Qualifications for a physician assistant specializing in mental health care -- Rulemaking.
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(1) A physician assistant specializing in mental health care under this section shall:
(a) hold a valid license as a physician assistant under this chapter;
(b) obtain and maintain a Certification of Added Qualification in psychiatry issued by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;
(c) complete:
(i) an accredited doctorate level academic program for physician assistants approved by the division in collaboration with the board;
(ii) a post-graduate certificate program for physician assistants to practice within psychiatric and mental health care that is approved by the division in collaboration with the board; or
(iii) a post-graduate residency in psychiatry and additional clinical practice or coursework in accordance with requirements approved by the division in collaboration with the board; and
(d) complete the clinical practice requirement described in Subsection (4).
(2) The division, in collaboration with the board, may approve a program under Subsections (1)(c)(i) and (ii), if the program:
(a) is an accredited doctoral level or post-graduate academic program;
(b) includes at least 1,600 hours of accredited instructional hours that results in:
(i) a doctorate degree or equivalent; or
(ii) a graduate level certification in psychiatric mental health; and
(c) provides graduate level instruction in:
(i) at least 2 credit hours or equivalent of neuroscience;
(ii) health care law and ethics;
(iii) health care delivery;
(iv) evidence-based mental health medicine;
(v) evidence-based mental health research;
(vi) at least 3 credit hours or equivalent of psychotherapy;
(vii) psychiatric assessment;
(viii) crisis intervention;
(ix) group and family therapy;
(x) suicide risk assessment;
(xi) violence risk assessment;
(xii) at least 3 credit hours or equivalent of psychopharmacology;
(xiii) a comprehensive review of mental disorders as characterized by the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, including diagnostic criteria and prevalence; and
(xiv) medical and therapeutic management of each condition across the lifespan in diverse populations and in a variety of clinical settings.
(3) The division, in collaboration with the board, may:
(a) approve and accept the completion of a post-graduate residency in psychiatry under Subsection (1)(c)(iii) if the residency includes clinical and academic training that is substantially equivalent to the training described in Subsections (2)(b) and (c); and
(b) require the completion of additional coursework or clinical hours for an individual who meets the training requirement under Subsection (1)(c) through a post-graduate residency in psychiatry.
(4)
(a) A physician assistant specializing in mental health care under this section shall complete 10,000 hours of clinical practice in mental health.
(b) The clinical practice hours described in Subsection (4)(a) shall be completed after the individual passes the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
(c) Up to 1,000 hours of clinical practice under Subsection (4)(a) may be completed as part of an approved education program in mental health if the clinical practice hours meet the requirements described in Subsection (4)(d).
(d)
(i) At least the first 4,000 hours of the clinical practice hours described in Subsection (4)(a) shall be completed under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
(ii) At least 2,000 hours of the clinical practice hours described in Subsection (4)(a) shall be completed in psychotherapy under the supervision of a mental health therapist or a psychiatrist who has been trained in and has at least two years of practice experience in psychotherapy.
(iii) The remaining clinical practice hours required under Subsection (4)(a) and not received under Subsections (4)(d)(i) and (ii) shall be completed in collaboration as defined in Section 58-70a-307 with a psychiatrist.
(5) The division, in collaboration with the board, shall establish continuing education requirements for a physician assistant specializing in mental health care under this section.