How a Psychologist in New York Can Serve as a Clinical Supervisor

If you're a licensed psychologist in New York looking to take the next step as a clinical supervisor, it's crucial to understand the New York clinical supervisor requirements. This article explains how to serve as a supervisor in New York, including who qualifies under state rules, what continuing education (CE) is needed to maintain your status, and pitfalls to avoid. We also highlight how you can meet these requirements and enhance your supervision skills through resources like the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI).

🧩 Supervisor Eligibility Requirements in New York

To serve as a clinical supervisor for a psychology licensure candidate (such as a postdoctoral supervisee) in New York, you must meet the eligibility standards set by the state. New York does not require licensed psychologists to complete additional coursework specifically for supervision. Instead, the focus is on licensure status, professional responsibility, and affiliation with the supervisee’s work setting. The core eligibility requirements (outlined in 8 NYCRR § 72.2(e) and NYSED’s License Requirements for Psychology page) include:

• Active licensure: You must be a psychologist licensed (and currently registered) in New York State or in the jurisdiction where the supervised experience is taking place. In other words, you need an active, in-good-standing license to practice psychology in the state where you are supervising.

• Responsibility for supervisee’s training: The supervisor must take professional responsibility for the supervisee’s work. New York regulations specify that the supervisor is “responsible for and/or implements the design, coordination, integrity, and quality” of the applicant’s supervised experience. This means as a supervisor you design and oversee the training plan to ensure it meets the board’s standards.

• Employment by the supervisee’s agency: The supervisor must be employed by, or formally affiliated with, the setting in which the supervisee is working. In practice, this means you should be an owner, an employee, or an agency-approved consultant at the site. Supervision hours may not count if, for example, a supervisee hires an outside psychologist who has no formal role at their workplace.

• Alternate qualifications for exempt settings: In certain exempt settings (such as some government or educational institutions where a NY license might not be required by law), a supervisor who is not a NY-licensed psychologist may be acceptable if they hold a doctoral degree in psychology. However, such cases require approval – the supervisor must submit a curriculum vitae to the New York State Education Department for review of their qualifications. (This is a rare exception; in most cases, the supervisor will be a NY-licensed psychologist.)

• Documentation and attestation: The supervisor is responsible for documenting the supervised experience and must sign off on the required paperwork for the licensure applicant. For New York, this involves completing Form 4: Report of Professional Experience. The supervisor fills out Section II of Form 4 and sends it directly to the Office of the Professions; the form will not be accepted if the supervisee submits it themselves. By signing these forms, you attest that the supervisee’s experience meets New York’s requirements (hours, setting, supervision schedule, etc.).

• Ethical supervision practices: Supervisors must also adhere to New York’s professional practice guidelines for supervision to avoid conflicts of interest. For example, when supervising someone for licensure, the supervisee should not pay you (the supervisor) directly for that supervision. Payment for licensure-qualifying supervision should be arranged through the agency or training program, not as a private side-arrangement, to prevent dual relationships or exploitation. (Accepting direct payment from a licensure candidate could be seen as a conflict of interest and may violate the Practice Alerts & Guidelines: Supervision issued by NYSED.)

All of the above requirements ensure that supervision in New York is conducted by qualified psychologists in a structured, accountable manner. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Part 72 of the Commissioner’s Regulations and NYSED’s guidelines, which detail these rules.

Source:
New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions — Psychology: Instructions for Completing Report of Professional Experience (Form 4)
New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions — Psychology: Supervision

🕓Ongoing/Renewal Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

New York does not impose any additional CE that’s specific to supervision—there’s no separate “New York LP supervision CE” beyond the standard renewal requirements for all licensed psychologists. To maintain your license (and therefore your eligibility to supervise), you must meet the mandatory CE rules in 8 NYCRR §72.6.

• 36 hours every 3 years. Complete at least 36 CE hours each triennial registration period (effective January 1, 2021).

• Ethics requirement: At least 3 of the 36 hours must be in professional ethics, including New York laws, rules, and regulations for practice.
  Note: The Telehealth Certification Institute does not offer courses to fulfill the New York ethics requirement. You must obtain these 3 hours from another NYSED-approved provider whose ethics course explicitly covers New York law and regulations.
  Full subject guidelines and recommendations can be found in §72.6(c)(2).

• Approved providers only. CE must be taken from NYSED-approved psychology CE providers (APA approval alone isn’t sufficient unless the organization is also NYSED-approved).
  Note: TCI is an approved CE provider for psychologists, so all TCI CE courses count toward your general 36-hour requirement (except the NY-specific ethics requirement).

