Supervision is a one-time requirement for all LSWs and all LGSWs in nonclinical practice. LSW Supervision completed does not apply to the LGSW supervision requirement.
Standard License Nonclinical social work practice includes:
- Providing assessment and intervention through direct contact with clients, developing a plan based on information from an assessment, and providing services which include, but are not limited to, assessment, case management, client-centered advocacy, client education, consultation, counseling, crisis intervention, and referral
- Providing for the direct or indirect benefit of clients through administrative, educational, policy, or research services including, but not limited to:
- Advocating for policies, programs, or services to improve the well-being of clients
- Conducting research related to social work services
- Developing and administering programs which provide social work services
- Engaging in community organization to address social problems through planned collective action
- Supervising individuals who provide social work services to clients
- Supervising social workers in order to comply with the supervised practice requirements specified in Minnesota Statutes sections 148E.100 to 148E.125
- Teaching professional social work knowledge, skills, and values to students
How much licensing supervision is required?
-
4 hours of supervision for every 160 hours of practice*
for a total of
-
100 hours of supervision over 4,000 hours of practice*
- *160 hours of practice is about a month working full-time; 4,000 hours of practice is about two years working full-time
Applying for LISW (LGSWs in Nonclinical Practice)
- LGSWs in nonclinical practice who have completed nonclinical supervised practice requirements are eligible to apply for LISW
- LGSWs in nonclinical practice who have completed nonclinical supervised practice requirements are not required to obtain an LISW and may maintain their LGSW without additional licensing supervision unless they begin practicing clinical social work
- Go to the Apply for LISW page for information about LISW application requirements and process
What types of licensing supervision are acceptable?
Out of 100 total supervision hours required:
| Minimum of 50 hours must be one-on-one supervision: |
Up to 50 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 nonclinical supervision?
- LSWs may be supervised by:
- LSW who has completed their supervised practice requirement and 30 hours of training in supervision
- LGSW, LISW, or LICSW who has completed 30 hours of training in supervision
- Up to 25% of supervision hours may be provided by an alternate licensing supervisor as defined below
- LGSWs in nonclinical practice may be supervised by:
- LGSW who has completed their supervised practice requirement and 30 hours of training in supervision
- LISW or LICSW who has completed 30 hours of training in supervision
- Up to 25% of supervision hours may be provided by an alternate licensing supervisor as defined below
- An alternate licensing supervisor 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
