Yes. Supervision by video call counts towards your hours with ACA and AASW, and PACFA’s own standards describe supervision by video as one of the ways a competent supervisor works. What matters to each association is who your supervisor is and how the session is run, rather than whether you share a room.
What each association says
| Association | Online supervision |
|---|---|
| ACA | The Supervision Policy says supervision does not need to be face to face, and can be held by phone or video. It describes this as just as effective, particularly for counsellors working in isolated areas. |
| PACFA | The Clinical Supervision Standard does not require supervision to be in person. PACFA’s Supervision Training Standards list supervising in person, by video or by telephone among a supervisor’s competencies. |
| AASW | AASW’s Record/Evidence of Supervision template lists online supervision alongside face-to-face supervision as a type you can record. |
Why online supervision works so well
It opens up a far wider choice of supervisor, so you can work with someone who knows your specialty even if they live in another state. It saves travel time, which often makes regular sessions easier to keep. Group supervision online also lets practitioners from across the country learn from each other’s cases.
Making an online session work
Choose a private space where you will not be overheard, and use headphones if others are around. Because you will be discussing private material, I’ve built a platform to keep that safe. Agree with your supervisor what happens if the connection drops, and keep your camera on where you can, since much of the value of supervision sits in the relationship.
How Supriva helps
Sessions booked through Supriva include a secure video room, so you can join from your dashboard without separate links or software. Each session you attend there is added to your supervision record automatically.
Sources
The associations’ own documents, checked 16 October 2026.