An Act amending the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for State Board of Psychology and for powers of the board; providing for prescription certificate, for prescribing and administrative practices and for controlled substances; and further providing for refusal, suspension or revocation of license, for reporting of multiple licensure and for penalties and injunctions against unlawful practice.

PRINTER'S NO. 1535
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1243
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY YAW, PENNYCUICK, VOGEL, BAKER, CULVER, ARGALL,
KANE, HUTCHINSON AND CAPPELLETTI, MARCH 23, 2026
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 23, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), entitled
"An act relating to the practice of psychology, providing for
licensing of psychologists, making certain acts illegal and
providing penalties," further providing for definitions, for
State Board of Psychology and for powers of the board;
providing for prescription certificate, for prescribing and
administrative practices and for controlled substances; and
further providing for refusal, suspension or revocation of
license, for reporting of multiple licensure and for
penalties and injunctions against unlawful practice.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "practice of psychology" in
section 2 of the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known
as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act, is amended and
the section is amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 2. Definitions.--As used in this act:
* * *
"Collaborative relationship" means a cooperative working
relationship between a prescribing psychologist and the
patient's primary care provider in the provision of patient
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care, including cooperation in the management and delivery of
physical and mental health care to ensure optimal patient care.
* * *
"Controlled substance" means a controlled substance as
defined in section 2(b) of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233,
No.64), known as "The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and
Cosmetic Act."
"Drug" means a drug as defined in section 2(b) of "The
Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act."
* * *
"Practice of psychology" [means offering to render or
rendering to individuals, corporations, institutions,
governmental agencies, or the public for remuneration any
service involving the following:
(i) The application of established principles of learning,
motivation, perception, thinking, and emotional relationships to
problems of personality evaluation, group relations, and
behavior adjustment. The application of said principles
includes, but is not restricted to, counseling and the use of
psychological methods with persons or groups with adjustment
problems in the areas of work, family, school, and personal
relationships; measuring and testing of personality,
intelligence, aptitudes, and emotions, and offering services as
a psychological consultant. Psychologists with appropriate
education, training and experience may diagnose and use
psychological methods in the treatment of a mental, emotional or
nervous illness or disability; alcoholism and other substance
abuse; disorders of habit or conduct; psychological aspects of
physical illness, accident, injury or disability; and
psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation and
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consultation.
(ii) (a) "Measuring and testing," consisting of the
psychological assessment and evaluation of abilities, attitudes,
aptitudes, achievements, adjustments, motives, personality
dynamics and/or other psychological attributes of individuals,
or groups of individuals by means of standardized measurements
or other methods, techniques or procedures recognized by the
science and profession of psychology, (b) "psychological
methods," consisting of the application of principles of
learning and motivation in an interpersonal situation with the
objectives of modification of perception and adjustment, and
requiring highly developed skills in the disciplines,
techniques, and methods of altering through learning processes,
attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personal goals and
adaptive patterns, (c) "psychological consulting," consisting of
interpreting or reporting upon scientific fact or theory in
psychology, rendering expert psychological opinion,
psychological evaluation, or engaging in applied psychological
research.] means rendering or offering to render, to
individuals, corporations, institutions, governmental agencies
or the public, for remuneration, a service involving any of the
following:
(1) The application of established principles of learning,
motivation, perception, thinking and emotional relationships to
problems of personality evaluation, group relations and behavior
adjustment. The application of the established principles
includes:
(i) Counseling and the use of psychological methods with
persons or groups with adjustment problems in the areas of work,
family, school and personal relationships.
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(ii) Measuring and testing personality, intelligence,
aptitudes and emotions and offering services as a psychological
consultant.
(2) Measuring and testing, consisting of the psychological
assessment and evaluation of abilities, attitudes, aptitudes,
achievements, adjustments, motives, personality dynamics or
other psychological attributes of individuals or groups of
individuals by means of standardized measurements or other
methods, techniques or procedures recognized by the science and
profession of psychology.
(3) Psychological methods, consisting of the application of
principles of learning and motivation in an interpersonal
situation with the objectives of modification of perception and
adjustment, and requiring highly developed skills in the
disciplines, techniques and methods of altering through learning
processes, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personal
goals and adaptive patterns.
(4) Psychological consulting, consisting of interpreting or
reporting upon scientific fact or theory in psychology,
rendering expert psychological opinion, psychological evaluation
or engaging in applied psychological research.
