Competence, Supervision, and Delegation of Psychological Services
This domain tests whether you practice only within your competence and whether you supervise or delegate in a way that keeps the licensed psychologist accountable.
Core rules
- Competence requires education, training, supervised experience, and continuing education. Obtain consultation or refer when a case exceeds your competence, and do not learn a new specialty on an unsupervised client.
- Nevada Board rules require qualified supervisors, written supervision agreements, documented supervised hours, and supervisor accountability for services delivered by supervisees. Supervisees must disclose their status to clients.
- Delegation is permitted only for tasks the delegate can perform competently and legally. The supervising psychologist remains responsible for the quality of services and must review assessments, treatment plans, and documentation as required.
- Telehealth supervision and practice must meet Nevada licensure and Board requirements; a supervisor’s out-of-state license does not automatically authorize supervision of Nevada work.
Worked example
A psychological assistant administers and scores a complex neuropsychological battery. The supervisor reviews the raw data, interpretation, and report before release, documents the review, and ensures the client knows the assistant’s role. The supervisor does not delegate the diagnostic interpretation.
Traps
Supervising without a written agreement; billing for unsupervised services; delegating interpretation to an unqualified technician; assuming a license from another state permits Nevada supervision; failing to document supervision hours.