NJ Licensure outside supervisor

[Pear1405]

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Hey all, graduated with psyD in August from out of state and have returned home to NJ. The licensing board here is beyond unhelpful as many might be aware, so here I am.

I'm working for a non profit CMH because that's my passion and they don't have a psychologist on staff that can supervise me (don't worry I still have supervisors). I need hours for licensure and a freaking permit and so theoretically I need to hire an outside supervisor.

But I can find absolutely nothing on this. Nothing in the regulations handbook. Nothing on any necessary paperwork or the process for this. It doesn't matter how many times I've called or emailed the licensing board. I don't know where to go. I love community mental health, and this was the only job I could find, in my area both locationally and specific focus, that was willing to hire an unlicenced/ post-doc psychologist. I don't want to leave my job because it's a perfect fit and I feel so fulfilled (minus financial let's be real) but I'm nearing a breaking point because I need to get licensed.

Does anyone know anything about this???

 

[Harry3990]

I was curious and did some research for NJ. In my neighboring state of PA, the state laws/ethics codes says psychologists are not permitted to accept fees from post doc supervisees and also must be either employed by the same organization or "in contract status with" that org. For NJ, the regulations do not appear so clear cut, and Gemini is inferring that it should be allowed technically.

If I were in your shoes and could not get a reply email or on the phone with someone from the board to clarify, I would probably be going ahead and submitting my application for the permit, finding an outside supervisor (who ideally would be able to assist you with navigating the process), and then also completing the application for proposed supervisor(s) form https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/psy/Pages/applications.aspx. Along with the application, it might be useful to attach a letter detailing your specific situation as you have here and noting that you are requesting a response that confirms this proposed supervision arrangement as being approved by the board. Sorry that they are being unresponsive. Hopefully this is helpful.

 

[R. Matey]

I'm working for a non profit CMH because that's my passion and they don't have a psychologist on staff that can supervise me (don't worry I still have supervisors). I need hours for licensure and a freaking permit and so theoretically I need to hire an outside supervisor.

This is often the way that master's level clinicians obtain their licensing hours post-degree (i.e., one of a thousand reasons why the quality for master's level clinicians varies so wildly) so it comes as no surprise that this would be the recommendation from the supervising clinical managers. If it were me, I would keep looking for another position. There are no shortage of postdoctoral positions (I see one advertised like every day on the ACBT forums) and in many you will take Medicaid patients. The nice thing about a formal postdoc is the built in supervision and didactics that is a bit more consummate with your degree and experience. An onsite supervisor can also help you in navigating the site and in theory function as your advocate.

 

[Pear1405]

This is often the way that master's level clinicians obtain their licensing hours post-degree (i.e., one of a thousand reasons why the quality for master's level clinicians varies so wildly) so it comes as no surprise that this would be the recommendation from the supervising clinical managers. If it were me, I would keep looking for another position. There are no shortage of postdoctoral positions (I see one advertised like every day on the ACBT forums) and in many you will take Medicaid patients. The nice thing about a formal postdoc is the built in supervision and didactics that is a bit more consummate with your degree and experience. An onsite supervisor can also help you in navigating the site and in theory function as your advocate.

I would definitely enjoy a formal post-doc, you have no idea how starving I am for chronic contact with other psychologists. The issues my mind raises are: I also want to stay in non profit to start the loan forgiveness process asap, there areeeee post docs that are non profits but (to immense shock) I am making more here than I would at those post docs, I'm handling life on my own rn so financially it's important. That being said- at this point, and in the financial long term, I might be better off finding a new place where I will likely get Medicaid patients (not hard to find) and get that increased support/ start the licensing process. After reading your reply, I actually did start hunting again for post-docs, and I saw one I'm going to apply to. Thanks for giving it to me straight!

 

[Pear1405]

I was curious and did some research for NJ. In my neighboring state of PA, the state laws/ethics codes says psychologists are not permitted to accept fees from post doc supervisees and also must be either employed by the same organization or "in contract status with" that org. For NJ, the regulations do not appear so clear cut, and Gemini is inferring that it should be allowed technically.

If I were in your shoes and could not get a reply email or on the phone with someone from the board to clarify, I would probably be going ahead and submitting my application for the permit, finding an outside supervisor (who ideally would be able to assist you with navigating the process), and then also completing the application for proposed supervisor(s) form https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/psy/Pages/applications.aspx. Along with the application, it might be useful to attach a letter detailing your specific situation as you have here and noting that you are requesting a response that confirms this proposed supervision arrangement as being approved by the board. Sorry that they are being unresponsive. Hopefully this is helpful.

I'm definitely worried about it getting rejected, and the supervisor in mind is pretty old school and very confused/ concerned with doing this application the "right" way, so I don't think she would go for this but honestly I might as well bring it up. I think I'll be going forward and looking for other traditional post doc positions too, the more I think about it the more frustrated and 'done' I become. That was helpful advice, I hadn't thought of just sending it off anyway. Let's see!