How supervision sessions get matched to the direct-therapy sessions they cover, how to read that link on the Supervision Dashboard, and how to spot supervision that isn't counting.

What “linking” means

• 97153 – Direct session: one-on-one ABA therapy delivered by the RBT/technician.

• 97155 – Supervision: the BCBA (supervising provider) directing and modifying the protocol while that direct session runs.

• A link ties one 97155 supervision session to the specific 97153 direct session it covered. Only linked, signed supervision counts toward the client’s 10% of direct hours requirement.

• In the Sessions timeline, a linked pair shows the 97155 on top with the 97153 nested underneath it and labeled “supervised direct session.”

How the link is formed — Alpaca links the two automatically when a signed 97155 supervision note overlaps a signed 97153 direct session for the same client. Drafts and unsigned notes never link and never count. Figures refresh overnight, so a note signed today shows up the next day.

Step 1 — Open the Supervision Dashboard

• In the left sidebar, click Client & Clinician Supervision.

• This opens the dashboard titled with your organization name and the line “Track 10% client and 5% clinician supervision targets.”

• At the top, pick a time window with the pills: This month, Last month, Last 30 days, Last 90 days, QTD, YTD, or a custom date range.

ℹ  Custom ranges snap to whole calendar months — aggregates are computed per month.

Step 2 — Find the client

• Scroll to the Client supervision · 10% of direct hours table.

• Read the columns: Direct hrs (97153 delivered), Supervised hrs (97155 that linked), % of direct (supervised ÷ direct), and Status.

• Use the status tabs to narrow the list: Behind, At risk, On track, Met.

• Find your client, then click View in the far-right Details column.

⚠  “Supervised hrs” only counts 97155 that successfully linked to a 97153. A client can log plenty of supervision and still read low here if those sessions never linked — that’s your signal to check the timeline.

Step 3 — Read the link in the Sessions timeline

• The client’s detail page opens with Direct hrs, Supervised hrs, Current ratio, and Shortfall across the top.

• Scroll to Sessions timeline for the selected period.

• A linked pair looks like this: a green Supervision badge · date/time · Supervision CPT 97155 · client · supervisor, with the 97153 Direct session indented directly beneath it on a green connector line, tagged “supervised direct session.”

• An unlinked direct session sits flush-left with no badge and no connector above it — it received no supervision.

• Click Details on any row to open that session note and confirm it’s signed.

Easy-to-confuse checks

• 97155 vs 97153: 97155 = supervision (BCBA); 97153 = direct therapy (RBT). The nested child is always the 97153.

• Supervised hrs vs Direct hrs: direct is the denominator; supervised is only the linked 97155 time.

• A 97155 with nothing nested under it = supervision that didn’t link. Check that both notes are signed and fall on the same client and overlapping time.

Quick FAQs

Q: Why is a supervision session missing from the timeline?

A: It’s almost always an unsigned or draft note, or it hasn’t refreshed yet. Only signed notes count, and figures update overnight.

Q: A 97155 shows no 97153 nested under it — why?

A: The supervision didn’t link to a direct session. Confirm both notes are signed, are for the same client, and cover overlapping times.

Q: Does linked supervision help the 10% target?

A: Yes. Only 97155 that links to a 97153 rolls into “Supervised hrs” and the % of direct used for the 10% client requirement.