Pursuant to SB752, the Virginia Board of Psychology and the Virginia Board of Medicine convened a workgroup to include two representatives of the Board of Psychology who are licensed clinical psychologists, two representatives of the Board of Medicine who are physicians, one representative of the Board of Pharmacy, two licensed clinical psychologists who are faculty at accredited institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, two representatives from departments of psychiatry at schools of medicine located in the Commonwealth, a representative of the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, a representative of the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, and other stakeholders as deemed necessary. The workgroup met twice on July 9, 2025(*1) and August 15, 2025(*2) to study the education, training, and qualifications of clinical psychologists licensed in the Commonwealth, including the level of education and training clinical psychologists receive in the area of pharmacology, and assess under what conditions it may be appropriate for clinical psychologists to be granted prescriptive authority.

Although reflected in the public comment received for the workgroup meetings, the workgroup did not debate whether granting prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists would address access to care issues created by a shortage of psychiatrists. Instead, the workgroup focused on the directive of SB752 and attempted to determine under what circumstances, if any, clinical psychologists should be granted prescriptive authority in Virginia. The workgroup did not reach consensus on a path forward.(*3) Some members strongly opposed prescriptive authority under any circumstances, while others may support it conditionally.

This report attempts to capture under what conditions some members of the workgroup were comfortable moving forward. Support among workgroup members for providing psychologists prescribing authority changed depending on the combination of requirements. Members did agree, however, that any prescriptive authority should require additional sciencebased knowledge, clinical experience, passage of a national exam, and structured supervision.

Workgroup Members

Jason Burton, MD
Psychiatrist
Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

Anita Clayton, MD
Psychiatrist
University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences

Aliya Chapman, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Immediate Past Chair,
Virginia Board of Psychology

Sonal Doran, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Virginia Board of Psychology

William Hathaway, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Professor
Regent University, School of Psychology & Counseling, Psychology Department

Caroline Juran, RPh
Executive Director
Virginia Board of Pharmacy

Adam Kaul, MD
Psychiatrist
Psychiatric Society of Virginia

Elliott Lucas, MD
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Virginia Board of Medicine

Krishna Madiraju, MD
Pediatrician
Virginia Board of Medicine

James Morris, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists

Gary Sibcy, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Professor
Liberty University, School of Behavioral Sciences, Psychology Department

Jeremy Walden, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists

Lauren Webb, MD
Emergency Medicine

Staff Participants

Erin Barrett, JD
Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Virginia Department of Health Professions

Jennifer Deschenes, JD
Deputy Executive Director
Virginia Board of Medicine

William Harp, MD
Executive Director
Virginia Board of Medicine

Jaime Hoyle, JD, Chair
Executive Director
Virginia Board of Psychology
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(*1) The agenda materials for the July 9, 2025 meeting may be found at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=Meeting\31\41951\Agenda_DHP_41951_v2.pdf and minutes of the meeting may be found at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=Meeting\31\41951\Minutes_DHP_41951_v3.pdf.
(*2) The agenda materials for the August 15, 2025 meeting may be found at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=Meeting\31\42032\Agenda_DHP_42032_v1.pdf and minutes of the meeting may be found at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=Meeting\31\42032\Minutes_DHP_42032_v1.pdf.
(*3) SB752 did not direct the workgroup to provide recommendations regarding changes needed to allow psychologists prescriptive authority.