"Prescribing psychologist" means a psychologist licensed in
this Commonwealth who holds a current valid prescription
certificate.
"Prescription" means a written or oral order for a drug,
laboratory test, medicine, device or treatment, including a
controlled substance.
"Prescription certificate" means a document issued by the
board that permits the holder to prescribe a drug or controlled
substance in accordance with section 6.1.
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"Prescriptive authority" means, pertaining only to a
prescribing psychologist, the authority to prescribe,
administer, manage, discontinue or distribute, without charge,
psychotropic medication. The term includes the authority of a
prescribing psychologist to check a patient's pulse, blood
pressure and temperature and order bloodwork.
"Primary care provider" means a primary care provider as
defined in section 2102 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682,
No.284), known as "The Insurance Company Law of 1921."
"Psychopharmacology clinical practical experience" means a
period of supervised clinical training and practice in which
clinical diagnoses and interventions employing medication are
learned and which are conducted and supervised as part of the
training program.
"Psychotropic medication" means a drug or controlled
substance that is used for mental health disorders and substance
abuse disorders, including an antidepressant, anti-anxiety
medication, stimulant, antipsychotic, mood stabilizer, opioid
antagonist or opioid partial agonist for the treatment of drug
addiction or prevention of relapse of drug addiction, or both.
"Telemedicine" means as follows:
(1) The delivery of health care services to a patient by a
health care provider who is at a different location through
synchronous interactions, asynchronous interactions or remote
patient monitoring that meet the requirements of any of the
following:
(i) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 (Public Law 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936).
(ii) The Health Information Technology for Economic and
Clinical Health Act (Public Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 226-279 and
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467-497).
(iii) Other applicable Federal or State law regarding the
privacy and security of electronic transmission of health
information.
(2) The term does not include:
(i) The provision of health care services solely through the
use of voicemail, facsimile, email or instant messaging or a
combination thereof.
(ii) A provider-to-provider consultation.
Section 2. Sections 3.1(a) and 3.2 of the act are amended to
read:
Section 3.1. State Board of Psychology.--(a) The State
Board of Psychology shall consist of [nine] 11 members who are
citizens of the United States and who have been residents of
this Commonwealth for a three-year period. [Eight] Ten members
are to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent
of a majority of the members elected to the Senate, and the
Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs shall
serve as the [ninth] eleventh member of the board. Two members
shall be appointed as representatives of the public at large.
[Six] Eight members shall be appointed who shall hold current
valid licenses to practice psychology in this Commonwealth and
shall be broadly representative of the practice areas of
psychology, and at least two members shall be prescribing
psychologists.
* * *
Section 3.2. Powers of the Board.--The board shall have the
following powers and duties:
(1) To pass upon the qualifications and fitness of
applicants for licenses and reciprocal licenses; and to adopt
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and revise rules and regulations requiring applicants to pass
examinations relating to their qualifications as a prerequisite
to the issuance of license.
(2) To adopt and, from time to time, revise such rules and
regulations and policies not inconsistent with the law as may be
necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act. Such
rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to,
standards for professional practice and a code of ethics for
psychologists in the State.
(3) To examine for, deny, approve, issue, revoke, suspend,
restrict, limit and renew the licenses of psychologist
applicants and prescribing psychologists pursuant to this act
and to conduct hearings in connection therewith.
(4) To conduct hearings upon complaints concerning
violations of the provisions of and the rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to this act and cause the prosecution, impose
civil penalties and enjoin any such violations.
(5) To employ, with the approval of the Commissioner of
Professional and Occupational Affairs, a professional
credentials evaluator to review applications.
(6) To waive examination and grant a license in cases deemed
exceptional by the board and in accordance with board
regulations.
(7) To keep a list of prescribing psychologists containing
the following information:
(i) The name of the psychologist.
(ii) The psychologist's identification number assigned by
the board.
(iii) The psychologist's Drug Enforcement Agency number.
(iv) The effective date that a prescribing psychologist
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obtained prescriptive authority.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
Section 6.1. Prescription Certificate.--(a) To qualify for
a prescription certificate, a psychologist shall hold a current
valid license in this Commonwealth and meet the minimum
requirements as prescribed by the board. At a minimum, the
requirements shall include:
(1) A current valid doctoral level license to practice
psychology in this Commonwealth.
