Originally Posted by medium rare

You do both by meeting the training and licensure/certification requirements for both credentials in your state. Being licensed as a psychologist will in no way negatively impact your ability to practice as a psych NP - it's "both/and not either/or."

If your state requires NPs to have a collaborative agreement, then you must abide by the terms of that agreement with regard to those aspects of practice that are specific to your NP role. Keep in mind however, a collaborative agreement is not "supervision." It usually means that there is something written on file with the Board of Nursing stating how the NP will use the identified collaborating physician - in most cases, it is the NP's decision to contact the collaborating if needed. There are only a few (2-3 state) that still require actual physician "supervision."

If you're a prescribing psychologist in NM or LA, then you don't need to get the NP. If you are already a psychologist/NP and are in a state that certifies prescribing psychologists, you can qualify for a prescribing psychologist certificate, but you should only prescribe under one credential - there would be no need to do so under both NP and prescribing psychologist status. Same thing as a physician, NP, PA, etc. You can only Rx under one professional credential.

Unless you are certain you want to live in NM or LA, you should consider getting the NP credential.