Questions to ask before agreeing to a supervision arrangement

Why this matters more than it feels like it does

You will spend a substantial stretch of your early career inside this arrangement, and its terms determine whether that time counts toward licensure. It is worth an uncomfortable conversation up front.

Ask about eligibility

These determine whether the hours count at all.

• Do you hold the credential my board requires of supervisors, and have you completed any required supervisor training?
• Have you supervised someone through to licensure before?
• Will you sign off on hours at regular intervals rather than only at the end?
• If you leave the organization, what happens to my accrued hours and my supervision going forward?

Ask about the actual practice

These determine whether the experience is any good.

• How often will we meet, for how long, individually versus in a group?
• How much direct client contact will this role realistically give me each week?
• What kinds of cases will I carry, and will that mix change over time?
• How do you handle disagreement about clinical decisions?
• What happens when I make a mistake?

A supervisor who reacts badly to being asked these questions has answered the most important one.