Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1387 - Supervised Professional Experience

This section applies to all trainees, pre- or post-doctoral, who intend for hours of supervised professional experience (SPE) to count toward meeting the licensing requirement stated in section 2914(c) of the Business and Professions Code. Those trainees accruing hours of supervised experience in areas of psychology that do not include direct mental health services should refer to section 1387.3 for information on establishing an alternate plan for SPE.

SPE is defined as an organized program that consists of a planned, structured and administered sequence of professionally supervised comprehensive clinical training experiences. SPE shall have a logical training sequence that builds upon the skills and competencies of trainees to prepare them for the independent practice of psychology once they become licensed.

SPE shall include socialization into the profession of psychology and shall be augmented by integrated modalities including mentoring, didactic exposure, role-modeling, enactment, observational/vicarious learning, and consultative guidance.

SPE shall include activities which address the integration of psychological concepts and current and evolving scientific knowledge, principles, and theories to the professional delivery of psychological services to the consumer public.

SPE shall include only the time spent by the trainee engaged in psychological activities that directly serve to prepare the trainee for the independent practice of psychology once licensed. SPE shall not include custodial tasks such as filing, transcribing or other clerical duties.

The term "trainee" as used in these regulations means a psychology trainee working under one of the conditions listed in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

(a) Pursuant to section 2914(c) of the code, two years of qualifying SPE shall be completed and documented prior to licensure. One year of SPE shall be defined as 1500 hours. At least one year of SPE shall be completed postdoctorally. Each year of SPE shall be completed within a thirty (30) consecutive month period. If both years of SPE (3000 hours) are completed postdoctorally, they shall be completed within a sixty (60) month period. Upon showing of good cause as determined by the board, these specified time limitations may be reasonably modified.

(1) Predoctoral SPE: Up to 1500 hours of SPE may be accrued predoctorally but only after completion of 48 semester/trimester or 72 quarter units of graduate coursework in psychology not including thesis, internship or dissertation. Predoctoral SPE may be accrued only as follows:

(A) In a formal internship placement pursuant to section 2911 of the code, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), or which is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) or the California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC) and registration with the board is not required. A formal internship placement that actually began prior to January 1, 2007 that meets the membership requirements of, but is not a member of, APPIC or CAPIC will satisfy the requirements of this section; or

(B) As an employee of an exempt setting pursuant to section 2910 of the code and registration with the board is not required; or

(C) As a registered psychological associate pursuant to section 2913 of the code and registration with the board prior to commencing work is required; or

(D) Pursuant to a Department of Mental Health Waiver (5751.2 Welfare and Institutions Code) for which registration with the board is not required.

(2) Postdoctoral SPE: At least 1500 hours of SPE shall be accrued postdoctorally. "Postdoctorally" means after the date certified as "meeting all the requirements for the doctoral degree" by the Registrar or Dean of the educational institution, or by the Director of Training of the doctoral program. Postdoctoral SPE may be accrued only as follows:

(A) For postdoctoral SPE accrued on or after January 1, 2006, in a formal postdoctoral training program pursuant to section 2911 of the code, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), or which is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) or the California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC) and registration with the board is not required; or

(B) As an employee of an exempt setting pursuant to section 2910 of the code and registration with the board is not required; or

(C) As a registered psychological associate pursuant to section 2913 of the code and registration with the board prior to commencing work is required; or

(D) Pursuant to a Department of Mental Health Waiver (5751.2 Welfare and Institutions Code) for which registration with the board is not required.

(b) Supervision Requirements:

(1) Primary supervisors shall meet the requirements set forth in section 1387.1.

(2) Delegated supervisors shall meet the requirements set forth in section 1387.2.

(3) Trainees shall have no proprietary interest in the business of the primary or delegated supervisor(s) and shall not serve in any capacity which would hold influence over the primary or delegated supervisor(s)' judgment in providing supervision.

(4) Trainees shall be provided with supervision for 10% of the total time worked each week. At least one hour per week shall be face-to-face, direct, individual supervision with the primary supervisor.

(5) A maximum of forty four (44) hours per week will be credited toward meeting the SPE requirement. This shall include the required 10% supervision.

(6) The primary supervisor shall be employed by the same work setting as the trainee and be available to the trainee 100% of the time the trainee is accruing SPE. This availability may be in-person, by telephone, by pager or by other appropriate technology.

(7) Primary supervisors shall ensure that a plan is in place to protect the patient/client in the event a patient/client crisis or emergency occurs during any time the supervisor is not physically present at the established site at which the trainee is working. The primary supervisor shall ensure that the trainee thoroughly understands the plan in the event of a crisis/emergency.

(8) SPE shall not be obtained from supervisors who have received payment, monetary or otherwise, from the trainee for the purpose of providing such supervision.

(9) SPE gained while the trainee is functioning under another mental health license shall not be credited toward meeting the requirements for the psychologist's license.

(10) Prior to the start of the experience, the primary supervisor and the supervisee shall together prepare an agreement that outlines the structure and sequence of the planned program of supervision to accomplish the goals and objectives of the experience. Hours accrued prior to preparing such an agreement results in those hours not counting toward the licensure requirements. The original agreement shall accompany the application for registration, if any, and identify at least the following:

* Name, license number and signature of primary supervisor;

* Name and signature of supervisee;

* Statutory authority under which the supervisee will function;

* Start date of the experience and the anticipated completion date;

* Duties to be performed in a sequential structured plan as defined in this section;

* Address of the locations at which the duties will be performed;

* Goals and objectives of the plan for SPE, including how socialization into the profession will be achieved; and

* How and when the supervisor will provide periodic assessments and feedback to the supervisee as to whether or not he or she is performing as expected.

