Deprescribing certification for psychiatric nurse practitioners, physicians and PAs
The Deprescriber’s Playbook is a deprescribing certificate course for clinicians in psychiatry: 13 modules on antidepressant, benzodiazepine, antipsychotic and mood-stabilizer tapering, built on the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, with a certification exam and a directory listing when you pass. Most clinicians finish in about four weeks; a 24-month gold-badge listing is included.
~4 wks
Self-paced · many finish sooner
13 modules
Built on the deprescribing literature
24 months
Gold-badge directory listing included
Online
Start anytime · self-paced
Patient interest in safe deprescribing far outpaces trained-clinician supply.
Most clinicians prescribing psychotropics today weren't taught the slow, hyperbolic approach. Patients have figured it out without their doctors and are actively searching for clinicians who can help.
1 in 7
adults takes an antidepressant
Average duration: four years. Most guidelines recommend 6–12 months for a single episode. The gap is millions of long-term users who could benefit from a structured taper conversation.
Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines (Horowitz & Taylor 2024)
900k+
monthly visits to two peer-support forums
Surviving Antidepressants gets ~750,000 visits/month. The Withdrawal Project gets ~150,000. These are patients routing around their doctors because they couldn't get help.
Public traffic data, 2024
60%+
can't stop using the standard taper
In the REDUCE RCT, more than 60% of long-term users couldn't stop using the standard 25–50%/month plan. Even patients pre-screened as low-risk for relapse. The slow approach isn't optional anymore.
REDUCE RCT, UK 2023
A 24-month listing in our public directory of Certified Deprescribers.
Patients search by ZIP code at mydeprescriber.com/find-a-provider. Certified Deprescribers display the gold badge and appear above unverified clinicians in their search radius.
Mockup preview. Certified listings show the gold badge, appear above non-certified clinicians in their search radius, and link to a fuller profile page.
13 self-paced modules. Each anchored to a specific source.
Each module is an asynchronous video lecture plus reading. No live calls; complete on your own schedule. Full source bibliography on the certification page.
- Foundations of deprescribing · what it is, why it matters, dependence vs. addiction Maudsley Ch. 1–3; Scott / Gupta & Cahill frameworks
- Withdrawal vs. relapse · the signatures, and telling them apart in practice Maudsley Ch. 4; Fava 2015
- The receptor curve · why the last milligrams are hardest and linear tapers fail Maudsley Ch. 1–3; Lancet Psych 2019
- Building the taper plan · rate, holds, small-dose toolkit, monitoring Maudsley Ch. 5; RELEASE program; TCPR Mar 2021 (Gupta)
- SSRIs & SNRIs · withdrawal profile, tapers, fluoxetine bridges, PSSD Maudsley Ch. 6–8; CGPR Jan/Feb/Mar 2026
- Tricyclics, MAOIs & atypical antidepressants · switches and cross-tapers Maudsley Ch. 6–8; Carlat Medication Fact Book 2026
- Benzodiazepines & Z-drugs · the diazepam switch, tapers, complex cases Maudsley benzodiazepine chapters; TCPR Apr 2026 (Malzberg); CGPR 2026 (Cromwell)
- Gabapentinoids · pregabalin and gabapentin tapers, pain and misuse Maudsley gabapentinoid chapter; CGPR 2026
- Antipsychotics · dopamine supersensitivity, careful reduction, relapse risk RADAR + GARMED + Wunderink; CGPR 2026 (Gitlin, Wilson)
- Lithium, anticonvulsant mood stabilizers & stimulants Maudsley mood-stabilizer chapters; CGPR 2026 (Gitlin)
- The deprescribing conversation · shared decision-making, expectations, the alliance RELEASE 3As + patient Decision Aid; McDonald, Wallis, Horowitz et al., BJGP 2023
- Special populations · older adults, children, pregnancy, polypharmacy CGPR Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 (Horowitz Q&A, Wilson, Gitlin); Carlat Geriatric & Child Fact Books
- Professional practice · consent, documentation, scope, ethics, building a practice Maudsley Ch. 15; RELEASE informed-consent framework
- Certification exam · case-based Covers M01–M13
One self-paced certification. One price.
Pay $497 once, or 3 monthly payments of $165.66. Everything below is included either way.
The Certified Deprescriber program
Everything included with enrollment
- 13-module self-paced curriculum, 52 lessons (asynchronous video + reading)
- 24 months of access to course materials and updates
- The Certified Deprescriber certification exam
- 24-month gold-badge listing in our public directory
- Embeddable Certified Deprescriber badge for your practice website
- Pay in full, or in 3 monthly payments with no upcharge
Enrollment
$497
one-time, or 3 monthly payments of $165.66
Enroll · $497 → Not a clinician? Patients and families can take the course for $197 →Renewal: $297 every 24 months. Brief review of the latest deprescribing literature plus a short recertification exam. Your badge and listing renew for another 24 months on passing.
Common pre-enrollment questions.
Is the certification CE-accredited?
Not currently. The curriculum is built from the same peer-reviewed deprescribing literature CE programs reference, but the Certified Deprescriber certification itself does not award CE hours at this time. If CE credit is essential for your renewal cycle, factor that into your decision.
How long does the course take?
Self-paced. Most clinicians complete it in about four weeks alongside full practice; many finish sooner. There are no scheduled live sessions. You sit the certification exam when you're ready.
How long does the directory listing last?
Twenty-four months, included automatically with certification. After 24 months you can renew for $297 with a brief review of the updated deprescribing literature and a short recertification exam. Renewals reset another 24 months of listing + badge.
Do I get a badge for my own website?
Yes. After certification you'll get a copy-paste HTML snippet for your practice website displaying the gold Certified Deprescriber badge, with a verification link back to your directory profile. The badge stays active for the 24 months your certification is current.
Can I expense it?
Yes. Most clinicians expense it through their practice's professional-development budget or as a continuing-education line item. We provide an itemized receipt suitable for reimbursement; we don't issue CE certificates since the course is not CE-accredited at this time.
What does the course actually look like inside?
Each module is an asynchronous video lecture (45–60 minutes) plus a short reading list and a worked case. You move through them at your own pace; there are no scheduled live sessions. You can revisit any module while your 24-month course access is active.
Become a Certified Deprescriber.
Self-paced certification, 24-month directory listing, and the badge for your website.
$497 one-time or 3 monthly payments · $297 renewal every 24 months