Train for prescriptive authority as you improve your clinical skills in real-world settings.
Addressing the need for mental health practitioners who know how to prescribe medications, The Chicago School’s Certificate in Clinical Rotations program offers licensed psychologists with the online M.S. Clinical Psychopharmacology degree the comprehensive training necessary to be eligible for prescriptive authority. Psychologists will learn how to increase their current competency in assessment, diagnosis, and intervention, and engage in case-based learning that will enhance their collaborative practice skills.
Through a sequence of clinical rotations, you will integrate academic knowledge with clinical competencies to gain invaluable experience. Working in real-world settings, you will apply your knowledge to clinical populations through case-based learning. This experience is further augmented by a Clinical Competency Examination and a research project.
This certificate has two tracks with important distinctions.
Illinois Prescriptive Authority Track
Psychologists seeking licensure to prescribe psychotropic medications in Illinois must complete a 14-month full-time (28 part-time) sequence of clinical rotations following the successful completion of the online M.S. Clinical Psychopharmacology academic coursework to be eligible for prescriptive authority. During these clinical rotations, students integrate academic knowledge with clinical competencies and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these competencies in clinical practice. Through intensive supervised training, students gain direct experience in applying their knowledge to clinical populations.
Louisiana, New Mexico, Armed Forces, and Indian Health Service Prescriptive Authority Track
Psychologists seeking licensure to prescribe psychotropic medications in Louisiana, New Mexico, on a United States Armed Forces Installation, or within federally recognized tribal communities of the Indian Health Service must complete a six-term sequence of clinical rotations following the successful completion of the online M.S. Clinical Psychopharmacology academic coursework to be eligible for prescriptive authority. During these clinical rotations, students integrate academic knowledge with clinical competencies and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these competencies in clinical practice. Through intensive supervised training, students gain direct experience in applying their knowledge to clinical populations.
Gerardo Rodriguez-Menendez, PhD, MSCP, ABPP
Admissions Requirements
Each applicant is reviewed holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their unique qualifications.
Students applying to the Certificate in Clinical Rotations for Clinical Psychopharmacology must submit the following:
- Application
- Application fee ($50)
- Resume
- M.S. Clinical Psychopharmacology from an APA-designated program at an institutionally accredited institution
- Official transcripts
- A current license in good standing as a clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois, Louisiana, or New Mexico or license eligibility as a clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois, Louisiana, or New Mexico.
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Fieldwork Opportunities
Illinois Prescriptive Authority Track
Students gain real-world experience applying their knowledge with clinical populations through intensive supervised training. During the 36-credit hour clinical rotations, students will integrate academic knowledge with clinical skills and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these skills in clinical practice. Additionally, The Chicago School assists students in finding clinical rotation opportunities in many areas including emergency medicine, pediatrics, and more.
Louisiana, New Mexico, Armed Forces, and Indian Health Service Prescriptive Authority Track
Students gain real-world experience applying their knowledge with clinical populations through intensive supervised training. Students in this track complete six clinical assessment courses to fulfill the requirement for clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, students will integrate academic knowledge with clinical skills and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these skills in clinical practice. The program will assist with clinical rotation placements through The Chicago School Office of Placement and Training, but placement is not guaranteed.
Additional Program Components
Clinical Research Project
As part of this certificate program, students will complete the research project requirement. Also examined in the course that contains the research project are: the U.S. federal drug approval process and the ethical and legal concerns that frame much of the psychiatric literature, methods for evaluating psychopharmacology research, and the translation of that research into clinical practice. Students will also review research issues specific to prescribers (e.g., informed consent and assent, standards of care, documentation and record keeping, scope of practice, collaboration, consultation and referral, ethical codes and standards that pertain to pharmacological practice.) These include practice management issues (e.g., interacting with pharmaceutical representatives, cross-cultural meaning of medication, discontinuation of or adherence to treatment, integrating psychotherapy and prescribing, and managing a suicidal or drug-seeking patient.)
Clinical Competency Exam
As a capstone project, students are required to present a written clinical case report to two faculty members who will examine the student on the case.
Career Pathways
Clinical Psychopharmacology provides psychologists with proficiency in clinical or health service psychology.
In addition to the settings in which clinical psychologists work, prescribing psychologists work in a variety of clinical settings, including but not limited to:
- Community mental health centers
- Correctional facilities
- Hospitals
- Medical centers
- Private practices
- Active duty military
- University clinics
- Pharmaceutical companies
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
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