Clinical Supervision Requirements in Colorado

Licensing Board Overview

Colorado licenses mental health professionals through the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Each profession has its own examining board: the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners, the State Board of Social Work Examiners, and the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners.

Colorado uses a candidate registration system. After completing your master's degree, you usually register as a candidate (LPCC, SWC, or MFTC) and practice under supervision while working toward full licensure. Your post-degree hours count only while you hold a qualifying status: a candidate registration, the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license for social work, a registration as an unlicensed psychotherapist, or work in an exempt facility. That status must be in place before you start accruing hours. Requirements are set in the Mental Health Practice Act (C.R.S. Article 245, Title 12). Colorado also recently passed SB24-115, which changed candidate permit expiration dates.

LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor

Colorado's LPC is the independent counseling license. You start as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) and practice under clinical supervision.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Duration: At least 2 years of post-master's practice (or 1 year postdoctoral) under clinical supervision (per C.R.S. § 12-245-604). Board rule says post-master's practice cannot be completed in fewer than 24 months, even if you reach 2,000 hours sooner
• Total practice hours: At least 2,000 hours of practice in counseling
• Direct client contact: At least 1,500 hours of face-to-face direct client contact
• Supervision hours: For every 1,000 hours of supervised practice, a minimum of 50 hours of supervision is required (typically ~100 hours total for 2,000 hours of practice)
• Individual supervision: At least 25 of each 50 supervision hours must be individual supervision, meaning one supervisee at a time (in person or via telesupervision)
• Group supervision: The remaining 25 hours may be triadic or group supervision with a maximum ratio of 1 supervisor to 10 supervisees. Triadic supervision counts with group, not individual
• Qualifying status: DPO guidance says your hours count only while you are registered as an LPCC (or hold another qualifying status, such as an unlicensed psychotherapist registration or work in an exempt facility)
• Candidate expiration: Candidate registration initially expires after 3 years per SB24-115 (effective August 7, 2024), but can be renewed

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LPC, LCSW, LMFT, licensed psychologist, or licensed addiction counselor (LAC), licensed in the jurisdiction where your services were performed, may supervise (4 CCR 737-1, Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• LPCs who supervise must also meet the supervisor criteria in Rule 1.7(D)(3), covered below
• Clinical supervision may be provided in person or via telesupervision
• A licensed addiction counselor with LPC-equivalent education may also provide clinical supervision of LPCC candidates

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Colorado's LCSW requires post-master's supervised clinical experience. You work toward full LCSW licensure as a Clinical Social Worker Candidate (SWC) or as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Duration: At least 2 years of practice under supervision (per C.R.S. § 12-245-404), completed over no fewer than 24 months
• Total practice hours: At least 3,000 hours. HB26-1002 put this figure into C.R.S. § 12-245-404(2)(c), effective August 12, 2026. Board Rule 1.14 still says 3,360 hours, and the board has proposed changing it to 3,000 at a rulemaking hearing set for November 13, 2026. The current DPO verification form already lists 3,000. Confirm with the board which figure applies to your application
• Clinical hours: At least 1,680 hours must involve treatment, diagnosis, testing, assessment, or counseling (Rule 1.14(C)(4)(c))
• Supervision hours: At least 96 hours of supervision, at least 48 of them individual (in person or telesupervision), reasonably distributed as your hours accrue (Rule 1.14(C)(5))
• Supervision: Under the virtual or in-person supervision of a licensed clinical social worker or other person with equivalent experience as determined by the board
• Clinical focus: Practice must include training and work experience in the area of clinical social work practice
• Qualifying status: Your clinical hours count only if, before you accrue them, you are registered as an SWC, hold an LSW or another license that allows psychotherapy, are listed as an unlicensed psychotherapist, or practice in an exempt facility (Rule 1.14(C)(4)(c)(2))
• Candidate expiration: Candidate registration expires after 3 years if requirements are not met, but can be renewed

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LCSW licensed in the jurisdiction where your services were performed (4 CCR 726-1, Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• A non-LCSW may supervise only in rare instances, with board approval, and can provide no more than half (48) of the 96 required supervision hours
• Supervision may be provided virtually or in person

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Colorado's LMFT requires post-master's supervised experience in marriage and family therapy. You start as a Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate (MFTC).

