Clinical Supervision Requirements in Alaska

Licensing Board Overview

Clinical supervision in Alaska is regulated by the Alaska Board of Professional Counselors and the Board of Social Work Examiners, both under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. These boards set requirements for supervised clinical experience, supervisor qualifications, and documentation standards for clinicians seeking independent licensure.

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Alaska)

Alaska's LCSW requires post-master's supervised clinical social work experience. Requirements are defined in 12 AAC 18.115 and AS 08.95.110. Note: new supervisor qualification rules take effect July 1, 2026.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 2 years full-time or 3,000 hours part-time of post-master's supervised clinical social work experience (per AS 08.95.110(a)(2))
• Supervision hours: 100 hours of direct clinical supervision, equitably distributed throughout the supervised period (per 12 AAC 18.115(a))
• Individual vs. group split: No more than 50 hours may be group supervision (at least 50 must be individual). The board may grant exceptions for good cause
• Exam: ASWB Clinical examination (per 12 AAC 18.105(a)(1))
• Ethics standard: NASW Code of Ethics, 2021 edition (per 12 AAC 18.150)

Supervisor Qualifications

• Current rules (before July 1, 2026): Must be a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist with an unrestricted license during the period of supervision (per 12 AAC 18.115(b)(2))
• New rules (effective July 1, 2026): Must have at least 3 years of experience as a licensed CSW/psychologist/psychiatrist, hold an unrestricted license, and complete at least 6 hours of CE in supervision or supervisory practices (per 12 AAC 18.113(a)). Plus 6 hours of supervision CE each biennial licensing period (per 12 AAC 18.113(b))
• Alternate supervisors require pre-approval via Form #08-4944

LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor (Alaska)

Alaska's LPC supervision requirements are defined in 12 AAC 62 and AS 08.29. The board uses the "Approved Counselor Supervisor" designation.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised counseling experience over a minimum of 2 years (per AS 08.29.110(a)(6))
• Supervision hours: 100 hours of face-to-face supervision (per 12 AAC 62.220(d))
• Individual vs. group split: At least 50 hours must be one-on-one; the remaining 50 may be one-on-one or group
• Minimum frequency: At least 1 hour of supervision per month
• Exam: NCE or NCMHCE (administered by NBCC). CRC is also accepted per 12 AAC 62.110(b)
• Education: Master's or higher with 60 graduate semester hours, coursework in 8 of 10 listed areas, and at least 3 graduate credits in ethics (if applying on or after Feb 1, 2012)

Supervisor Qualifications (Approved Counselor Supervisor)

• Must be certified as "Approved Counselor Supervisor" by the board before supervision begins (per 12 AAC 62.220(b))
• Must complete 25 contact hours of CE related to supervision within 2 years preceding application, of which at least 12 hours must be synchronous (per 12 AAC 62.200(a)(4))
• Acceptable training sources: graduate course in clinical supervision, NBCC, ACA, AMHCA, or board pre-approved equivalents
• Post-licensure experience required per AS 08.29.210 (confirm current threshold with the board)
• Application: Form #08-4430 (Approved Counselor Supervisor)
• Ethics standard: AMHCA Code of Ethics, 2015/2020 revision

LMFT: Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (Alaska)

Alaska uses the title "Licensed Marital and Family Therapist" (note: "Marital" not "Marriage"). Requirements are defined in 12 AAC 19 and AS 08.63. Alaska uses a Marital/Family Therapy Associate license during the supervised period.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Clinical contact hours: 1,700 hours of clinical contact (per AS 08.63.100(a)(3)(C))
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of individual supervision and 100 hours of group supervision (200 total)
• Education: Master's or doctorate including 9 semester hours in MFT, 9 in marital/family studies, 9 in human development, 3 in professional studies/ethics/law, 3 in research, plus 1 year of supervised clinical practice
• Exam: AMFTRB national exam plus an Alaska jurisprudence exam (open-book, 30-day return) per 12 AAC 19.110(g)-(i)
• Domestic violence training: At least 6 contact hours required (per 12 AAC 19.110(d))
• Associate license: The MFT Associate license is valid for 4 years and is non-renewable (per AS 08.63.110(c)), though the board may extend for reasonable cause. Associates must use the title "marital therapy associate" or "family therapy associate"

Supervisor Qualifications

• Individual supervisor: Must hold a current LMFT license, document 5 continuous years of practice as an LMFT, and complete at least 6 contact hours of education related to supervising MFT within the last 2 years (per 12 AAC 19.210(a))
• Group supervisor: May be a licensed LPC, LMFT, psychiatrist, psychiatric APRN, psychologist, or LCSW (per AS 08.63.120(b)(2)). Must also document 5 continuous years of practice and 6 contact hours of supervision education
• AAMFT Code of Ethics, January 1, 2015 revision applies (per 12 AAC 19.900)

Alaska-Specific Details

Three Independent Boards

Alaska regulates each mental health discipline through a separate board under CBPL: the Board of Professional Counselors (LPC), the Board of Social Work Examiners (LCSW), and the Board of Marital & Family Therapy (LMFT). Each board has its own AAC chapter (12 AAC 62, 12 AAC 18, and 12 AAC 19 respectively), its own fee schedule, and its own supervisor requirements.

MFT Associate 4-Year Expiration

Alaska's MFT Associate license is valid for 4 years and is non-renewable (per AS 08.63.110(c)). If you haven't completed your supervised experience requirements by then, you must reapply. The board may extend the license for reasonable cause or excusable neglect (per 12 AAC 19.200(h)), but don't count on it. This creates a meaningful deadline that other states don't impose for MFTs.

