HB 1000 — 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.    2171

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1000
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BRENNAN,
        BOROWSKI, KHAN, FLEMING, INGLIS AND CURRY, JULY 24, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JULY 24, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), entitled
 2      "An act relating to the practice of psychology, providing for
 3      licensing of psychologists, making certain acts illegal and
 4      providing penalties," further providing for definitions, for
 5      State Board of Psychology and for powers of the board;
 6      providing for prescription certificate, for prescribing and
 7      administrative practices and for controlled substances; and
 8      further providing for refusal, suspension or revocation of
 9      license, for reporting of multiple licensure and for
10      penalties and injunctions against unlawful practice.
11      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12   hereby enacts as follows:
13      Section 1.    The definition of "practice of psychology" in
14   section 2 of the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known
15   as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act, is amended and
16   the section is amended by adding definitions to read:
17      Section 2.    Definitions.--As used in this act:
18      * * *
19      "Collaborative relationship" means a cooperative working
20   relationship between a prescribing psychologist and the
21   patient's primary care provider in the provision of patient
22   care, including cooperation in the management and delivery of
 1   physical and mental health care to ensure optimal patient care.
 2      * * *
 3      "Controlled substance" means a controlled substance as
 4   defined in section 2(b) of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233,
 5   No.64), known as "The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and
 6   Cosmetic Act."
 7      "Drug" means a drug as defined in section 2(b) of "The
 8   Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act."
 9      * * *
10      "Practice of psychology" [means offering to render or
11   rendering to individuals, corporations, institutions,
12   governmental agencies, or the public for remuneration any
13   service involving the following:
14      (i)   The application of established principles of learning,
15   motivation, perception, thinking, and emotional relationships to
16   problems of personality evaluation, group relations, and
17   behavior adjustment. The application of said principles
18   includes, but is not restricted to, counseling and the use of
19   psychological methods with persons or groups with adjustment
20   problems in the areas of work, family, school, and personal
21   relationships; measuring and testing of personality,
22   intelligence, aptitudes, and emotions, and offering services as
23   a psychological consultant. Psychologists with appropriate
24   education, training and experience may diagnose and use
25   psychological methods in the treatment of a mental, emotional or
26   nervous illness or disability; alcoholism and other substance
27   abuse; disorders of habit or conduct; psychological aspects of
28   physical illness, accident, injury or disability; and
29   psychoeducational evaluation, therapy, remediation and
30   consultation.

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 1      (ii)     (a)   "Measuring and testing," consisting of the
 2   psychological assessment and evaluation of abilities, attitudes,
 3   aptitudes, achievements, adjustments, motives, personality
 4   dynamics and/or other psychological attributes of individuals,
 5   or groups of individuals by means of standardized measurements
 6   or other methods, techniques or procedures recognized by the
 7   science and profession of psychology, (b) "psychological
 8   methods," consisting of the application of principles of
 9   learning and motivation in an interpersonal situation with the
10   objectives of modification of perception and adjustment, and
11   requiring highly developed skills in the disciplines,
12   techniques, and methods of altering through learning processes,
13   attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personal goals and
14   adaptive patterns, (c) "psychological consulting," consisting of
15   interpreting or reporting upon scientific fact or theory in
16   psychology, rendering expert psychological opinion,
17   psychological evaluation, or engaging in applied psychological
18   research.] means rendering or offering to render, to
19   individuals, corporations, institutions, governmental agencies
20   or the public, for remuneration, a service involving any of the
21   following:
22      (1)    The application of established principles of learning,
23   motivation, perception, thinking and emotional relationships to
24   problems of personality evaluation, group relations and behavior
25   adjustment. The application of the established principles
26   includes:
27      (i)    Counseling and the use of psychological methods with
28   persons or groups with adjustment problems in the areas of work,
29   family, school and personal relationships.
30      (ii)     Measuring and testing personality, intelligence,

