The progress of psychology toward the acquisition of prescriptive authority is critically reviewed. Advances made by other nonphysician health care professions toward expanding their scopes of practice to include prescriptive authority are compared with gains made by professional psychology. Societal trends affecting attitudes toward the use of psychotropic medications are reviewed, and the potential influence of such trends on the prescriptive authority movement is examined. A history of the prescriptive authority movement is documented, and recent legislative and policy initiatives are discussed.

Active participation in professional advocacy activities is essential for psychology to have a viable future. Advocacy efforts thus Far in professional psychology are reviewed, and a discussion of how strong advocacy efforts will be required it) advance the interests of the profession it) the future is presented. Making psychology a true health profession, securing legislative authority to prescribe in all states. confronting and overcoming business and regulatory constraints on practice, and providing Sufficient services to meet the growing diversity of the general population are discussed as examples of professional issues whose resolution will require significant advocacy efforts. Recommended steps are provided for developing a strong, national advocacy program.

This is an invited paper describing the author's perspective on some professional developments with which he has been associated over the past twenty-three years. After giving a brief biographical sketch, the author describes two themes that have guided his professional development and indicates how these efforts have contributed to the creation of a more supportive environment for psychology practitioners.

Some of the major questions and objections raised by colleagues to the author's advocacy of the use of prescription drugs in psychological practice are discussed along with possible rebuttals. The argument is made that the objections are not sufficiently strong to deter the profession from seeking prescription privileges for its practitioners.

A presidential task force on external funding was established by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2003 to review APA policies, procedures, and practices regarding the acceptance of funding and support from private corporations for educational and training programs; continuing education offerings; research projects; publications; advertising; scientific and professional meetings and conferences; and consulting, practice, and advocacy relationships. This article, based on the Executive Summary of the APA Task Force on External Funding Final Report, presents the findings and unanimous recommendations of the task force in the areas of association income, annual convention, research and journals, continuing education, education, practice, and conflicts of interest and ethics. The task force concluded that it is important for both APA and individual psychologists to become familiar with the challenges that corporate funding can pose to their integrity. The nature and extent of those challenges led the task force to recommend that APA develop explicit policies, educational materials, and continuing education programs to preserve the independence of psychological science, practice, and education.

Summary Using one practice whose history parallels the history of independent psychological practice in the U.S. as a case example, the article chronicles the major changes in practice patterns that have occurred in response to changes in reimbursement. It attempts to show how changes in reimbursement practices have altered and shaped the scope of professional practice as well as the nature of psychological care that is available to society. It is felt that the case example has heuristic value for understanding and documenting what is happening to the profession and where it may be going.

The continued growth and development of professional psychology may ultimately stand or fall on the integrity of the educational system that prepares future generations of practitioners. Currently, the educational enterprise is unduly hampered by several significant impediments. These impediments are identified and resolutions are proposed that would, if implemented, greatly enhance psychology's ability to assume its rightful place as a major autonomous profession that is properly positioned to address some of the nation's pressing social needs.

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