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Duration: At least 2 years of post-master's practice (or 1 year postdoctoral) in individual and marriage and family therapy (per C.R.S. § 12-245-504). Board rule sets a minimum of 24 months post-master's and 12 months postdoctoral
• Total practice hours: At least 2,000 hours of post-master's practice (4 CCR 736-1, Rule 1.14(C)(4))
• Direct client contact: At least 1,500 hours of face-to-face direct client contact as determined by the board for the purpose of assessment and intervention
• Couples and families: At least 1,000 of those 1,500 hours must be with couples and families, reasonably spread over at least 24 months. Contact with one family member counts when it is part of ongoing work with the couple or family
• Supervision hours: At least 50 hours of supervision for every 1,000 hours of practice, with at least 25 of each 50 as individual supervision (in person or telesupervision). The rest may be group supervision of no more than 10 supervisees (Rule 1.14(C)(6))
• Degrees without a practicum: Under HB26-1228, applicants whose degree had no practicum or internship can qualify if they apply on or after March 1, 2027 and complete 700 additional face-to-face hours
• Clinical supervision: Under clinical supervision that may be in person or telesupervision
• Qualifying status: DPO guidance says your hours count only while you are registered as an MFTC (or hold another qualifying status, such as an unlicensed psychotherapist registration or work in an exempt facility)
• Candidate expiration: Candidate registration expires after 3 years per SB24-115 (effective August 7, 2024) if requirements are not met, but can be renewed

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LMFT, or another licensed mental health professional with education, clinical experience, and supervisory experience in marriage and family therapy (Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• An AAMFT Approved Supervisor, or an MFT licensed at the highest level in another jurisdiction
• The board must approve supervision by a non-MFT licensee for those hours to count
• A licensed addiction counselor with LMFT-equivalent education may also supervise MFTC candidates
• Clinical supervision may be in person or via telesupervision

Colorado-Specific Details

Get Your Qualifying Status First

This is the single most important thing to know about Colorado. Your post-degree supervised experience counts only while you hold a qualifying status, which for most people is a candidate registration (LPCC, SWC, or MFTC). Social workers may also accrue hours as an LSW. If you start working before you have that status, those hours won't apply. Don't wait to submit your application.

Hours Expire After Five Years

Experience and supervision that predate your application by more than five years will not be accepted by the board absent a showing of good cause (Rule 1.14(A)(3) in all three rule sets).

Telesupervision Explicitly Allowed

Colorado's statute explicitly permits telesupervision for LPC and LMFT candidates. The law uses the language "clinical supervision that is in person or is telesupervision," making Colorado one of the clearer states on this point. For social work, the statute allows supervision that is "virtual or in-person."

Unlicensed Psychotherapist Registration

Colorado is unusual in that it also has a registration pathway for unlicensed psychotherapists. This is a separate track from the candidate registration system and is unique to Colorado. Candidates may, but are not required to, register with this database while pursuing licensure. Hours accrued while registered as an unlicensed psychotherapist can also count toward licensure.

Supervision Ratio Detail for LPC

Colorado's LPC statute is one of the most prescriptive in the country when it comes to supervision ratios. The law specifies that for every 1,000 hours of supervised practice, you need 50 hours of supervision, with at least half being individual. Group supervision maxes out at a 1:10 supervisor-to-supervisee ratio. No other modes of supervision are accepted.

Documentation Requirements

• Post-degree work experience and supervision hours count only while the applicant holds a qualifying status (see above)
• Applications are submitted through the DPO's online licensing portal
• Supervision may involve more than one supervisor. Each supervisor completes a Post-Degree Experience and Supervision form for each place of employment, covering only the hours you completed under their direction. The supervisor and applicant sign it under penalty of perjury
• The forms say original signatures are required and cannot be dated before the last date of experience. Upload a copy of every form together with your online application and keep the originals
• Applicants must pass a jurisprudence examination administered by the division
• The supervisor must keep records of the exact number of practice hours and supervision hours. For social work, the supervisor keeps those records for five years from the date of supervision
• Keep your own copies of all documentation until licensure is confirmed and beyond

Virtual Supervision in Colorado

Colorado explicitly allows telesupervision in its statutes. For LPC candidates, the law states that clinical supervision may be "in person or is telesupervision," and individual supervision hours may also be delivered via telesupervision. For LMFT candidates, supervision may be "in person or telesupervision." For social work candidates, the statute allows "virtual or in-person" supervision.

