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<chapter num="07" heading="Psychology Associate" title_num="10" subtitle_num="36">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This chapter applies to:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Registered psychology associates; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Licensed psychologists who supervise psychology associates.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Board” means the Board of Examiners of Psychologists.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Full-time” means the provision of psychological services through direct client contact at least 26 hours per week.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Registered psychology associate” means an individual who meets the requirements set forth in the Maryland Psychologists Act and is registered by the Board to practice psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Supervisor” means a psychologist licensed in Maryland with at least 2 years of post-licensure experience who supervises a registered psychology associate.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Responsibilities of Supervisors.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Requirements of the Supervisory Relationship.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A supervisor of a registered psychology associate shall supervise only in those areas within the supervisor’s competence as determined by education, training, and experience.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A supervisor shall ensure that a registered psychology associate is practicing within the scope of the registered psychology associate’s competence as demonstrated by the registered psychology associate’s documented education, training, and experience in the particular practice area.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A supervisor:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>May delegate some supervisory responsibilities to another psychologist licensed by the Board to:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Ensure competent supervision of a registered psychology associate in areas outside the area of expertise of the supervisor; or</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Provide temporary supervision when the supervisor is unavailable; and</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Shall:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Document the delegated supervision in accordance with Regulation .05B(1) of this chapter; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Continue to assume responsibility for the psychological services and activities performed by the registered psychology associate during the period in which supervisory responsibilities have been delegated.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Adequate and appropriate supervision shall be determined by the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Education, training, and experience of the registered psychology associate;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Nature and extent of services performed by the registered psychology associate; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Setting in which the services are performed.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Adequate and appropriate supervision for full-time provision of psychological services by each registered psychology associate shall consist of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>One hour or more per week for a registered psychology associate who has earned a doctoral degree in psychology;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Two hours or more per week for a registered psychology associate who has been admitted to a candidacy for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or education with a field of specialization in psychology or counseling psychology in a program accredited by the Council for Higher Education, who has satisfactorily:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Completed at least 3 years of postgraduate education in psychology; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Passed preliminary doctoral examinations; or</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Three hours or more per week for all other registered psychology associates.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>In addition to the requirements set forth in §A(5) of this regulation, adequate supervision of a registered psychology associate shall include a minimum of 1 hour of supervision for every 5 hours of comprehensive evaluation and testing of a client.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>The amount of supervision required by §A(5) and (6) of this regulation:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>May be reduced by one-half for a registered psychology associate who has had 3 years of full-time experience, or its equivalent, as a psychology associate; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>May be reduced proportionately for a registered psychology associate who provides services less than full-time.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>Adequate and appropriate supervision shall be:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Provided to a registered psychology associate at a face-to-face meeting, which may include videoconferencing, unless granted an exemption by the Board; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Exclusive of supervision on administrative issues.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(9)">
        <text>If the supervisor is not practicing at the same site as the registered psychology associate, the supervisor shall conduct quarterly site visits at the location where the registered psychology associate is providing services,.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(10)">
        <text>The registered psychology associate shall inform the supervisor of all complaints, regardless of nature or origin, related to conduct of or services provided by the registered psychology associate.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Termination of the Supervisory Relationship.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Either party to the supervisory relationship may terminate the supervisory relationship.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>In the event of a termination of a supervisory relationship, the registered psychology associate may only continue to practice psychology under the supervision of another licensed psychologist who meets the requirements of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The registered psychology associate and the supervisor in the terminated supervisory relationship shall submit notice of the termination to the Board in accordance with Regulation .06 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Responsibilities of the Supervisor.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A supervisor shall be available for emergency consultation and direction of a registered psychology associate, and for client management.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A supervisor may supervise a maximum of five registered psychology associates.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A supervisor may not engage in supervision that would constitute a multiple relationship.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>A supervisor shall take responsibility for all services provided by a registered psychology associate under the supervisor’s supervision.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>A supervisor shall comply with additional continuing education requirements for supervisors set forth in COMAR 10.36.02.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Representations to the Public.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A registered psychology associate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Shall make personal reference as a “registered psychology associate under the supervision of a licensed psychologist” in all promotional materials and other communications relating to the provision of psychological services; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>May not make personal reference as a psychologist, either orally or in writing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A supervisor or registered psychology associate shall inform all clients of the supervision arrangement and its possible implications for insurance reimbursement and confidentiality.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A supervisor and registered psychology associate shall ensure that those who are billed for services by the registered psychology associate are informed that the registered psychology associate provided the services under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A registered psychology associate may not engage in, or give the appearance of, practicing psychology independently of the supervisor.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Recordkeeping.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The recordkeeping requirements of this regulation are in addition to the recordkeeping requirements in COMAR 10.36.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Supervisory Sessions.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A supervisor and registered psychology associate shall maintain appropriate documentation of the nature and extent of the supervision provided or delegated, including the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Dates and duration of supervisory sessions;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Client names or other identification for all cases;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Outcome of each case reviewed;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Signatures of both the supervisor and registered psychology associate; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>Reason for any delegation of supervisory responsibility.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A supervisor and registered psychology associate shall provide documentation of supervisory sessions upon request by the Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Documentation of the supervisory sessions shall be maintained by the supervisor and registered psychology associate for at least 5 years.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Clinical Records.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>A registered psychology associate shall have the supervisor co-sign all clinical documents, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Evaluations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Authorizations for release;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Treatment plans; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Report.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Except as otherwise required, after the initial entry of the supervisor’s name and license number in a client file or medical record, a registered psychology associate may omit repetitive references to the supervisor.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Routine entries made by a registered psychology associate do not have to be cosigned by the supervisor, unless failure to do so would result in a misrepresentation of the services provided.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Documentation of site visits shall be maintained by the supervisor and the registered psychology associate for at least 5 years, and shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Date and time of visit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Site location; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Any issues or concerns relating to the registered psychology associate’s provision of services at the site.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Board Review and Reporting Requirements.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The supervisory relationship is subject to review by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>At the time of renewal of the supervisor, the supervisor shall submit to the Board a list of all registered psychology associates supervised by the supervisor on a form approved by the Board that includes the beginning and ending dates of supervision for each registered psychology associate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Supervised during the previous licensure period; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Currently being supervised.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>At the time of renewal of the registered psychology associate, the registered psychology associate shall submit to the Board the name and license number of any supervisors who provided supervision to the registered psychology associate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>During the previous registration period; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>During the present registration period.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A supervisor and registered psychology associate shall immediately report to the Board in writing the date of termination of the supervisory relationship.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>A registered psychology associate shall immediately report in writing to the Board any change of supervisor or addition of a supervisor.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Health Occupations Article, §§18-101, 18-206, and 18-301, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: September 25, 1995 (22:19 Md. R. 1473)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .05 — .07 amended effective April 16, 2001 (28:7 Md. R. 690)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .07 amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 395)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01 — .07 repealed and new Regulations .01 — .06 adopted effective May 25, 2015 (42:10 Md. R. 684)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>