(2) A master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from an
accredited institution of higher education accredited by the
American Psychological Association or that is approved by the
board as meeting the necessary requirements in accordance with
the following:
(i) The accredited institution of higher education that
offers the master's degree shall determine the prerequisites for
the biomedical education which are sufficient to ensure the
necessary knowledge and skills to prescribe drugs and controlled
substances in a safe manner.
(ii) The psychologist must have completed an organized
sequence of study in an organized program offering intensive
didactic education, including the following coursework and core
areas of instruction:
(A) Basic science.
(B) Functional neurosciences.
(C) Physical examination.
(D) Interpretation of laboratory tests.
(E) Pathological basis of disease.
(F) Clinical medicine.
(G) Clinical neurotherapeutics.
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(H) Systems of care.
(I) Pharmacology.
(J) Clinical pharmacology.
(K) Psychopharmacology.
(L) Psychopharmacology research.
(M) Professional ethical and legal issues.
(iii) The didactic portion of the education under this
clause shall consist of an appropriate number of hours to ensure
acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills to prescribe
in a safe and effective manner.
(3) Completing a psychopharmacology clinical practical
experience, as determined by the training program, which shall
consist of:
(i) An eighty-hour practicum in observational clinical
assessment and pathophysiology under the supervision of a
licensed physician or prescribing psychologist.
(ii) A supervised practicum of at least four hundred hours
treating at least one hundred patients with mental health
disorders, under the supervision of a licensed physician or
prescribing psychologist with one-to-one supervision provided
either face-to-face, telephonically or by video conference.
(4) Passing a national certification examination developed
by a nationally recognized body and approved by the board.
(5) Possessing professional liability insurance that covers
the prescribing of psychotropic medication.
(6) Paying all appropriate fees in the amount determined by
the board.
(7) Meeting any other standards or requirements deemed
necessary by the board.
(b) A prescribing psychologist from another state or
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jurisdiction, or who has training from the United States
Department of Defense demonstration project or other similar
program developed and operated by any branch of the armed forces
of the United States, may apply for a prescription certificate
in this Commonwealth if the board deems the education and
psychopharmacology clinical practical experience equivalent to
the requirements of this section. The board may, at its
discretion, require the applicant to complete supplemental
education or psychopharmacology clinical practical experience,
or both.
(c) The board shall prescribe by regulation the procedures
for renewing a prescription certificate. Each prescribing
psychologist shall complete a minimum of an additional sixteen
hours of continuing medical education or continuing education
per renewal period relevant to the practice of a prescribing
psychologist. The continuing education credits are in addition
to credits required to renew a psychologist license.
Section 6.2. Prescribing and Administrative Practices.--(a)
A prescribing psychologist may:
(1) Prescribe psychotropic medication through the use of
telemedicine.
(2) Prescribe and administer psychotropic medication,
including the ordering and review of laboratory tests in
conjunction with the prescription, for the treatment and
management of mental disorders and substance abuse disorders.
(b) (1) When prescribing psychotropic medication to a
patient, the prescribing psychologist shall maintain an ongoing
collaborative relationship with the primary care provider who
oversees the patient's general medical care to ensure that:
(i) Necessary medical examinations are conducted.
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(ii) The psychotropic medication is appropriate for the
patient's medical condition.
(iii) Significant changes in the patient's medical or
psychological conditions are discussed and monitored.
(2) The ongoing collaborative relationship under clause (1)
shall be maintained in accordance with guidelines approved by
the board, which shall optimize patient care. The guidelines
shall ensure that the prescribing psychologist and the primary
care provider coordinate and collaborate on the care of the
patient to provide optimal care.
(c) A prescribing psychologist of a patient shall obtain a
release of information from the patient or the patient's legal
guardian authorizing the prescribing psychologist to contact the
patient's primary care provider, as required by law. If the
legal guardian of a patient under fourteen years of age refuses
to sign a release of information for the patient's primary care
provider who oversees the patient, the prescribing psychologist
shall:
(1) Inform the patient's legal guardian that the prescribing
psychologist cannot treat the patient pharmacologically without
an ongoing collaborative relationship with the patient's primary
care provider.
(2) Refer the patient to the primary care provider.
(d) A prescribing psychologist may not issue a prescription
unless the prescribing psychologist holds a current valid
certificate for prescriptive authority. A prescribing
psychologist may not prescribe a narcotic, except an opioid
antagonist or opioid partial agonist approved by the United
States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug
addiction or the prevention of relapse of drug addiction, or
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both.