Upcoming LCSW Supervisor Rule Change (July 2026)

New supervisor qualification rules for social work take effect July 1, 2026 under 12 AAC 18.113. The current rules only require an unrestricted license. After July 2026, supervisors will need at least 3 years of post-licensure experience and 6 hours of supervision-specific CE, with ongoing biennial CE requirements. If you're planning to become an LCSW supervisor, check whether the current or new rules apply to you.

Associate Counselor License (Pending)

Alaska's HB 126 (2024) created an Associate Counselor license for the LPC pathway, but the implementing regulations are currently frozen under Administrative Order 358. Check with the Board of Professional Counselors for the current status.

No Licensure Compacts

Alaska is not currently a member of either the Counseling Compact or the Social Work Compact.

General Documentation Requirements

Alaska licensing boards expect organized, thorough documentation of supervised clinical experience. Supervisors and supervisees should maintain:

• Written supervision agreement or plan executed before supervision begins
• Meeting-by-meeting supervision documentation including date, duration, modality, and topics discussed
• Hour tracking logs with breakdowns by category (e.g., direct client contact, individual supervision, group supervision)
• Supervisor verification forms or letters confirming hours and competency
• Records of evaluations, feedback, and any remediation plans

Both the supervisor and supervisee should retain copies of all documentation. Digital records with timestamps and signatures provide the strongest evidence during board review.

Virtual Supervision in Alaska

The approach to virtual supervision differs by board:

• LPC: Explicitly allowed by telephonic or electronic means (Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, or other audio/video platform) with microphone and camera activated. "Face-to-face" is defined as "happening precisely at the same time during which the supervisor and applicant are able to communicate in real time" (per 12 AAC 62.220(e)-(f)). No prior board approval is needed for virtual supervision
• LCSW: "Face-to-face meetings" are defined to include "any electronic means of communication" in which both parties can speak and hear simultaneously (per 12 AAC 18.115(f)). The board may grant exceptions for alternate methods. This effectively allows virtual supervision
• LMFT: The MFT supervision regulations (12 AAC 19.200-210) do not explicitly address whether supervision can be virtual. Separate teletherapy rules (12 AAC 19.400-420) govern MFT practice with clients but not supervision itself. Confirm the current policy with the Board of Marital & Family Therapy

Key Alaska Board Contact Information

• Board of Professional Counselors: Professional Counselors page
• Board of Social Work Examiners: Social Work Examiners page
• Board of Marital & Family Therapy: Marital & Family Therapy page
• Phone (CBPL): (907) 465-2550

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Alaska

Alaska's Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL) regulates mental health supervision through three separate boards: the Board of Professional Counselors, the Board of Social Work Examiners, and the Board of Marital & Family Therapy. Always verify current requirements directly with the relevant board.

Becoming an LPC Supervisor in Alaska

• Licensure: Must hold an active Alaska LPC license in good standing
• Designation: Must be certified as an "Approved Counselor Supervisor" by the board before supervision begins (per 12 AAC 62.220(b))
• Clinical experience: Must meet the post-licensure experience threshold set in AS 08.29.210 (confirm current requirement with the board)
• Supervision training: 25 contact hours of CE related to supervision within 2 years preceding application, of which at least 12 hours must be synchronous (per 12 AAC 62.200(a)(4)). Acceptable sources: graduate course in clinical supervision, NBCC, ACA, AMHCA, or board pre-approved equivalents
• Application: Form #08-4430 (Approved Counselor Supervisor)

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor in Alaska

• Current rules (before July 1, 2026): Must be a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist with an unrestricted license during the supervision period (per 12 AAC 18.115(b)(2))
• New rules (effective July 1, 2026): Must have at least 3 years of post-licensure experience, hold an unrestricted license, and complete at least 6 hours of CE in supervision or supervisory practices (per 12 AAC 18.113(a)). Must complete 6 additional hours of supervision CE each biennial period
• Alternate supervisor: Pre-approval required via Form #08-4944 (per 12 AAC 18.115(e))

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor in Alaska

• Licensure: Must hold an active Alaska LMFT license in good standing
• Clinical experience: Must document 5 continuous years of practice as an LMFT (per 12 AAC 19.210(a)). One "year of practice" is defined as 12 months of active clinical practice totaling at least 500 hours (per 12 AAC 19.990(3))
• Supervision training: At least 6 contact hours of education related to supervising MFT within the last 2 years
• Group supervision: Can be provided by licensed LPC, LMFT, psychiatrist, psychiatric APRN, psychologist, or LCSW, with the same 5-year and 6-hour requirements (per AS 08.63.120(b)(2))

Alaska-Specific Considerations

• Small state, limited supervisors: Alaska's smaller population can mean fewer available supervisors, making telehealth supervision particularly important. Verify current telesupervision rules with the relevant board
• Three separate boards: Each discipline has its own board, so requirements may differ between them
• Cross-discipline: Alaska generally requires the supervisor to hold the same license type. Confirm current rules with the applicable board

How Guidara Helps Alaska Supervisors

Guidara structures your supervision records the way Alaska licensing boards expect: signed supervision documentation, hour tracking by category, timesheet approvals, and exportable reports. For supervisors working with remote supervisees across Alaska's vast geography, Guidara keeps everything organized and accessible from anywhere.