PDFWAC 246-924-059
Postdoctoral supervised experience.
If the applicant has not completed 3,000 hours of supervised experience by conferral of the doctoral degree, then up to 1,500 hours of supervised postdoctoral experience can be used to satisfy the total requirement. Postdoctoral supervised experience must be completed only if an applicant does not already have 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
(1) Organization of the postdoctoral supervised experience.
(a) The supervisor is ethically and legally responsible for all supervisee work covered by the supervision agreement. Therefore, the supervisor has authority to alter service plans and direct the course of psychological work.
(b) Supervisees shall use titles indicating their training status, such as "psychological resident," "psychological intern," or "psychological supervisee."
(c) Clients must be informed of the identity and responsibilities of the supervisor and how they can speak directly to the supervisor.
(d) Services rendered by the supervisee must not be represented to third parties as having been rendered by the supervisor. Insurance forms must be filled out indicating the nature of the supervisory relationship.
(2) The supervisor and supervisee must have a written supervision agreement for supervision, to include:
(a) The area(s) of professional activity in which supervision will occur;
(b) Hours of supervision or ratio of supervision to professional activity;
(c) Fees for supervision, if any;
(d) Processes for supervision including mode(s) of supervision, expectations for recordkeeping, evaluation, and feedback;
(e) Relevant business arrangements;
(f) How the supervisee will represent themselves; and
(g) How disagreements will be handled.
(3) Some direct observation of the supervisee's work is required and the supervisor may use the following:
(a) Detailed process notes and progress reports;
(b) Audio or video recordings;
(c) Client supplied information such as behavioral ratings; and
(d) One-way mirror observation.
(4) Supervised experience must be appropriate to the area(s) of professional activity the person intends to practice and cannot be all through telehealth.
(5) At least five percent of postdoctoral supervised experience hours must be individual supervision.
(6) Mode of supervision. The nature of the supervision may depend on the following:
(a) The theoretical orientation of the supervisor;
(b) The training and experience of the supervisee; and
(c) The duration of the supervisory relationship.
(7) The supervisor and the supervisee must keep records of experience and supervision hours.
(8) Supervision of the postdoctoral supervised experience must be by a supervisor with an unrestricted license at the time the supervision takes place.
(a) At least 50 percent of the postdoctoral supervision must be provided by a licensed psychologist.
(b) Up to 50 percent of the supervision may be provided by the following:
(i) A psychiatrist with three years of 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.
(9) Supervision must include the following:
(a) Discussion of services provided by the supervisee;
(b) Selection, service plan, and review of each case or work unit of the supervisee;
(c) Discussion of and instruction in theoretical concepts underlying the work;
(d) Discussion of the management of professional practice and other administrative or business issues;
(e) Evaluation of the supervisory process by the supervisee and the supervisor;
(f) Discussion of coordination of services among the professionals involved in the particular cases or work units;
(g) Discussion of relevant Washington laws and rules;
(h) Discussion of ethical principles including principles applicable to the work;
(i) Review of standards for providers of psychological services; and
(j) Discussion of reading materials relevant to cases, ethical issues and the supervisory process.
(10) An applicant may not sign off as supervising their own postdoctoral hours.
(11) If telehealth is used as part of the postdoctoral supervised experience, then the standards in WAC 246-924-012 must be met.
(12) If telesupervision is used as part of the postdoctoral supervised experience, then the standards in WAC 246-924-051 must be met.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.83 RCW, RCW 18.83.050, 18.130.800, 2023 c 425, and 2024 c 371. WSR 25-15-068, s 246-924-059, filed 7/14/25, effective 8/14/25. Statutory Authority: 2019 c 351, 2019 c 444 and RCW 18.83.050. WSR 20-12-076, § 246-924-059, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.83.50 [ 18.83.050]. WSR 07-24-093, § 246-924-059, filed 12/5/07, effective 9/1/09.]