Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-31.7

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 22, May 1, 2024
Rule 645-31.7 - [Effective until 6/5/2024] 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 must consist of at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
e.Minimum number of direct supervision hours. The supervised clinical experience must 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 video conferencing. After 110 hours of direct supervision are complete, ongoing direct supervision must 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 shall determine the number of supervisees who can be supervised safely and competently and shall 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), and providing treatment, including the establishment of treatment goals, psychosocial therapy using evidence-based therapeutic modalities, and differential treatment planning. The supervised clinical experience must 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. A supervisor must hold an active license as an independent level social worker, mental health counselor, or marital and family therapist in Iowa.
b. A supervisor must have a minimum of three years of independent practice.
c. A supervisor must have completed at least a six-hour continuing education course in supervision or one graduate-level course in supervision.
d. A supervisor must be knowledgeable of the applicable ethical code and licensing rules governing the supervisee.
e. Any request for a supervisor who does not meet these requirements must be approved by the board before supervision begins.
(3)Supervision plan. Prior to beginning supervision, the supervisee must submit a written supervision plan to the board using the current form published by the board. The supervisee must 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 must 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.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 645-31.7

ARC 7673B, IAB 4/8/09, effective 4/30/09; ARC 8152B, IAB 9/23/09, effective 10/28/09; ARC 9547B, IAB 6/1/11, effective 7/6/11; ARC 0777C, IAB 6/12/2013, effective 7/17/2013
Amended by IAB December 7, 2016/Volume XXXIX, Number 12, effective 1/11/2017
Amended by IAB March 25, 2020/Volume XLII, Number 20, effective 4/29/2020
Amended by IAB July 28, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 2, effective 6/30/2021
Amended by IAB January 12, 2022/Volume XLIV, Number 14, effective 2/16/2022
Amended by IAB June 15, 2022/Volume XLIV, Number 25, effective 7/20/2022