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Associate Clinical Social Worker Supervision

General Qualifications

Licensed mental health professionals interested in providing supervision to Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASW) must meet certain minimum qualifications in order to supervise. Each supervisor must maintain a current and valid license as one of the mental health professionals listed below. This page provides information on general requirements to supervise an ASW. For further information please review sections 1870-1874 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. (NOTE: This information only applies to those supervising ASWs. Information on supervising Marriage and Family Therapist Interns and Trainees.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – LCSWs must:

  • possess a current and valid California license,
  • complete a minimum 15 contact hours in supervision training,
  • and have practiced psychotherapy or directly supervised associates or marriage and familiy therapist interns or trainees who perform psychotherapy as part of their clinical practice in two of the past five years immediately preceding the commencement of supervision. NOTE: ASWs are required to obtain 1,700 hours of the total 3,200 hours of post-master’s degree experience under a LCSW to qualify for licensure.)

Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) – MFTs must:

  • possess a current and valid California license for at least two years prior to the commencement of supervision,
  • complete a minimum of 15 contact hours of training,
  • and have practiced psychotherapy or directly supervised associates or marriage and familiy therapist interns or trainees who perform psychotherapy as part of their clinical practice in two of the past five years immediately preceding the commencement of supervision.

Licensed Psychologist (licensed through the Board of Psychology) – Psychologists must:

  • possess a current and valid California license for at least two years prior to the commencement of supervision
  • and have practiced psychotherapy or directly supervised associates or marriage and familiy therapist interns or trainees who perform psychotherapy as part of their clinical practice in two of the past five years immediately preceding the commencement of supervision.

Licensed Physicians certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Psychiatrists must:

  • possess a current and valid California license for at least two years prior to the commencement of supervision
  • and have practiced psychotherapy or directly supervised associates or marriage and familiy therapist interns or trainees who perform psychotherapy as part of their clinical practice in two of the past five years immediately preceding the commencement of supervision.

Required 15 Hours of Supervision Training

LCSWs and MFTs supervising ASWs must complete a minimum of 15 contact hours in supervision training (usually in a single course) prior to commencement of supervision. Once completed, the licensee does not need to complete it again before supervising future ASWs.

This course must be taken through an accredited or approved school, a state agency, or an approved Continuing Education Provider. A course taken through an online approved provider will also be accepted. Supervisors are to retain documentation verifying completion of this requirement and must provide it upon written request.

ASW Supervised Experience Requirement

The Board has several resources relating to the supervised experience requirement, including:

Other Important Resources for ASW Supervisors

The LCSW Licensure Walk Through provides a detailed explanation of the entire LCSW licensure process. This information is valuable for ASWs and their supervisors.

The LCSW Experience Calculator is a useful way for ASWs to determine how close they are to finishing their hours.

The LCSW Standard and Written Clinical Vignette Candidate Handbooks include tasks and knowledge tested on the examinations. Many future licensees and supervisors do not realize that this information is available on the Board’s Web site.

Forms Relating to Supervision

Updated: February 25, 2008