Additionally, the agreement shall reflect that both supervisor and supervisee have discussed and understand each term of SPE as required by the California Code of Regulations.

(11) Once the SPE outlined in the agreement has been completed, the primary supervisor shall submit to the supervisee both the agreement, unless previously submitted to the Board pursuant to Section 1387(b)(10), and a verification of experience form signed by the primary supervisor under penalty of perjury, in a sealed envelope, signed across the seal for submission to the Board by the supervisee along with his or her application. The verification shall certify to completion of the hours consistent with the terms of the agreement. The supervisor must indicate, in his or her best professional judgment, whether the supervisee demonstrated an overall performance at or above the level of competence expected for the supervisee's level of education, training and experience. When SPE is accrued in a formal pre-doctoral internship or postdoctoral training program, the program's training director shall be authorized to perform the verification and rating duties of the primary supervisor provided that the internship training director is a licensed psychologist who possesses a valid, active license free of any disciplinary action.

If the SPE is not consistent with the terms of the agreement, or if the supervisee did not demonstrate an overall performance at or above the level of competence expected for the supervisee's level of education, training and experience, then the hours accrued will not count toward the licensure requirements.

(c) Delegated Supervision Requirements:

(1) Except as provided in section 1391.5, which regulates the supervision of registered psychological associates, primary supervisors may delegate supervision to other qualified psychologists or to other qualified mental health professionals including licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed educational psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and board certified psychiatrists.

(2) The primary supervisor remains responsible for providing the minimum one hour per week of direct, individual face-to-face supervision.

(3) The primary supervisor remains responsible for ensuring compliance with this section.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1387

1. New section filed 7-6-2000; operative 8-5-2000 (Register 2000, No. 27). For prior history see Register 93, No. 34.
2. Editorial correction deleting former section 1387"Revised Criteria for Evaluation of Experience" which expired by its own term effective 12-31-2000 (Register 2003, No. 1).
3. Amendment filed 12-16-2004; operative 1-1-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 51).
4. New fifth and seventh paragraphs and amendment of subsection (b)(10) filed 7-28-2005; operative 8-27-2005 (Register 2005, No. 30).
5. Repealer of sixth paragraph, amendment of subsection (a)(1)(A), new subsection (a)(2)(A), subsection relettering, amendment of subsections (b)(9)-(10) and amendment of NOTE filed 4-27-2007; operative 5-27-2007 (Register 2007, No. 17).
6. Amendment of subsection (a)(2)(A) filed 12-30-2008; operative 12-30-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 1).
7. Amendment of subsection (b)(10) and new subsection (b)(11) filed 7-24-2009; operative 8-23-2009 (Register 2009, No. 30).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b)(11) filed 10-20-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 43).
9. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b)(9) filed 1-21-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 4).
10. Amendment of subsection (b)(10), repealer and new subsection (b)(11) and amendment of subsection (c)(1) filed 6-5-2017; operative 10-1-2017 (Register 2017, No. 23).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(1)(C), (a)(2)(D) and (c)(1) filed 11-29-2021 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations; operative 1-1-2022 pursuant to Senate Bill 801 (Stats.2021, ch. 647) (Register 2021, No. 49).
12. Change without regulatory effect repealing subsection (a)(2)(B) and relettering subsections filed 8-30-2022 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 35).

Note: Authority cited: Section 2930, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2911 and 2914, Business and Professions Code.

1. New section filed 7-6-2000; operative 8-5-2000 (Register 2000, No. 27). For prior history see Register 93, No. 34.
2. Editorial correction deleting former section 1387"Revised Criteria for Evaluation of Experience" which expired by its own term effective 12-31-2000 (Register 2003, No. 1).
3. Amendment filed 12-16-2004; operative 1-1-2005 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 51).
4. New fifth and seventh paragraphs and amendment of subsection (b)(10) filed 7-28-2005; operative 8-27-2005 (Register 2005, No. 30).
5. Repealer of sixth paragraph, amendment of subsection (a)(1)(A), new subsection (a)(2)(A), subsection relettering, amendment of subsections (b)(9)-(10) and amendment of Note filed 4-27-2007; operative 5-27-2007 (Register 2007, No. 17).
6. Amendment of subsection (a)(2)(A) filed 12-30-2008; operative 12-30-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 1).
7. Amendment of subsection (b)(10) and new subsection (b)(11) filed 7-24-2009; operative 8-23-2009 (Register 2009, No. 30).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b)(11) filed 10-20-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 43).
9. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b)(9) filed 1-21-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 4).
10. Amendment of subsection (b)(10), repealer and new subsection (b)(11) and amendment of subsection (c)(1) filed 6-5-2017; operative 10/1/2017 (Register 2017, No. 23).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(1)(C), (a)(2)(D) and (c)(1) filed 11-29-2021 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations; operative 1/1/2022 pursuant to Senate Bill 801 (Stats.2021, ch. 647) (Register 2021, No. 49).
12. Change without regulatory effect repealing subsection (a)(2)(B) and relettering subsections filed 8-30-2022 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 35).