• Self-study limit. You may only complete up to one-third (12 hours) via self-study/independent study; the rest must be live or other acceptable interactive formats.

• New licensee exemption. You’re exempt during your first registration period immediately after initial licensure.

• Inactive status. If you are not registered to practice (inactive), CE is not required while inactive, but you must complete the required hours before returning to active practice.

• Recordkeeping. Keep CE records for at least 6 years; NYSED may audit your compliance.

Tip: Even though New York doesn’t require any supervision-specific CE hours, it’s wise to pursue training in clinical supervision as part of your professional development. Courses on topics like supervision models, ethics in supervision, diversity and supervision, or legal issues in supervision can strengthen your skills as a mentor. These can also count toward your general CE hours, fulfilling renewal requirements and making you a more effective supervisor – a win-win for your career and your supervisees.

Source: New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (8 NYCRR) § 72.6 — Continuing education for psychologists (NYSED Office of Counsel)

⚠️ Pitfalls to avoid

• Unregistered/unauthorized supervisee. Clarify that hours in non-exempt settings generally do not count unless the supervisee holds a Limited Permit.

• Documentation. The supervisor should keep supervision logs (dates, times, topics, setting), and ensure Form 4 is sent directly by the supervisor to NYSED.

• Supervisor compliance. The supervisor must be retained by the setting (employed/affiliated) during the supervision period.

📘 How the Telehealth Certification Institute Helps You

Although New York does not impose any CE requirements specific to clinical supervision, the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) offers continuing education courses that help psychologists enhance their supervision skills while also meeting general CE requirements for license renewal.

Recommended Options

• Live Webinars (No Cap)
  Attend supervision-focused live, interactive webinars to earn unlimited hours toward your 36-hour requirement. Pair these with an outside NY ethics course (New York laws, rules, and regulations) to satisfy the 3-hour ethics rule.

• 15 CE Clinical Supervision Training Bundle (Self-Study)
  Use this on-demand bundle to build core supervisory skills. For New York, you may apply up to 12 hours from this bundle toward your self-study limit; complete any remaining hours via live webinars.
  Note: This bundle does not satisfy the 3-hour NY ethics requirement (New York laws, rules, and regulations).

• Clinical Supervision Certificate Program (49 CE, online)
  A comprehensive program—suitable for strengthening your supervisor competency—covering supervision models, ethics-in-supervision, multicultural considerations, evaluation/feedback, and documentation. In New York, apply the on-demand portions within the 12-hour self-study cap and earn the rest via live webinars.
  Note: This program does not fulfill the 3-hour NY ethics requirement (New York laws, rules, and regulations).

• Browse Individual Supervision CE Courses
  Need a targeted topic (e.g., documentation for supervisors, multicultural supervision, difficult conversations)? Browse and select individual courses to tailor your plan within New York’s 12-hour self-study limit.

🤝 Free Clinical Supervision Forum

Join our live, bi-monthly forum designed for clinical supervisors — open to all behavioral health professionals! This ongoing Clinical Supervision Forum is a free resource to help you grow and network as a supervisor. By participating, you can:

• ✅ Earn complimentary live CE hours – attend forum webinars and get free continuing education credit (1.5 CE hours per session, typically).
• 💬 Participate in real-world supervision case discussions – bring your questions and discuss challenges and best practices with expert facilitators and peers.
• 🌐 Network with supervisors from across the country – connect with a community of over 3,500 supervisors, sharing insights across psychology, counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, and more.

🔗 Register now and be part of the conversation

🌟 Why Choose TCI for Your Training?

When it comes to meeting your CE requirements and enhancing your skills, the Telehealth Certification Institute is a trusted partner for thousands of professionals. Here’s why so many psychologists and other clinicians choose TCI for training:

• ✅ Trusted by thousands of behavioral health professionals nationwide – TCI has a strong reputation for quality and relevance in continuing education.
• ✅ Fully online and self-paced — study anytime, anywhere. Whether you prefer on-demand courses or live webinars, you have the flexibility to learn on your schedule.
• ✅ Accredited CE taught by leading industry experts – All courses are taught by experienced instructors (many are thought leaders in their fields), and TCI is an APA-Approved CE provider.
• ✅ Modular, flexible courses — pay only for the training you need. You can select individual topics of interest or enroll in larger bundles/programs, depending on your goals, without unnecessary coursework.

⚠️ Disclaimer

“The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Licensing and supervision requirements may change, and interpretations may vary. It is the responsibility of each individual to verify the current rules and qualifications directly with their state licensing authority.”

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

Take the next step in your career by serving as a clinical supervisor in New York.
👉 Browse our Individual Supervision CE Courses
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