SECTION .2000 ‑ SUPERVISION

21 NCAC 54 .2001 SUPERVISOR

(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this Rule, the following individuals shall be recognized as qualified supervisors for individuals requiring supervision to practice psychology:

(1) a licensed psychologist who has been issued a permanent license by the Board;

(2) any person who was in a psychology position with the State of North Carolina on December 31, 1979, and who is still so employed, provided that such supervision is, and was on December 31, 1979, within the psychologist's job description and is only for activities that are part of the duties and responsibilities of the supervisee within his or her position at a State agency or department;

(3) a doctoral level licensed psychologist who is licensed in the jurisdiction where the supervisee is practicing psychology; or

(4) a licensed psychological associate who is under supervision as required under Rule .2008 of this Section and is approved to practice under Rule .2008(h)(3) of this Section and is certified as a health services provider psychological associate (HSP-PA) under Rule .2706 of this Chapter.

(b) The Board shall disapprove an otherwise qualified supervisor for the following reasons:

(1) documentation that the supervisor is not competent or qualified to supervise the supervisee;

(2) documentation the supervisor has failed to adhere to legal or ethical standards as set forth in G.S. 90-270.148(a);

(3) documentation that there is a lack of similarity between the supervisor's training, experience and area of practice and the supervisee's proposed area(s) of practice;

(4) documentation that the supervisor has a license against which disciplinary or remedial action has been taken by the Board or any other occupational licensing Board; or

(5) documentation that the supervisor has not completed the training described, and within the time frame set forth, in Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(c) A licensee who engages in the supervision of an applicant for licensure, a licensed psychological associate, or a provisionally licensed psychologist in North Carolina must complete a three-hour training session which meets the following requirements:

(1) addresses how to supervise in accordance with Board rules regarding supervision requirements;

(2) is sponsored or co-sponsored by an entity approved by the Board as a Category A program sponsor in Rule .2104(b)(3) of this Chapter; and

(3) is presented by an individual or individuals assigned by the Board.

If a licensee takes the training session on-line, the licensee shall take and complete an examination at the completion of the session. The sponsor or co-sponsor of a training session shall submit a list of attendees who complete the three-hour training session, including completing any examination, to the Board no later than 30 days following the training session. The training shall be completed, and documentation of completion received in the Board's office, no later than September 1, 2022. If the training is not completed by September 1, 2022, a licensee shall not enter into a supervision contract with an applicant, a licensed psychological associate, or a licensed psychologist-provisional until he or she completes the training and the Board receives documentation of such. A licensee who completes the training and passes the examination shall be permitted to count the three hours toward the minimum continuing education hours required in Rule .2104 of this Chapter for the renewal period it was when completed.

(d) The licensee shall be required to take the training set forth in Paragraph (c) of this Rule one time unless the Board finds that he or she is failing to adhere to the supervision requirements set forth in this Section.

(e) Each supervisor shall:

(1) assess his or her ability to meet the supervisory needs of supervisees and potential supervisees;

(2) offer and provide supervision only within the supervisor's area(s) of competence;

(3) enter into a written agreement with the supervisee on a Board adopted supervision contract form, which sets forth the supervisee's obligations as well as the supervisor's responsibilities to the supervisee;

(4) direct the supervisee to practice psychology only within areas for which the supervisee is qualified by education, training, or supervised experience;

(5) establish and maintain a level of supervisory contact consistent with that described in the supervision contract form on file with the Board and be accessible to the supervisee;

(6) direct the supervisee to keep the supervisor informed of services performed by the supervisee;

(7) advise the Board if the supervisor has reason to believe that the supervisee is practicing in a manner that indicates that violations of G.S. 90-270.148(a) have been committed;

(8) maintain a record of supervision with a supervisee that documents the following:

(A) dates and appointment times of each supervision session, including the length of time of each session;

(B) a summary of each session including treatment or assessment issues addressed, concerns identified by the supervisor and supervisee, recommendations of the supervisor, and intended outcome for recommendations of the supervisor; and

(9) except when prevented from doing so by circumstances beyond the supervisor's control, retain securely and confidentially the records reflecting supervision with a supervisee for at least seven years from the date of the last session of supervision with a supervisee. If there are pending legal or ethical investigations or proceedings or if there is any other compelling circumstance, the supervisor shall retain the complete record of supervision securely and confidentially for a period of seven years from the final resolution of such legal or ethical matter;

(10) report on the supervision report form that agreed upon supervision has occurred; and

(11) file a final supervision report within two weeks of termination of supervision.

(f) To maintain the professional nature of the supervision, a familial or personal relationship, such as a spouse, parent, sibling or close friend, shall not exist between the supervisor and supervisee, except in extraordinary circumstances, such as the lack of availability of any other qualified supervisor. In such cases, the Board shall require documentation from the supervisor or supervisee that no other supervision is available and three reference letters from other mental health professionals regarding the supervisor's ability to perform the supervision requirements under Paragraph (e) of this Rule.

History Note: Authority G.S. 90-270.139; 90-270.143;

Eff. September 1, 1982;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1997; October 1, 1991; March 1, 1989;

Readopted Eff. January 1, 2021;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2021.