Supervision is an ongoing requirement for LGSWs and LISWs in clinical practice until an LICSW is obtained.
Clinical practice means applying professional social work knowledge, skills, and values in the differential diagnosis and treatment of psychosocial function, disability, or impairment, including addictions and emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders. Treatment includes a plan based on a differential diagnosis. Treatment may include, but is not limited to, the provision of psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Clinical social workers may also provide the services described in the definition of practice of social work.
How much licensing supervision is required?
-
4 to 8 hours of supervision for every 160 hours of practice*
- for a total of
-
200 hours of supervision over 4,000 to 8,000 hours of practice*
-
Out of the 4,000 to 8,000 clinical practice hours required, at least 1,800 hours must be direct clinical client contact
- Direct clinical client contact is defined as in-person or electronic media interaction with a client, including client system and service providers, related to the clients mental and emotional functioning, differential diagnosis, and treatment
- *160 hours of practice is about a month working full-time; 4,000 hours of practice is about two years working full-time; 8,000 hours of practice is about four years working full-time
Applying for LICSW
- LGSWs and LISWs in clinical practice are required to obtain an LICSW within 4,000 to 8,000 hours of clinical practice
- Supervision is an ongoing requirement for LGSWs and LISWs in clinical practice until an LICSW is obtained
- Go to the Apply for LICSW page for information about LICSW application requirements and process
What types of licensing supervision are acceptable?
Out of 200 total supervision hours required:
| Minimum of 100 hours must be one-on-one supervision: |
Up to 100 remaining hours may be other types of supervision: |
- Required hours may be in-person or via eye-to-eye electronic media
|
- Group supervision (limited to six supervisees)
- In-person
- One-on-one phone
- Eye-to-eye electronic media
|
Who can provide clinical supervision?
LGSWs and LISWs in clinical practice may be supervised by:
- LICSW who has completed 2,000 hours of post-LICSW practice, including at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice and 30 hours of training in supervision
- Up to 25% of supervision hours may be provided by an alternate licensing supervisor, which is a "mental health professional" as defined in Minnesota Statutes sections 245.462 and 245.4871 who is qualified to provide supervision according to their licensing board, including:
- Registered psychiatric nurse
- Licensed psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- Licensed marriage and family therapist
- Licensed professional clinical counselor
- Up to 100% of the supervised practice requirement may be completed with an alternate supervisor if one of the following applies:
- There are 5 or fewer licensed social workers in the county where the supervisee practices
- Go to Public License Lookup and check the 'Licensing Supervisor' option and select your county to determine the number of eligible licensing supervisors by county
- The supervisor is an unlicensed social worker who is employed in, and provides supervision in, a setting exempt from licensure and has equivalent qualifications
- The supervisor is a social worker engaged in authorized social work practice in a state or province surrounding Minnesota
- The licensee is engaged in authorized social work practice outside of Minnesota and the supervisor meets equivalent qualifications
Finding a Licensing Supervisor
- Licensing supervisors can be someone within or outside of your agency
- Utilize your professional network to find a licensing supervisor
- Use the Public License Lookup to search for eligible licensing supervisors
