARD: 12

(1) THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REGISTRATION NUMBER 13
OF THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST; AND 14

(2) THE MARYLAND STATE CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE 15
REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST. 16

(E) A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLO GIST MAY NOT DELEGAT E PRESCRIPTIVE 17
AUTHORITY TO ANOTHER PERSON. 18

18–3B–08. 19

(A) A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST MAY NOT USE PRESCR IPTIVE AUTHORITY 20
UNLESS THE LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST IS CERTIFIED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 21

(B) UNLESS CERTIFIED AS A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLO GIST UNDER THIS 22
SUBTITLE, A PERSON MAY NOT USE THE WORDS OR TERM “PRESCRIBING 23
PSYCHOLOGIST” WITH THE INTENT TO R EPRESENT THAT THE PE RSON IS A 24
PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST. 25

18–3B–09. 26

(A) THE BOARD SHALL MAINTAIN RECORDS ON EACH PRESCRIB ING 27
PSYCHOLOGIST THAT INCLUDE: 28

10 SENATE BILL 568

(1) THE NAME OF THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST; 1

(2) THE IDENTIFICATION NU MBER OF THE PRESCRIB ING 2
PSYCHOLOGIST ASSIGNED BY THE BOARD; 3

(3) THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REGISTRATION NUMBER 4
AND MARYLAND STATE CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE REGISTRATIO N 5
NUMBER OF THE PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST, IF APPLICABLE; AND 6

(4) THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CERTIFICATE ISSU ED TO THE 7
PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST. 8

(B) (1) AT THE TIME THE BOARD CERTIFIES A PRE SCRIBING 9
PSYCHOLOGIST UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE, THE BOARD SHALL PROMPTLY TRANSMIT 10
THE INFORMATION LIST ED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION FOR THE 11
PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLO GIST TO THE STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIANS AND THE 12
STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY. 13

(2) THE BOARD SHALL PROMPTL Y NOTIFY THE STATE BOARD OF 14
PHYSICIANS AND THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY IF THE BOARD REVOKES , 15
SUSPENDS, OR REINSTATES THE CE RTIFICATION OR LICEN SE OF A PRESCRIBING 16
PSYCHOLOGIST OR HAS A CERTIFICATION OR L ICENSE REVOKED, SUSPENDED, OR 17
REINSTATED. 18

(C) (1) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT RUL ES AND REGULATIONS F OR 19
DENYING, MODIFYING, SUSPENDING, OR REVOKING THE CERT IFICATION OR 20
LICENSE OF A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST. 21

(2) THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE REM EDIATION OF ANY DEFI CIENCIES 22
IN THE TRAINING OR PRACTICE PATTERN OF A PRESCRIBING PSYCHOLOGIST IF, IN 23
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BOARD, THE DEFICIENCIES COU LD BE REASONABLY 24
EXPECTED TO JEOPARDIZE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC. 25

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2026. 27