I looked up New Mexico, and I guess it's about 1 years worth of courses.
In other words, 1/8th training of a MD psychiatrist.
I agree with the notion that if a psychologist wants to prescribe, he/she should pursue NP, PA, or MD. PA can be as little as 2 years.
PAs are whole nother ball of wax. I wouldn't see a PA in place of a psychiatrist. But I'm sort of a snob. When I went to the plastic surgeon, I became very concerned that I might end up seeing their PA (for small cyst). Luckily I didn't. If the PA wants to tell me that my wound isn't infected, and put a bandaid on me, that's fine. But manage something complex? No thanks.
Granted, there are probably PAs out there that are better than many of the worst MDs. I'm just wary of watering down the training to the degree that we end up teaching medicine at Devry and trucker schools.
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