There is one caveat for counselors. LPC Board Policy 30-3 says communication solely by telephone is not sufficient, that the first two meetings with a supervisor should be in person, and that in-person meetings should recur at least every six months. The LPC rule's definition of telesupervision includes telephone, so confirm with the board before relying on remote-only or phone supervision.

Key Colorado Board Contact Information

• Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO): dpo.colorado.gov
• Address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
• Phone: 303-894-7800
• Email: [email protected]
• Statutes: C.R.S. Title 12, Article 245 (Mental Health Practice Act)

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Colorado

Colorado's Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), oversees clinical supervision requirements through the Mental Health Practice Act (C.R.S. Title 12, Article 245). Colorado has three separate examining boards for each discipline. Always verify current requirements with the relevant board.

Becoming an LPC Supervisor in Colorado

• Licensure: These criteria apply to LPCs who supervise LPCCs. LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists, and licensed addiction counselors may also supervise LPCCs (Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• Clinical experience: A minimum of 3 years or 3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical experience as a counselor, per 4 CCR 737-1, Rule 1.7(D)(3), which applies to supervision on or after September 1, 2021
• Supervision training: One of the following: a 2-credit graduate course in clinical supervision, 6 clock hours of clinical supervision training covering the seven areas the rule lists, the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) certification from the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), or a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from a CACREP-accredited or equivalent program
• Ongoing requirements: Must complete 3 professional development hours specific to clinical supervision each renewal period. Supervisors must attest to meeting requirements at each license renewal

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor in Colorado

• Licensure: Must hold an LCSW license in the jurisdiction where the supervisee's services are performed, or be a social worker licensed at the highest level in another jurisdiction (4 CCR 726-1, Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• Clinical experience: No specific years or hours are mandated beyond holding the LCSW license itself
• Supervision training: No specific training is required of an LCSW supervisor. The rules make LCSW supervision the norm
• Cross-discipline restrictions: A non-LCSW supervisor is permitted only in rare circumstances, such as when no LCSW is available even by telesupervision. They need board approval, must document supervision training led by a social worker, and can provide no more than half (48) of the 96 required supervision hours

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor in Colorado

• Licensure: An LMFT, or another licensed mental health professional in good standing where services are rendered, with education, clinical experience, and supervisory experience in marriage and family therapy. An AAMFT Approved Supervisor or an MFT licensed at the highest level in another jurisdiction also qualifies (4 CCR 736-1, Rule 1.14(C)(3))
• Non-MFT supervisors: The board must approve supervision by a non-MFT licensee for the hours to count. The DPO uses a Supervisor Information Form (Non-MFT Licensed Professional) for this
• Supervision training: No specific training hours are required by rule. AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is recognized but not mandated

Colorado-Specific Considerations

• Candidate registration: Colorado uses a "candidate" system (LPCC, SWC, MFTC) for pre-licensed professionals. Supervisees must hold a qualifying status, usually a candidate registration, before accruing hours
• Variation between boards: The LPC board has the most detailed supervisor requirements (specific experience thresholds, training hours, renewal attestation). The LCSW and LMFT boards have less prescriptive rules
• Telesupervision: Colorado allows telesupervision under specific conditions. Verify the current telesupervision rules with the relevant board

How Guidara Helps Colorado Supervisors

Colorado's verification forms ask each supervisor for exact practice and supervision hours at each place of employment, so your records need to be accurate from day one. Guidara keeps hour logs by category with running totals, signed supervision notes, and timesheets for each supervisor. It exports PDF records a supervisor can use when completing the DPO's Post-Degree Experience and Supervision form. The form itself still needs the original signatures the DPO asks for.