Section 415-4-2 - Supervised ExperienceEach applicant shall demonstrate one year of predoctoral supervised experience and one year of postdoctoral supervised experience as described in this section from one or more supervisors with the qualifications described in Chapter 7 of the board's rules.
A candidate for postdoctoral re-specialization in clinical psychology may demonstrate 2 years of postdoctoral supervision instead of one year of predoctoral supervision and one year of postdoctoral supervision. At the discretion of the board, predoctoral supervision in associated fields may be accepted.
1. Length and Amount of Predoctoral SupervisionThe predoctoral supervised experience consists of a minimum of 1,500 hours of actual work experience (exclusive of holidays, sick leave, vacations or other such absences) completed in not less than 48 weeks nor more than 104 weeks. The predoctoral experience averages at least 16 hours but not more than 40 hours per week. During the predoctoral supervision, the supervisor shall provide a minimum of 2 hours per week of face-to-face supervision and 2 hours of additional learning activities such as group supervision, seminars, and case conferences regardless of whether the predoctoral internship is completed in one year or two. At least 50% of the predoctoral supervised experience must be in service-related activities such as assessment, interviews, report writing, case presentations, treatment and consultation with at least 25% of that time devoted to face-to-face direct patient/client contact. No more than 25% of time may be allocated for research. Supervised experience does not include work experience earned in connection with practica for which academic credit has been awarded.
2. Length and Amount of Postdoctoral SupervisionThe postdoctoral supervised experience consists of a minimum of 1,500 hours of actual work experience (exclusive of holidays, sick leave, vacations or other such absences) completed in not less than 48 weeks nor more than 104 weeks. The postdoctoral experience averages at least 16 hours but not more than 40 hours per week. During the postdoctoral supervision, the supervisor shall provide a minimum of one hour of individual supervision and one additional hour of learning activities per week. There may be special circumstances, (e.g., geographical or confirmed physical hardship) when a jurisdiction may consider a variance in the frequency of the supervision sessions so that a minimum of four hours per month of one-to-one supervision is maintained. The postdoctoral supervised experience consists of at least 25% and not more than 60% of the time devoted to direct service per week with the majority of work being in the intended area of practice. Supervised experience does not include work experience earned in connection with practica for which academic credit has been awarded.
3. Supervision Program RequirementsA.Supervised experience may be credited only for practice in an organized public or private agency, private practice, school, institution, or organization which provides the opportunity for contact with other professional disciplines and work experience with a broad range of clients.B.An acceptable training setting provides ongoing psychological services in a well-defined and established program. Physical components such as office, support staff, and equipment necessary for the successful training and practice of the supervisee must be available. The supervision program meets the broad and specialized needs of the supervisee that are congruent with the supervisee's interests, level of training and intended area of practice. Predoctoral settings offer full-spectrum training and provide a foundation for a career in psychology. Postdoctoral experience focuses the training in areas of intended, advanced or specialized practice. The major orientation of the setting is on training rather than on generating funds. There is sufficient administrative and financial support to maintain integrity as a training program.C.Both the predoctoral and postdoctoral supervision programs are organized education and training programs with a planned sequence of supervised experience. Postdoctoral programs offer a range of education and training building on the doctoral program and the predoctoral internship. The program must provide the prospective supervisees with a written document specifying the rules and regulations of the program, as well as the roles, goals and objectives expected from both supervisees and supervisor. At the onset of training the supervisor shall develop, along with the supervisees, a written individualized training plan which meets the needs of the supervisees and is consistent with the purpose of the setting. The supervisor is responsible for determining the adequacy of the trainee's preparation for the tasks to be performed. These documents serve as the foundation for quarterly, written evaluations.D.Written and oral evaluations provide objective assessment and direct feedback about the supervisee's competence in order to facilitate skill acquisition and professional growth. They are necessary to ensure that supervisees achieve identified objectives. At the outset of the supervisory period, each supervisor together with the supervisee shall establish a written contract which specifies: (i) the competencies to be evaluated and the goals to be attained; (ii) the standards for measuring performance; and (iii) the time frame for goal attainment. Direct feedback should be ongoing with written evaluations provided at least once every six months. Written evaluation of the supervisor by the supervisee must be provided at the end of the training program.E.The supervision program must have a licensed psychologist who is clearly responsible for the integrity and quality of the program and as many additional psychologists as are necessary to meet the training needs of the supervisees. The supervising psychologist may rely upon one or more experts in allied disciplines for training in specific skill areas, provided that at least 50% of the supervision for doctoral level candidates is provided by the supervising psychologist. [NOTE: The supervision requirements for Medicare reimbursement are more stringent than the supervision requirements of Section 2(3)(E). See 42 CFR §410.71(a)(2)(iv).]
F.The supervision program should offer a variety of professional role models and diverse client populations. The predoctoral program must have an identifiable group of supervisees who are of sufficient number to ensure meaningful peer interaction and support. The postdoctoral program must make every effort to provide meaningful peer interaction and support. The training status of the supervisees must be identified by an appropriate title such as intern, resident, fellow, trainee, etc. such that their training status is clearly identifiable to clients, third-party payors and other entities.G.The supervisory process addresses legal, ethical, social and cultural dimensions that impact not only the professional practice of psychology but also the supervisory relationship. Issues of confidentiality, professional practice and protection of the public are central.H.An internship or postdoctoral program accredited by the APA meets the requirements of this subsection.4. Additional Responsibilities of SupervisorsA.The supervisor shall have sufficient knowledge of clients, including face-to-face contact when necessary, in order to plan effective service delivery procedures.B.When the service needed by a client is beyond the areas of expertise of the supervisor, supervision must be delegated to another psychologist or psychological examiner whose competence in the delegated areas has been demonstrated by previous education, training and experience. Supervisors may not permit their supervisees to engage in any psychological practice which they cannot competently perform themselves.C.The supervisor shall restrict practice of the supervisee to areas in which the supervisee is competent to perform under supervision. If the supervisor identifies deficiencies in the practice of the supervisee, the supervisor shall develop a corrective action plan to address the deficiencies. The supervisor shall interrupt or terminate the supervisee's practice whenever necessary to ensure adequate training and adequate protection of the public.D.The supervisor is ethically and legally responsible for all of the professional activities of the supervisees.E.The supervisor shall ensure the provision of appropriate emergency coverage for clients of supervisees. The supervisor or a qualified designee shall provide 24-hour availability to both supervisees and the supervisees' clients. The supervisor shall have sufficient knowledge of clients, including face-to-face contact when necessary, in order to plan effective service delivery procedures. The supervisor shall make reasonable effort to provide for another qualified supervisor in case of any interruption of supervision due to such factors as the supervisor's illness, unavailability, or relocation.F.Supervisors shall avoid entering into dual relationships with their supervisees. Psychologists may not exploit or engage in sexual relationships with supervisees. Supervisors shall attempt to resolve any unforeseen interference which may be potentially harmful to the supervisory relationship with due regard for the best interests of the supervisee and after appropriate consultation.G.An individual supervisor in a predoctoral program may supervise no more than three supervisees. An individual supervisor in a postdoctoral program may supervise no more than four supervisees.5. Unacceptable PerformanceSupervised experience which the supervisor deems characterized by unacceptable performance by the supervisee shall not be credited toward the required period of supervised experience.