ASPPB Seeks Volunteers for the Job Task Analysis Task Force (JTATF) for the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP) and for the PEP Examination Development Committee (PEP-EDC)  

Two Opportunities to Make a Difference; Present Statement of Interest by April 15^th  

The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)® is conducting a Job Task Analysis (JTA) study for the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP)®. The JTA is a systematic, documented process that ensures the PEP continues to assess the current knowledge and its application required for competent practice. Professional assessment programs conduct a JTA periodically to ensure that test content and specifications accurately reflect current practice.

About the PEP

ASPPB creates and administers the PEP on behalf of U.S. and Canadian jurisdictional boards that offer licensure to psychologists seeking prescription privileges. Passing the PEP is one of the requirements that specially trained psychologists must meet to obtain prescriptive authority in jurisdictions that have enacted laws allowing it. At present, the jurisdictions that allow psychologists to prescribe are Guam, New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah. Virginia just passed a law establishing a formal multidisciplinary committee to draft a bill to be submitted in the next legislative session that would allow psychologists to prescribe. In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Indian Health Service permit properly credentialed psychologists to prescribe within their system. At present, there are several jurisdictions that have active bills in their respective legislatures to grant prescriptive privileges to psychologists, including Hawaii, Vermont, and Pennsylvania as examples.

The PEP measures the foundational knowledge needed to administer medications safely and effectively in psychological practice. Following testing-industry standards, ASPPB thoroughly reviews and updates the PEP on a regular basis to keep pace with advances in the use of psychotropic medications. The current PEP is based on a JTA conducted in 2017, and a new JTA is planned for 2026 to review, update, and validate the content areas and competencies measured by the PEP.

Your Role as a Volunteer 

ASPPB seeks both early-career and more experienced doctoral-level psychologists who represent a broad range of work, demographic, cultural, and professional identities. These psychologists may be licensed practitioners, academics, researchers, and/or consultants knowledgeable about this specialized practice area within the profession. Volunteers should have knowledge and experience in one or more of the domains currently assessed by the PEP. The 10 domain areas are:

• Integration of psychopharmacology into the practice of psychology
• Neuroscience
• Nervous system pathology
• Physiology and pathophysiology
• Biopsychosocial and pharmacological assessment and monitoring
• Differential diagnosis
• Pharmacology
• Clinical psychopharmacology
• Research
• Professional, legal, ethical, and interprofessional issues.

The PEP-JTATF will help ASPPB conduct a series of activities for a JTA study to ensure that the PEP remains a high-quality, relevant examination for psychologists seeking prescription privileges. ASPPB will use this study to update the PEP domains and associated knowledge statements, and to revise the examination to ensure it remains a valid and reliable measure of the knowledge base required by psychologists who seek prescriptive privileges.

Additional PEP-JTATF Requirements

There will be three required meetings of the PEP-JTATF (two virtual and one in-person meeting).

• First meeting – Test Definition (virtual, 2-hours; end of May 2026).
  • Objective: To discuss high-level changes to the certification program (e.g., purpose, the target audience, minimum requirements, scope of exam, and minimal level of competence required to pass the exam).
• Second meeting – Job Task Analysis (2-day, in-person; held at the ASPPB home office in Tyrone, GA, Friday and Saturday, June 12-13, 2026).
  • Objective: Members will participate in developing a questionnaire to survey licensed psychologists with prescription privileges in Canada and the United States. The survey will be used to update the PEP content areas and associated knowledge statements, and to develop test specifications for the revised PEP to reflect evolving knowledge and practice in prescriptive authority.
• Third meeting – Job Analysis Data Review and Test Blueprint (virtual, 4-hours; early-mid Fall 2026).
  • Objective: Review the preliminary results of the job task analysis survey and gather your feedback on the domains, knowledge, and skills to be measured by the PEP.

Interested participants must be available for all three meetings. Selected members will be polled for their availability for the date ranges listed above. Members will be reimbursed for travel expenses, subject to the Association’s established reimbursement policies. In preparation for the meetings, participants will be asked to review relevant literature provided by ASPPB and the exam vendor.

Volunteering for the PEP-EDC

Another area where your expertise can make a difference is by volunteering for the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists Examination Development Committee (PEPEDC). Unlike the JTATF, this opportunity requires a 4-year term on the committee, with the possibility of renewal for a second 4-year term.

The PEP-EDC evaluates the appropriateness of examination content assessed through a large-scale survey and expert review of the test specification (i.e., job task analysis). Members of the EDC also write new items for the PEP, review items from other item writers, and participate in 2-day meetings to review and finalize exam forms before publication. The PEP-EDC typically meets 1-2 times a year. Most meetings are held virtually, but there may be a need to meet in person periodically. When an in-person meeting is called, the committee would meet at the ASPPB home office in Tyrone, Georgia (flights to Atlanta and travel expenses are covered).

Take Action by April 15

Interested psychologists should complete the online application form and submit an up-to-date CV and a statement of interest to jsims@asppb.org by April 15, 2026.  Click the following link to access the application form. 

Link to the PEP JTATF and PEP EDC application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PEP_2026

Volunteering for ASPPB is a professionally rewarding opportunity!

Thank you for considering our call for volunteers.