Section R4-6-212. Clinical Supervision Requirements

A.      The Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by an applicant if the clinical supervision meets the require- ments specified in R4-6-404, R4-6-504, R4-6-604, or R4-6- 706, as applicable to the license for which application is made, and was provided by one of the following:

1.        A clinical social worker, professional counselor, indepen- dent marriage and family therapist, or independent sub- stance abuse counselor who:

a.         Holds an active and unrestricted license issued by the Board, and

b.        Has  complied  with  the  educational  requirements specified in R4-6-214;

2.        A mental health professional who holds an active and unrestricted license issued under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter

19.1 as a psychologist and has complied with the educa- tional requirements specified in R4-6-214; or

3.        An individual who:

a.         Holds an active and unrestricted license to practice behavioral health,

b.        Is providing behavioral health services in Arizona:

i.         Under a contract or grant with the federal gov- ernment under the  authority of  25 U.S.C. § 450-450(n) or § 1601-1683, or

ii.        By appointment under 38 U.S.C. § 7402 (8-11), and

c.         Has  complied  with  the  educational  requirements specified in R4-6-214.

B.       Unless an exemption was obtained under R4-6-212.01, the Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by

an applicant if the clinical supervision was provided by an individual who:

1.        Was qualified under subsection (A), and

2.        Was employed by the behavioral health entity at which the applicant obtained hours of clinical supervision.

C.      The Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by an applicant if the clinical supervision includes all of the following:

1.        Reviewing ethical and legal requirements applicable to the supervisee’s practice, including unprofessional con- duct as defined in A.R.S. § 32-3251;

2.        Monitoring the supervisee’s activities to verify the super- visee is providing services safely and competently;

3.        Verifying in writing that the supervisee provides clients with appropriate written notice of clinical supervision, including the means to obtain the name and telephone number of the supervisee’s clinical supervisor;

4.        Contemporaneously written documentation by the clini- cal supervisor of at least the following for each clinical supervision session:

a.         Date and duration of the clinical supervision session;

b.        Description of topics discussed. Identifying infor- mation regarding clients is not required;

c.         Beginning on July 1, 2006, name and signature of the individual receiving clinical supervision;

d.        Name and signature of the clinical supervisor and the date signed; and

e.         Whether  the  clinical  supervision  occurred  on  a group or individual basis;

5.        Maintaining the documentation of clinical supervision required under subsection (C)(4) for at least seven years;

6.        Verifying that no conflict of interest exists between the clinical supervisor and the supervisee’s clients;

7.        Verifying that clinical supervision was not acquired:

a.         From a family member or other individual whose objective assessment of the supervisee’s perfor- mance may be limited by a relationship with the supervisee; or

b.        In a professional setting in which the supervisee has an ownership interest or operates or manages.

8.        Conducting on-going compliance review of the super- visee’s clinical documentation to ensure the supervisee maintains adequate written documentation;

9.        Providing instruction regarding:

a.         Assessment,

b.        Diagnosis,

c.         Treatment plan development, and

d.        Treatment;

10.     Rating the supervisee’s overall performance as at least satisfactory, using a form approved by the Board; and

11.     Complying with the discipline-specific requirements in Articles 4 through 7 regarding clinical supervision.

D.      The Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by an applicant for licensure if:

1.        At least two hours of the clinical supervision were pro- vided in a face-to-face setting during each six-month period;

2.        No more than 90 hours of the clinical supervision were provided by videoconference and telephone.

3.        No more than 15 of the 90 hours of clinical supervision provided by videoconference and telephone were pro- vided by telephone; and

4.        Each clinical supervision session was at least 30 minutes long.

E.       Effective July 1, 2006, the Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by an applicant if at least 10 of the

hours involve the clinical supervisor observing the supervisee providing treatment and evaluation services to a client. The clinical supervisor may conduct the observation:

1.        In a face-to-face setting,

2.        By videoconference,

3.        By teleconference, or

4.        By review of audio or video recordings.

F.       The Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision submitted by an applicant from a maximum of six clinical supervisors.

G.      The Board shall accept hours of clinical supervision obtained by an applicant in both individual and group sessions, subject to the following restrictions:

1.        At   least  25  percent  of  the  clinical  supervision   hours involve individual supervision,

2.        No more than 75 percent of the clinical supervision hours may involve a group of two supervisees; and

3.        No more than 50 percent of the clinical supervision hours involve a group of three to six supervisees.

H.      If an applicant provides evidence that a catastrophic event pro- hibits the applicant from obtaining documentation of clinical supervision that meets the standard specified in subsection (C)(4), the Board shall consider alternate documentation.

Historical Note

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 2700, effective July 1, 2004 (Supp. 04-2). Amended by

exempt rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 2713, effective June 27, 2005 (Supp. 05-2). Amended by final exempt rulemaking pursuant to Laws 2015, Chapter 154, § 10, at 21 A.A.R.

2630, effective November 1, 2015 (Supp. 15-4).