Professional Supervision in Clinical Psychology
- Asociația Română de Psihologie Clinică
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Professional supervision in clinical psychology is a professional activity conducted in the form of a supervised training placement, with a minimum duration of one year, undertaken by a practitioner psychologist holding certification for independent practice under supervision (the supervisee), within a contractual relationship with a principal psychologist or specialist psychologist certified by the Romanian College of Psychologists (Colegiul Psihologilor din România - CPR), for the purpose of developing and refining professional competencies specific to clinical psychology (the supervisor).
The supervisee is required to obtain certification for independent practice as a practitioner psychologist under supervision in clinical psychology from the Romanian College of Psychologists, following the completion of a bachelor’s degree in psychology. To this end, the candidate must submit a professional file (the required contents are specified on the College’s website, in the ‘Files’ section, Annex 1A), after which they must attend an interview focused on assessing knowledge of professional ethics and deontology before the CPR’s Clinical Commission.
Upon obtaining certification, the practitioner clinical psychologist under supervision is authorized to carry out activities corresponding to general and specific competencies only under supervision, within the legal framework governing the practice of the psychology profession.
Professional supervision is mandatory for practitioner psychologists at the beginning of their careers
The minimum duration of the supervision period is one year, amounting to a total of 100 hours
Supervision is conducted on the basis of a contract registered with the Romanian College of Psychologists
A psychologist may attain autonomous practitioner status only after completing the supervision period and fulfilling the requirements of professional training
The maximum timeframe for the completion of the supervised training stage is three years from the acquisition of certification as a practitioner psychologist under supervision
Acquisition of Certification for Independent Practice
In order to commence professional activity under supervision, graduates of undergraduate psychology programs are required to obtain certification for independent practice at the level of practitioner psychologist under supervision from the Romanian College of Psychologists.
The procedure includes the following stages:
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology
Submitting a professional file, in accordance with the requirements set out in Annex 1A published on the CPR website ( https://copsi.ro/index.php/depunere-dosare )
Attending a professional interview before the relevant specialized commission
The interview aims to assess knowledge of:
professional ethics
the deontology of the psychology profession
Upon obtaining certification, the psychologist may carry out professional activities exclusively under supervision, in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The Professional Status and Role of the Supervisor
A tripartite contract shall be concluded between the supervisee and the supervisor, with the third party being the Romanian College of Psychologists. The total number of required hours of professional supervision of practice is a minimum of 100 hours, distributed over a period of one to two years.
For psychologists who obtain certification for independent practice in two specializations, the minimum mandatory duration of supervision for the second specialization may be reduced by half, provided that both specializations belong to the same broader field of specialization (the Commission for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy).
Professional supervision may be conducted in various formats, either individually or in groups. During the mandatory supervision period, a practitioner psychologist may be supervised by one or more supervisors; however, one supervisor shall be designated as the primary supervisor.
Types of Supervision Contracts in Clinical Psychology
There are different types of supervision contracts, depending on the supervisor’s professional position:
Professional supervision contract – Individual Psychology Practice: the supervisor’s activity is carried out, either as a principal psychologist or as an employed psychologist, within an individual psychology practice(link: https://www.copsi.ro/images/files/dosare/Contract_de_supervizare_profesionala_CABINET_INDIVIDUAL_-_aprobat_in_sedinta_CC_din_18.12.2020.pdf )
Professional supervision contract – Professional Civil Society of Psychology or Associated Practices: the supervisor’s activity is carried out, either as a principal psychologist or as an employed psychologist, within a professional civil society of psychology or within associated practices (link: https://www.copsi.ro/images/files/dosare/Contract_de_supervizare_profesionala_SCPP_sau_CABINETE_ASOCIATE_-_aprobat_in_sedinta_CC_din_18.12.2020.pdf )
Completion of the Supervision Period
Upon reaching the required number of hours for the completion of the supervision period, the supervisee shall submit a new professional file to the Romanian College of Psychologists, confirming the completion of this stage. The file must be accompanied by a positive report from the supervisor, focusing on the candidate’s professional development and on the extent to which they meet the competencies required of an autonomous practitioner clinical psychologist.
Within a period of three calendar years (the validity period of the certification for independent practice for practitioner psychologists under supervision) from the date of obtaining certification at the level of practitioner psychologist under supervision, candidates are required to complete, cumulatively and mandatorily, the following:
The exercise of the profession for a minimum period of one year, based on an individual employment contract or an appointment to a specialized public position, either as an employee or as a public official, or through one of the independent forms of professional practice available to psychologists with the right to independent practice (individual practice, associated practices, or professional civil society of psychology). During this period, the psychologist must undergo professional supervision in the specialty, based on a supervision contract concluded with a supervisor certified in the respective field by the Romanian College of Psychologists and registered with the same institution. For the purpose of completing the mandatory supervised practice, practitioner psychologists under supervision may also enroll in volunteer programs, based on a volunteer contract concluded in accordance with the applicable legislation
The completion of a master’s degree in psychology, accredited in accordance with the law and recognized by the CPR in the clinical specialization, or the holding of a doctoral degree in psychology (for graduates of Bologna-type undergraduate programs)
The accumulation of a minimum of 10 professional credits per year, per specialization, obtained through participation in continuing professional training activities
Legislative Framework
A psychologist is entitled to provide psychological services only to beneficiaries with whom they have concluded, directly, either an individual employment contract or a contract for the provision of psychological services, in accordance with Articles 13–16 of Law No. 213/2004, as subsequently amended. Following payments made for the supervision services provided, the supervisor shall issue fiscal documents in accordance with the contractual agreement.
Further details can be found on the legislative portal, in Decision No. 4 of 13 March 2019 regarding the Supervision Norms in Psychology approved by the Romanian College of Psychologists, as amended by Decision No. 3 of 20 July 2020 (published in "Monitorul Oficial" No. 82 of 26 January 2021).”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does supervision in clinical psychology last?
The minimum duration is one year, comprising 100 hours of supervision.
Can I have more than one supervisor?
Yes. A psychologist may have multiple supervisors; however, one of them will be designated as the primary supervisor.
Within what timeframe must supervision be completed?
Supervision, along with the requirements for obtaining autonomous practitioner status, must be completed within a maximum of three years from the date of obtaining certification as a practitioner psychologist under supervision.
What types of supervision are available?
Supervision may be conducted individually and/or in groups, either in person and/or online, depending on the supervisor’s requirements.
Are there costs associated with supervision?
Yes. Supervision involves additional costs, in accordance with the service provision contract concluded with the supervisor, who will issue fiscal documents for payment.
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