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 1   aptitudes and emotions and offering services as a psychological
 2   consultant.
 3      (2)   Measuring and testing, consisting of the psychological
 4   assessment and evaluation of abilities, attitudes, aptitudes,
 5   achievements, adjustments, motives, personality dynamics or
 6   other psychological attributes of individuals or groups of
 7   individuals by means of standardized measurements or other
 8   methods, techniques or procedures recognized by the science and
 9   profession of psychology.
10      (3)   Psychological methods, consisting of the application of
11   principles of learning and motivation in an interpersonal
12   situation with the objectives of modification of perception and
13   adjustment, and requiring highly developed skills in the
14   disciplines, techniques and methods of altering through learning
15   processes, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personal
16   goals and adaptive patterns.
17      (4)   Psychological consulting, consisting of interpreting or
18   reporting upon scientific fact or theory in psychology,
19   rendering expert psychological opinion, psychological evaluation
20   or engaging in applied psychological research.
21      "Prescribing psychologist" means a psychologist licensed in
22   this Commonwealth who holds a current valid prescription
23   certificate.
24      "Prescription" means a written or oral order for a drug,
25   laboratory test, medicine, device or treatment, including a
26   controlled substance.
27      "Prescription certificate" means a document issued by the
28   board that permits the holder to prescribe a drug or controlled
29   substance in accordance with section 6.1.
30      "Prescriptive authority" means, pertaining only to a

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 1   prescribing psychologist, the authority to prescribe,
 2   administer, manage, discontinue or distribute, without charge,
 3   psychotropic medication. The term includes the authority of a
 4   prescribing psychologist to check a patient's pulse, blood
 5   pressure and temperature and order bloodwork.
 6      "Primary care provider" means a primary care provider as
 7   defined in section 2102 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682,
 8   No.284), known as "The Insurance Company Law of 1921."
 9      "Psychopharmacology clinical practical experience" means a
10   period of supervised clinical training and practice in which
11   clinical diagnoses and interventions employing medication are
12   learned and which are conducted and supervised as part of the
13   training program.
14      "Psychotropic medication" means a drug or controlled
15   substance that is used for mental health disorders and substance
16   abuse disorders, including an antidepressant, anti-anxiety
17   medication, stimulant, antipsychotic, mood stabilizer, opioid
18   antagonist or opioid partial agonist for the treatment of drug
19   addiction or prevention of relapse of drug addiction, or both.
20      "Telemedicine" means as follows:
21      (1)    The delivery of health care services to a patient by a
22   health care provider who is at a different location through
23   synchronous interactions, asynchronous interactions or remote
24   patient monitoring that meet the requirements of any of the
25   following:
26      (i)    The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
27   of 1996 (Public Law 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936).
28      (ii)     The Health Information Technology for Economic and
29   Clinical Health Act (Public Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 226-279 and
30   467-497).

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 1      (iii)    Other applicable Federal or State law regarding the
 2   privacy and security of electronic transmission of health
 3   information.
 4      (2)    The term does not include:
 5      (i)    The provision of health care services solely through the
 6   use of voicemail, facsimile, email or instant messaging or a
 7   combination thereof.
 8      (ii)    A provider-to-provider consultation.
 9      Section 2.    Sections 3.1(a) and 3.2 of the act are amended to
10   read:
11      Section 3.1.    State Board of Psychology.--(a)   The State
12   Board of Psychology shall consist of [nine] 11 members who are
13   citizens of the United States and who have been residents of
14   this Commonwealth for a three-year period. [Eight] Ten members
15   are to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent
16   of a majority of the members elected to the Senate, and the
17   Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs shall
18   serve as the [ninth] eleventh member of the board. Two members
19   shall be appointed as representatives of the public at large.
20   [Six] Eight members shall be appointed who shall hold current
21   valid licenses to practice psychology in this Commonwealth and
22   shall be broadly representative of the practice areas of
23   psychology, and at least two members shall be prescribing
24   psychologists.
25      * * *
26      Section 3.2.    Powers of the Board.--The board shall have the
27   following powers and duties:
28      (1)    To pass upon the qualifications and fitness of
29   applicants for licenses and reciprocal licenses; and to adopt
30   and revise rules and regulations requiring applicants to pass

