Mental Health in Idaho: A multifaceted approach
Clinical Psychopharmacology program receives national recognition
The Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) program at ISU has been granted American Psychological Association (APA) designation. This makes ISU the 4th program in the country to achieve APA designation and is professional recognition that ISU’s education and training program meets the highest level of academic and training standards.
The MSCP program is a post-doctoral program designed to provide licensed psychologists with training in the use of medication as part of the treatment of psychological disorders. Students must be licensed psychologists who have already earned a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited program and institution. The ISU MSCP program in the only program in the U.S. that is operating entirely within a college of pharmacy.
ISU applied for the recognition to APA’s Designation Committee for Postdoctoral Education and Training Programs in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority, referred to as the RxP Designation Committee.
“APA designation of the ISU MSCP program is a tremendous acknowledgement of having an education and training program of the highest caliber. This achievement recognizes ISU at a national level,” says Eric Silk, PhD, MA, MS, program director and clinical associate professor for the MSCP program.
APA established this process to designate postdoctoral education and training programs in psychopharmacology as a response to advances that have occurred in psychopharmacology education and training and prescriptive authority legislation in recent years.
Becoming the 5th state to allow prescription privileges for psychologists, Idaho is expanding the role psychologists play in healthcare. The MSCP program at ISU hopes to play a critical role in increasing access to mental healthcare in Idaho and beyond.
A new Psychopharmacology Clinic at ISU-Meridian will provide evaluation and medication management for patients suffering from a variety of mental health conditions requiring psychiatric medication.Providing these much-needed services for Idaho residents also gives students in the program opportunities for enhanced learning experiences to prepare them for their field.
