Board of Psychedelic Medicine and Therapies

Mental health care in this country is in crisis and failing by almost every measure. Psychedelic medicine holds the promise to shift our paradigm in mental health to a model that embodies real transformation. Current research has indicated sustained benefits, and in many cases, a complete resolution of the underlying clinical issue after a few treatment episodes with either MDMA or psilocybin. Our current model of psychiatric care requires daily administration of medicine to reduce symptoms. Psychedelic medicine has the potential to become a new paradigm in mental health treatment that offers real hope and substantive progress.

A certification test provides a clear and coherent career path for practitioners. It will assess the skills and knowledge tailored to therapeutic work with psychedelic medicines, in particular MDMA and psilocybin. Practitioners who pass will be credentialed as a Board-Certified Psychedelic Practitioner (BCPP). This credential will identify those healthcare providers who are qualified to treat mental disorders using approved psychedelic medicines and therapy practices. The BCPP designation confirms that certified practitioners have met the requirements for certification through initial assessment and periodic recertification. This credential then can be applied to reimbursement requests, job applications, professional advancement and client confidence.

The actual work of the psychedelic therapist remains to be well defined in a coherent fashion. This critical step in the emergence of psychedelic medicine will be accomplished by a process called job analysis. The BPMT will elaborate, analyze, and refine the specific tasks and competencies involved in this new profession. This job analysis framework will be a detailed and formal study that defines and validates the knowledge, skills, and tasks required in the work of a psychedelic therapist. It will thus define the core competencies necessary for safe and effective practice with psychedelic medicines. These specific knowledge, skills, and abilities endorsed by the BPMT will establish the clinical guidelines for the practice of psychedelic therapies that apply across various professions and disciplines from social work, psychiatry, marriage and family therapy to psychology. By creating a core set of practice guidelines, the BPMT seeks to address practitioner liability issues, protect public safety, and find an appropriate balance between medical and psychotherapeutic practices. The test will closely reflect the skills and knowledge needed to effectively and safely practice psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The qualified professional will be required to possess both adequate clinical skills and a sufficient knowledge base in the realm of psychedelic medicine. The knowledge base required will include the history, cultural origins, clinical characteristics, applications, risk factors, time course, and other common features of each medicine. Beyond this, the certified practitioner will be required to possess sound clinical skills to appropriately screen in and out candidates based on mental health background and characteristics. Each certified practitioner must understand, embrace, and adhere to the code of ethics for psychedelic medicine. They will also need to possess the expertise needed to sit for and facilitate for a range of journey styles and complications. This includes comfort in managing extreme states, ability to respond effectively to adverse events, and the facilitation of a therapeutic set and setting. The board will post the content outline for the exam and weighting of each section later this year, well ahead of the test application process.

Once the job analysis framework is completed, the BPMT will define the basic eligibility requirements for the BCPP certification. It is critical that these eligibility guidelines reflect the emerging profession and the systemic demands for both safety and credibility. The first tier assessed will be health care providers licensed in the US. While the exact eligibility requirements have not been formally established by the BPMT, we expect candidates will be experienced healthcare professionals, licensed in the United States with demonstrated proficiency using psychedelic medicines in a therapeutic setting to plan and provide treatment for a range of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other traditionally difficult to treat conditions. As certified and licensed mental health care professionals, BCPPs are expected to practice in independent offices, hospital-based clinics, retreat centers, and multidisciplinary clinics among other settings. They come from a range of existing medical and mental health professions such as social work, psychology, psychiatry, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists to name a few. The eligibility requirements will be posted later this year, once the job analysis is completed.