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 1   examinations relating to their qualifications as a prerequisite
 2   to the issuance of license.
 3      (2)    To adopt and, from time to time, revise such rules and
 4   regulations and policies not inconsistent with the law as may be
 5   necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act. Such
 6   rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to,
 7   standards for professional practice and a code of ethics for
 8   psychologists in the State.
 9      (3)    To examine for, deny, approve, issue, revoke, suspend,
10   restrict, limit and renew the licenses of psychologist
11   applicants and prescribing psychologists pursuant to this act
12   and to conduct hearings in connection therewith.
13      (4)    To conduct hearings upon complaints concerning
14   violations of the provisions of and the rules and regulations
15   adopted pursuant to this act and cause the prosecution, impose
16   civil penalties and enjoin any such violations.
17      (5)    To employ, with the approval of the Commissioner of
18   Professional and Occupational Affairs, a professional
19   credentials evaluator to review applications.
20      (6)    To waive examination and grant a license in cases deemed
21   exceptional by the board and in accordance with board
22   regulations.
23      (7)    To keep a list of prescribing psychologists containing
24   the following information:
25      (i)    The name of the psychologist.
26      (ii)    The psychologist's identification number assigned by
27   the board.
28      (iii)     The psychologist's Drug Enforcement Agency number.
29      (iv)    The effective date that a prescribing psychologist
30   obtained prescriptive authority.

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 1      Section 3.    The act is amended by adding sections to read:
 2      Section 6.1.    Prescription Certificate.--(a)   To qualify for
 3   a prescription certificate, a psychologist shall hold a current
 4   valid license in this Commonwealth and meet the minimum
 5   requirements as prescribed by the board. At a minimum, the
 6   requirements shall include:
 7      (1)    A current valid doctoral level license to practice
 8   psychology in this Commonwealth.
 9      (2)    A master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from an
10   accredited institution of higher education accredited by the
11   American Psychological Association or that is approved by the
12   board as meeting the necessary requirements in accordance with
13   the following:
14      (i)    The accredited institution of higher education that
15   offers the master's degree shall determine the prerequisites for
16   the biomedical education which are sufficient to ensure the
17   necessary knowledge and skills to prescribe drugs and controlled
18   substances in a safe manner.
19      (ii)    The psychologist must have completed an organized
20   sequence of study in an organized program offering intensive
21   didactic education, including the following coursework and core
22   areas of instruction:
23      (A)    Basic science.
24      (B)    Functional neurosciences.
25      (C)    Physical examination.
26      (D)    Interpretation of laboratory tests.
27      (E)    Pathological basis of disease.
28      (F)    Clinical medicine.
29      (G)    Clinical neurotherapeutics.
30      (H)    Systems of care.

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 1      (I)    Pharmacology.
 2      (J)    Clinical pharmacology.
 3      (K)    Psychopharmacology.
 4      (L)    Psychopharmacology research.
 5      (M)    Professional ethical and legal issues.
 6      (iii)     The didactic portion of the education under this
 7   clause shall consist of an appropriate number of hours to ensure
 8   acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills to prescribe
 9   in a safe and effective manner.
10      (3)    Completing a psychopharmacology clinical practical
11   experience, as determined by the training program, which shall
12   consist of:
13      (i)    An eighty-hour practicum in observational clinical
14   assessment and pathophysiology under the supervision of a
15   licensed physician or prescribing psychologist.
16      (ii)    A supervised practicum of at least four hundred hours
17   treating at least one hundred patients with mental health
18   disorders, under the supervision of a licensed physician or
19   prescribing psychologist with one-to-one supervision provided
20   either face-to-face, telephonically or by video conference.
21      (4)    Passing a national certification examination developed
22   by a nationally recognized body and approved by the board.
23      (5)    Possessing professional liability insurance that covers
24   the prescribing of psychotropic medication.
25      (6)    Paying all appropriate fees in the amount determined by
26   the board.
27      (7)    Meeting any other standards or requirements deemed
28   necessary by the board.
29      (b)    A prescribing psychologist from another state or
30   jurisdiction, or who has training from the United States

