Clinical Supervision Requirements in Hawaii

Licensing Board Overview

Hawaii has no licensing boards for these professions. The Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) issues the licenses through the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL), which runs a separate program for each profession. The requirements are set by statute in the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS). There are no program-specific administrative rules, so the program forms and FAQs fill in the procedure.

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Hawaii)

Hawaii's LCSW is governed by HRS Chapter 467E, administered by the Social Worker Program. An LSW license is not required while accruing hours. Post-master's candidates may practice as exempt clinical social work interns while they are supervised (HRS 467E-6(8)).

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience
• Clinical minimum: At least 2,000 of those hours in assessment, clinical diagnosis, and psychotherapy
• Category cap: No more than 900 hours of client-centered advocacy, consultation, and evaluation
• Timeframe: Must be completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 5 years
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. At least 60 hours must be individualized supervision, and no more than 40 may be small group supervision with up to six supervisees (HRS 467E-7(a)(3)(C))
• Exam: ASWB Clinical Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an LCSW license
• Must have at least 4,500 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience (HRS 467E-7(a)(3)(D)(i))

LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Hawaii)

Hawaii's LMHC is governed by HRS Chapter 453D, administered by the Mental Health Counselor Program. Since July 1, 2026, practicing mental health counseling in Hawaii requires a license. The old intern exemption was repealed, so post-graduate candidates accruing hours in Hawaii now need an associate mental health counselor provisional license (HRS 453D-5, 453D-7.5).

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of post-graduate experience in mental health counseling
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision
• Timeframe: Both totals must be completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 4 years (HRS 453D-7(a)(2))
• Exam: NCE (National Counselor Examination)

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse with a specialty in mental health
• For full licensure the supervisor may be licensed in any state. A supervisor of an associate must hold a Hawaii license in good standing

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Hawaii)

Hawaii's LMFT is governed by HRS Chapter 451J, administered by the Marriage and Family Therapist Program. MFT licensure is tied to use of the title, not to the work itself. An associate marriage and family therapist provisional license has been available since July 1, 2026, but it is optional.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Direct experience: 1,000 hours of direct marriage and family therapy
• Supervision hours: At least 200 hours of clinical supervision
• Timeframe: Not less than 24 months (HRS 451J-7(3))
• Group size: Clinical supervision covers no more than six people at the same time (HRS 451J-1)
• Exam: AMFTRB National Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LMFT whose license has been in good standing for the two years before supervision begins and throughout it, or
• Any licensed mental health professional who has been an AAMFT clinical member for two years
• For full licensure the supervisor may be licensed in any state. A supervisor of an associate must hold a Hawaii license

Hawaii-Specific Details

Associate Provisional Licenses for Counselors and MFTs

Act 93 (2024) created associate provisional licenses for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists, effective July 1, 2026. Each provisional license names one clinical supervisor, and the associate practices only under that supervisor's direct supervision. To change supervisors, the associate must file a new notarized verification form before the current relationship ends. If it is not filed in time, the provisional license goes inactive.

A provisional license is valid for one year and may be renewed once for another year. Hours earned before July 1, 2026, and hours earned outside Hawaii still count toward full licensure.

Supervisor Verification Forms

Each supervisor completes a separate verification form for the hours earned under their supervision and returns it to the applicant, who files it. Every supervisor verification form is notarized except the full-license MFT form. The program FAQs say e-signatures and e-notarizations are accepted on the associate forms. The full LMHC form asks for a duty summary signed in ink, and the LCSW application says copies or altered verification forms will not be accepted.

Virtual Supervision in Hawaii

For LMHC and LCSW candidates, the statutes allow face-to-face supervision by HIPAA-compliant videoconference, elected in collaboration with the supervisor (HRS 453D-7(a)(2), 467E-7(a)(3)(E)). There is no percentage limit on video supervision. The MFT statute does not address video supervision, so MFT candidates should confirm with the program.

Key Hawaii Board Contact Information

• DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Hawaii

Supervisor requirements in Hawaii vary by discipline. Always confirm current standards with the respective program.

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor

• Hold an LCSW license
• Complete at least 4,500 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience
• Confirm any additional requirements with the Social Worker Program

Becoming an LMHC Supervisor

• Hold a license as a mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, or APRN with a specialty in mental health
• Hold a Hawaii license in good standing if you supervise an associate mental health counselor

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor

• Hold an LMFT license in good standing for at least two years before supervision begins, or be a licensed mental health professional who has been an AAMFT clinical member for two years
• Hold a Hawaii license if you supervise an associate marriage and family therapist

How Guidara Helps Hawaii Supervisors

Guidara keeps hour logs, signed supervision notes, and timesheets for each supervisee, with timestamps and audit trails. When it is time to complete a Hawaii verification form, you can export PDF records of the hours and supervision you provided. Guidara does not fill in or submit the program's forms, and the forms still need a notary where Hawaii requires one.