(e) Each prescription issued by a prescribing psychologist
shall:
(1) Comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and
regulations.
(2) Be identified as written by the prescribing psychologist
in a manner determined by the board.
(3) Be maintained in the patient's record.
(f) A prescribing psychologist may not delegate the
authority to prescribe to any other person.
Section 6.3. Controlled Substances.--When authorized to
prescribe controlled substances, a prescribing psychologist
shall file with the board in a timely manner the prescribing
psychologist's Drug Enforcement Agency registration and number.
Section 4. Sections 8(a)(7), (10) and (13) and (b)(6), 8.1
and 11 of the act are amended to read:
Section 8. Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of License.--
(a) The board may refuse to issue a license or may suspend,
revoke, limit or restrict a license or reprimand a licensee for
any of the following reasons:
* * *
(7) Having a license to practice psychology or prescription
certificate suspended, revoked or refused or receiving other
disciplinary action by the proper psychology licensing authority
of another state, territory or country.
* * *
(10) Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring or advising any
unlicensed person to practice psychology or practice as a
prescribing psychologist, contrary to this act or regulations of
the board.
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* * *
(13) Failing to perform any statutory obligation placed upon
a licensed psychologist or prescribing psychologist.
* * *
(b) When the board finds that the license or application for
license of any person may be refused, revoked, restricted or
suspended under the terms of subsection (a), the board may:
* * *
(6) Restore a suspended license to practice psychology or
prescribing psychologist and impose any disciplinary or
corrective measure which it might originally have imposed.
* * *
Section 8.1. Reporting of Multiple Licensure.--Any licensed
psychologist of this Commonwealth who is also licensed to
practice psychology, is a prescribing psychologist or another
health profession in any other state, territory or country shall
report this information to the board on the biennial
registration application. Any disciplinary action taken in any
other state, territory or country shall be reported to the board
on the biennial registration application or within ninety days
of disposition, whichever is sooner. Multiple licensure shall be
noted by the board on the psychologist's or prescribing
psychologist's record, and such state, territory or country
shall be notified by the board of any disciplinary actions taken
against said psychologist in this Commonwealth.
Section 11. Penalties and Injunctions Against Unlawful
Practice.--(a) Any person who engages or offers to engage in
the practice of psychology or prescribing psychologist without
holding a currently valid license or prescription certificate as
required by this act or any person or the responsible officer or
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employe of any corporation or partnership, institution or
association who violates any of the provisions of this act or
any rule or regulation of the board promulgated pursuant
thereto, for a first offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or undergo imprisonment of
not more than six months; and on each additional offense shall
be subject to a fine of not less than two thousand dollars
($2,000) or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more
than one year, or both.
(b) In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal
penalty provided for in this act, the board, by a vote of the
majority of the maximum number of the authorized membership of
the board as provided by law, or by a vote of the majority of
the duly qualified and confirmed membership or a minimum of four
members, whichever is greater, may levy a civil penalty of up to
one thousand dollars ($1,000) on any current licensee who
violates any provision of this act or on any person who
practices psychology or practices as a prescribing psychologist,
as defined in this act, without being properly licensed or
certified to do so under this act. The board shall levy this
penalty only after affording the accused party the opportunity
for a hearing, as provided by Title 2 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes (relating to administrative law and
procedure). All fines and civil penalties imposed in accordance
with this act shall be paid into the Professional Augmentation
Account.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice or
attempt to offer to practice psychology or practice as a
prescribing psychologist, as defined in this act, without having
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at the time of so doing a valid, unexpired, unrevoked and
unsuspended license issued under this act. The unlawful practice
of psychology or practice as a prescribing psychologist, as
defined in this act, may be enjoined by the courts on petition
of the board or the Commissioner of Professional and
Occupational Affairs. In any such proceeding it shall not be
necessary to show that any person is individually injured by the
actions complained of. If the respondent is found guilty of the
unlawful practice of psychology or practice as a prescribing
psychologist, the court shall enjoin him or her from so
practicing unless and until he or she has been duly licensed.
Procedure in such cases shall be the same as in any other
injunction suit. The remedy by injunction hereby given is in
addition to any other civil or criminal prosecution and
punishment.
Section 5. The State Board of Psychology shall promulgate
regulations necessary to implement this act no later than one
year from the effective date of this section.
Section 6. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) The following shall take effect immediately:
Section 5 of this act.
This section.
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
days.
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