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 1   Department of Defense demonstration project or other similar
 2   program developed and operated by any branch of the armed forces
 3   of the United States, may apply for a prescription certificate
 4   in this Commonwealth if the board deems the education and
 5   psychopharmacology clinical practical experience equivalent to
 6   the requirements of this section. The board may, at its
 7   discretion, require the applicant to complete supplemental
 8   education or psychopharmacology clinical practical experience,
 9   or both.
10      (c)     The board shall prescribe by regulation the procedures
11   for renewing a prescription certificate. Each prescribing
12   psychologist shall complete a minimum of an additional sixteen
13   hours of continuing medical education or continuing education
14   per renewal period relevant to the practice of a prescribing
15   psychologist. The continuing education credits are in addition
16   to credits required to renew a psychologist license.
17      Section 6.2.     Prescribing and Administrative Practices.--(a)
18   A prescribing psychologist may:
19      (1)     Prescribe psychotropic medication through the use of
20   telemedicine.
21      (2)     Prescribe and administer psychotropic medication,
22   including the ordering and review of laboratory tests in
23   conjunction with the prescription, for the treatment and
24   management of mental disorders and substance abuse disorders.
25      (b)     (1)   When prescribing psychotropic medication to a
26   patient, the prescribing psychologist shall maintain an ongoing
27   collaborative relationship with the primary care provider who
28   oversees the patient's general medical care to ensure that:
29      (i)     Necessary medical examinations are conducted.
30      (ii)     The psychotropic medication is appropriate for the

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 1   patient's medical condition.
 2      (iii)   Significant changes in the patient's medical or
 3   psychological conditions are discussed and monitored.
 4      (2)   The ongoing collaborative relationship under clause (1)
 5   shall be maintained in accordance with guidelines approved by
 6   the board, which shall optimize patient care. The guidelines
 7   shall ensure that the prescribing psychologist and the primary
 8   care provider coordinate and collaborate on the care of the
 9   patient to provide optimal care.
10      (c)   A prescribing psychologist of a patient shall obtain a
11   release of information from the patient or the patient's legal
12   guardian authorizing the prescribing psychologist to contact the
13   patient's primary care provider, as required by law. If the
14   legal guardian of a patient under fourteen years of age refuses
15   to sign a release of information for the patient's primary care
16   provider who oversees the patient, the prescribing psychologist
17   shall:
18      (1)   Inform the patient's legal guardian that the prescribing
19   psychologist cannot treat the patient pharmacologically without
20   an ongoing collaborative relationship with the patient's primary
21   care provider.
22      (2)   Refer the patient to the primary care provider.
23      (d)   A prescribing psychologist may not issue a prescription
24   unless the prescribing psychologist holds a current valid
25   certificate for prescriptive authority. A prescribing
26   psychologist may not prescribe a narcotic, except an opioid
27   antagonist or opioid partial agonist approved by the United
28   States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug
29   addiction or the prevention of relapse of drug addiction, or
30   both.

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 1         (e)    Each prescription issued by a prescribing psychologist
 2   shall:
 3         (1)    Comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and
 4   regulations.
 5         (2)    Be identified as written by the prescribing psychologist
 6   in a manner determined by the board.
 7         (3)    Be maintained in the patient's record.
 8         (f)    A prescribing psychologist may not delegate the
 9   authority to prescribe to any other person.
10         Section 6.3.    Controlled Substances.--When authorized to
11   prescribe controlled substances, a prescribing psychologist
12   shall file with the board in a timely manner the prescribing
13   psychologist's Drug Enforcement Agency registration and number.
14         Section 4.    Sections 8(a)(7), (10) and (13) and (b)(6), 8.1
15   and 11 of the act are amended to read:
16         Section 8.    Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of License.--
17   (a)    The board may refuse to issue a license or may suspend,
18   revoke, limit or restrict a license or reprimand a licensee for
19   any of the following reasons:
20         * * *
21         (7)    Having a license to practice psychology or prescription
22   certificate suspended, revoked or refused or receiving other
23   disciplinary action by the proper psychology licensing authority
24   of another state, territory or country.
25         * * *
26         (10)    Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring or advising any
27   unlicensed person to practice psychology or practice as a
28   prescribing psychologist, contrary to this act or regulations of
29   the board.
30         * * *

