(1) A practicum is the initial supervised experience earned during the doctoral program. A practicum must include a minimum of 300 hours but can include up to 1,800 hours of supervised experience.

(a) For an applicant who applied on or before June 30, 2021, the doctoral degree program required in WAC 246-924-046 must include a practicum of at least two semesters or three quarters and at least 300 hours of direct experience, 100 of which must meet the requirements in subsection (3) of this section for supervision.

(b) For an applicant who applied between July 1, 2021, until June 30, 2025, the doctoral degree program required in WAC 246-924-046 must include cumulative practicum experience of at least nine months and 300 hours of direct experience, 100 of which must meet the requirements in subsection (3) of this section for supervision.

(c) Effective July 1, 2025, the doctoral degree program required in WAC 246-924-046 must include a cumulative practicum of at least nine months and a minimum of 300 hours of supervised experience as required in subsection (3) of this section.

(2) Before the beginning of the practicum, the student, the doctoral program, and the practicum site must agree on and document the goals, the student's expectations, and the methods of the practicum experience. The goals must meet the requirements of this section.

(3) Supervised experience earned during the doctoral program must include the following activities:

(a) At least 25 percent of hours must be in direct client contact, providing assessment and intervention services;

(b) At least five percent of hours must be regularly scheduled, formal, individual supervision; and

(c) At least 35 percent of hours must be in other learning activities including, but not limited to:

(i) Conferences, seminars on applied issues, conducting cotherapy with a staff person including discussion of the case, and group supervision; and

(ii) Group supervision that addresses the direct psychological services provided by the supervisee.

The remaining 35 percent of hours can be a combination of subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section.

(4) The practicum experience must be supervised by the person(s) responsible for the assigned casework and the supervisor must have an unrestricted license at the time the supervision takes place.

(a) At least 75 percent of the supervision must be by a licensed psychologist.

(b) Up to 25 percent of the supervision may be completed by the following:

(i) A psychiatrist with three years experience beyond residency;

(ii) A licensed mental health counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed advanced social worker, or a licensed independent clinical social worker, if the supervisor has five years postlicense experience;

(iii) A doctoral level psychologist with three years postdoctoral experience who is exempt from licensure under RCW 18.83.200 (1), (2), (3) or (4), if the supervision occurs in the exempt setting; or

(iv) An individual in a doctoral internship or postdoctoral experience in psychology, under the supervision of a psychologist appropriately credentialed for the jurisdiction.

(c) Supervision of the practicum experience must include the following:

(i) Discussion of services provided by the student;

(ii) Selection of service plan for and review of each case or work unit of the student;

(iii) Discussion of and instruction in theoretical concepts underlying the work;

(iv) Discussion of the management of professional practice and other administrative or business issues;

(v) Evaluation of the supervisory process by the student and the supervisor;

(vi) Discussion of coordination of services among the professionals involved in the particular cases or work units;

(vii) Discussion of relevant state laws and rules;

(viii) Discussion of ethical principles including principles applicable to the work;

(ix) Review of standards for providers of psychological services; and

(x) Discussion of reading materials relevant to cases, ethical issues and the supervisory process.

(5) If telehealth is used as part of the practicum, then the standards in WAC 246-924-012 must be met.

(6) If telesupervision is used as part of the practicum, then the standards in WAC 246-924-051 must be met.