Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-31.7 - Supervised clinical experience
An applicant for licensure as a mental health counselor or marital and family therapist must complete a supervised clinical experience as set forth in this rule.
(1)
Minimum requirements. The supervised clinical experience must
satisfy all of the following requirements:
a.
Timing. The supervised clinical experience cannot begin until
after all graduate coursework has been completed with the exception of the
thesis.
b.
Duration. The supervised clinical experience must be for a
minimum of two years.
c.
Minimum number of hours. The supervised clinical experience
must consist of at least 3,000 hours of practice.
d.
Minimum number of direct client
hours. The supervised clinical experience will consist of at least
1,500 hours of direct client contact.
e.
Minimum number of direct
supervision hours. The supervised clinical experience will consist of
at least 110 hours of direct supervision equitably distributed throughout the
supervised clinical experience, including at least 24 hours of live or recorded
direct observation of client interaction. A maximum of 50 hours of direct
supervision may be obtained through group supervision. Direct supervision can
occur in person or by using videoconferencing. After 110 hours of direct
supervision are complete, ongoing direct supervision will continue to occur for
the remainder of the supervised clinical experience.
f.
Number of supervisors. A
supervisee may utilize a maximum of four supervisors at any given time. A
supervisee is responsible for notifying each supervisor if another supervisor
is also being utilized to allow for coordination as appropriate.
g.
Number of supervisees. A
supervisor will determine the number of supervisees who can be supervised
safely and competently and will not exceed that number.
h.
Content. The supervised
clinical experience must involve performing psychosocial assessments,
diagnostic practice using the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) published March 2022, and providing
treatment, including the establishment of treatment goals, psychosocial therapy
using evidence-based therapeutic modalities, and differential treatment
planning. The supervised clinical experience will prepare the supervisee for
independent practice and must include training on practice management, ethical
standards, legal and regulatory requirements, documentation, coordination of
care, and self-care.
(2)
Eligible supervisors. A supervisor must satisfy all of the
following requirements:
a. Hold an active
license as an independent level social worker, mental health counselor, or
marital and family therapist in Iowa.
b. Have a minimum of three years of
independent practice.
c. Have
completed at least a six-hour continuing education course in supervision or one
graduate-level course in supervision.
d. Be knowledgeable of the applicable ethical
code and licensing rules governing the supervisee.
Any request for a supervisor who does not meet these
requirements must be approved by the
(3)
Supervision
plan. Prior to beginning supervision, the supervisee will submit a
written supervision plan to the board using the current form published by the
board . The supervisee will also submit a written supervision plan to the board
prior to beginning supervision with a new supervisor.
(4)
Supervision report. When
supervision is complete, or when a supervisor ceases providing supervision to
the supervisee, the supervisee will ensure a completed supervision report using
the current form published by the board is submitted to the board . If the
supervisor reports that the supervisee is not adequately prepared for
independent licensure, or reports violations of the board 's rules or applicable
ethical code, the board may require the supervisee to complete additional
supervision or training as deemed appropriate prior to licensure.
(5)
Supervised clinical experience in
other states. An applicant who completed some or all of the supervised
clinical experience in another state without obtaining licensure in that state
should contact the board to determine whether some or all of the supervised
clinical experience that has been completed can be used to qualify for
licensure in Iowa.
(6)
Grandfather clause. Any new or additional requirements imposed
by this rule do not apply to supervision that started prior to July 20,
2022.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.