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 1      (13)    Failing to perform any statutory obligation placed upon
 2   a licensed psychologist or prescribing psychologist.
 3      * * *
 4      (b)    When the board finds that the license or application for
 5   license of any person may be refused, revoked, restricted or
 6   suspended under the terms of subsection (a), the board may:
 7      * * *
 8      (6)    Restore a suspended license to practice psychology or
 9   prescribing psychologist and impose any disciplinary or
10   corrective measure which it might originally have imposed.
11      * * *
12      Section 8.1.    Reporting of Multiple Licensure.--Any licensed
13   psychologist of this Commonwealth who is also licensed to
14   practice psychology, is a prescribing psychologist or another
15   health profession in any other state, territory or country shall
16   report this information to the board on the biennial
17   registration application. Any disciplinary action taken in any
18   other state, territory or country shall be reported to the board
19   on the biennial registration application or within ninety days
20   of disposition, whichever is sooner. Multiple licensure shall be
21   noted by the board on the psychologist's or prescribing
22   psychologist's record, and such state, territory or country
23   shall be notified by the board of any disciplinary actions taken
24   against said psychologist in this Commonwealth.
25      Section 11.    Penalties and Injunctions Against Unlawful
26   Practice.--(a)    Any person who engages or offers to engage in
27   the practice of psychology or prescribing psychologist without
28   holding a currently valid license or prescription certificate as
29   required by this act or any person or the responsible officer or
30   employe of any corporation or partnership, institution or

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 1   association who violates any of the provisions of this act or
 2   any rule or regulation of the board promulgated pursuant
 3   thereto, for a first offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
 4   and upon conviction shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
 5   than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or undergo imprisonment of
 6   not more than six months; and on each additional offense shall
 7   be subject to a fine of not less than two thousand dollars
 8   ($2,000) or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more
 9   than one year, or both.
10      (b)     In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal
11   penalty provided for in this act, the board, by a vote of the
12   majority of the maximum number of the authorized membership of
13   the board as provided by law, or by a vote of the majority of
14   the duly qualified and confirmed membership or a minimum of four
15   members, whichever is greater, may levy a civil penalty of up to
16   one thousand dollars ($1,000) on any current licensee who
17   violates any provision of this act or on any person who
18   practices psychology or practices as a prescribing psychologist,
19   as defined in this act, without being properly licensed or
20   certified to do so under this act. The board shall levy this
21   penalty only after affording the accused party the opportunity
22   for a hearing, as provided by Title 2 of the Pennsylvania
23   Consolidated Statutes (relating to administrative law and
24   procedure). All fines and civil penalties imposed in accordance
25   with this act shall be paid into the Professional Augmentation
26   Account.
27      (c)     It shall be unlawful for any person to practice or
28   attempt to offer to practice psychology or practice as a
29   prescribing psychologist, as defined in this act, without having
30   at the time of so doing a valid, unexpired, unrevoked and

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 1   unsuspended license issued under this act. The unlawful practice
 2   of psychology or practice as a prescribing psychologist, as
 3   defined in this act, may be enjoined by the courts on petition
 4   of the board or the Commissioner of Professional and
 5   Occupational Affairs. In any such proceeding it shall not be
 6   necessary to show that any person is individually injured by the
 7   actions complained of. If the respondent is found guilty of the
 8   unlawful practice of psychology or practice as a prescribing
 9   psychologist, the court shall enjoin him or her from so
10   practicing unless and until he or she has been duly licensed.
11   Procedure in such cases shall be the same as in any other
12   injunction suit. The remedy by injunction hereby given is in
13   addition to any other civil or criminal prosecution and
14   punishment.
15      Section 5.    The State Board of Psychology shall promulgate
16   regulations necessary to implement this act no later than one
17   year from the effective date of this section.
18      Section 6.    This act shall take effect as follows:
19          (1)    The following shall take effect immediately:
20                 Section 5 of this act.
21                 This section.
22          (2)    The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
23      days.




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