The process of professional supervision
For the clinical psychology specialization, supervision must comprise a minimum of 100 hours of professional activity carried out over a period of at least one year.
Both the supervisor and the supervisee are required to comply with and apply the provisions set out in the current regulations governing professional supervision.
Types of
Contract
A tripartite contract shall be concluded between the supervisee and the supervisor, with the Romanian College of Psychologists acting as the third party. The total required duration of professional practice supervision is a minimum of 100 hours, distributed over a period of 1-2 years.
For psychologists who obtain a certificate of independent practice in two specializations, the mandatory minimum duration of supervision for the second specialization may be reduced by half, provided that both specializations belong to the same broader field of specialization. Professional supervision may be carried out in different formats, either individually or in groups.
During the mandatory supervision period, a practicing psychologist may be supervised by one or more supervisors; however, one supervisor will serve as the primary supervisor of reference.
2
Professional supervision contract PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY OF PSYCHOLOGY OR ASSOCIATED PRACTICES
The supervisor’s activity is carried out, in the capacity of either a practice owner psychologist or an employed psychologist, within a Professional Civil Society of Psychology or within Associated Psychology Practices.
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Essentials
After completing the required number of hours for the supervision period, the supervisee shall submit a new 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, focused on the candidate’s professional development and on the extent to which the candidate meets the competencies required for independent clinical psychology practice.
Supervisee
The supervisee must obtain the certificate of independent practice as a practicing psychologist under supervision in clinical psychology from the Romanian College of Psychologists, after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The applicant is required to submit a professional file (the contents of which are described on the College’s website, in the “Files” section, Annex 1A), followed by an interview before the Clinical Commission of the Romanian College of Psychologists, focused on verifying knowledge of professional ethics and deontology.
After obtaining the certificate, the practicing clinical psychologist under supervision may carry out activities within the scope of general and specific competencies only under supervision and within the legal framework governing the practice of psychology.
Supervisor
The Register of Supervisors in Clinical Psychology is managed and continuously updated by the General Secretariat, including information on the number of psychologists under supervision for each registered supervisor, and is published on the website of the:
To practice as a Supervisor in Clinical Psychology, a specialist or principal clinical psychologist must explicitly apply for inclusion in the Register of Supervisors. By doing so, they undertake to comply with the professional standards specific to supervisory practice.
Professional Pathway
The certificate of independent practice for a practicing psychologist under supervision is valid for three years from the date of issuance.
Within this period, you must cumulatively meet the following requirements:
[1]
The practice of the profession must be carried out for a minimum period of one year, based on an individual employment contract, an official appointment to a specialized public position, or through one of the independent forms of practice (individual practice, associated practices, or a professional civil society).
During this period, the psychologist conducts their activity under professional supervision, based on a supervision contract concluded with a certified supervisor registered with the Romanian College of Psychologists.
In order to fulfill the mandatory supervised practice requirement, practicing psychologists under supervision may enroll in volunteer programs, supervised clinical placements, or internship programs, on the basis of contracts provided for by law.
[2]
Completion of university master’s or doctoral studies in the specialty, professionally endorsed by the Romanian College of Psychologists and organized by an accredited higher education institution, or completion of complementary professional training in the specialty, organized by a professionally accredited training provider—each with a duration of two years—constitutes one of the mandatory requirements.
For the specializations of psychological counseling and psychotherapy, complementary professional training continues in accordance with the curriculum specific to each psychotherapeutic method, delivered by professionally accredited providers.
Completion of the complementary training required for Level II – Independent Practicing Psychologist – is certified by accredited training providers through the issuance of a certificate or diploma of completion.
[3]
Obtaining a minimum of 10 professional credits per year, for each specialization, represents an essential requirement in the process of continuous professional development. This obligation is established in accordance with the professional regulations of the Romanian College of Psychologists.
These credits are accumulated through participation in various forms of continuing professional training, such as courses, workshops, conferences, specialization programs, or other professional development activities, all designed to support the deepening of competencies and the maintenance of a high standard of practice.
Such training activities must be organized exclusively by professional training providers accredited by the Romanian College of Psychologists, thereby ensuring the quality, relevance, and compliance of the programs with professional standards.
[LEVEL 1 COMPETENCIES]
The professional competencies of a practicing psychologist under supervision in clinical psychology include:
1. Clinical psychological assessment / psychodiagnosis
– identifying psychological factors involved in health, development, and mental disorders or illnesses;
– assessment of children with special educational needs (SEN), as well as individuals involved in situations related to pregnancy, adoption, foster care, education, addictions, palliative care, institutional settings, or correctional environments;
– psychological assistance within the justice system (interviewing, recovery, social reintegration);
– assessments at the level of adults, families, and children;
– promotion and optimization of health and human development.
2. Primary clinical psychological intervention
– primary psychological counseling and brief psychotherapies;
– management of psychological factors involved in health and illness.
[important]
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.
Further details can be found on the legislative portal, in Decision no. 4 of 13 March 2019 regarding the Supervision Regulations 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).
About
Supervision
Professional supervision in clinical psychology is a structured professional activity conducted as a supervised training placement, with a duration of at least one year. It is undertaken by a practicing psychologist holding a license for independent practice under supervision (i.e., the supervisee), within a contractual relationship with a principal or specialist psychologist certified by the Romanian College of Psychologists, for the purpose of developing and consolidating professional competencies specific to clinical psychology (i.e., the supervisor).