Clinical Supervision Requirements in Indiana

Licensing Board Overview

Indiana consolidated its mental health licensing under the Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board (BHHS Board) in 2009 (per P.L. 122-2009). This single board, housed under the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), covers social work, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and addiction counseling. Before 2009, these disciplines had separate boards.

Indiana is a member of the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact, which enables multistate practice for qualifying counselors. The state also codifies virtual supervision allowances directly in statute for social work, which is unusual compared to states that handle it through administrative rules.

LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Indiana's LMHC is the independent counseling license. You work under a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) designation while accumulating supervised hours.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Duration: Typically 2 years of post-master's supervised clinical experience (confirm current requirements with your licensing board)
• Total hours: Typically 3,000 hours of supervised experience, with specifics defined in Indiana Administrative Code Title 839 (confirm current requirements with your licensing board)
• Education: Master's degree in mental health counseling or related field, typically 60+ credit hours from a CACREP-accredited program
• Exam: Board examination required

Supervisor Qualifications

• Typically requires an active LMHC license with board-approved supervisor status
• Specific qualifications are defined in Indiana Administrative Code Title 839

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Indiana's LCSW pathway starts with the LSW (Licensed Social Worker). You hold an LSW while accumulating your supervised clinical hours toward LCSW.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Duration: At least 2 years of clinical social work experience after receiving a graduate degree in social work
• Prerequisite license: Must hold an LSW while accumulating hours in Indiana
• Supervision: Under a qualified supervisor as determined by the board
• Doctoral credit: A doctoral internship may count toward supervised experience
• Hours never expire: Supervised hours accumulated after LSW licensure do not expire. This is more generous than states that impose expiration windows.
• Temporary permit: Available under IC 25-23.6-5-11.5. Hours accumulated during a temporary permit are valid for up to 4 years (extendable by board).
• Virtual supervision: Up to 50% of supervised hours may be completed through virtual supervision, codified directly in Indiana statute (IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(g))

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be a qualified supervisor as determined by the BHHS Board
• Specific qualifications outlined in Indiana Administrative Code Title 839

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Indiana's LMFT pathway uses a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) permit during the supervised period. Note that the LMFTA permit has a strict one-year limit and cannot be renewed.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Clinical practicum: At least 12 months of clinical practice
• Client contact: At least 300 face-to-face client contact hours, of which at least 100 hours must be relational (couples or family work)
• Supervision hours: 100 hours of supervision
• LMFTA permit: Expires 1 year after issuance and may not be renewed. This creates significant time pressure to complete requirements.
• Exam: Board examination required

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be a licensed marriage and family therapist with at least 5 years of experience
• Or a qualified supervisor approved by the board

Indiana-Specific Details

Consolidated BHHS Board

Indiana's 2019 consolidation brought social work, MFT, mental health counseling, and addiction counseling under one board. This simplifies the administrative landscape compared to states that maintain separate boards for each discipline, but it also means one board sets rules for very different professions.

Virtual Supervision in Statute

Indiana is one of the few states that codifies virtual supervision allowances directly in statute rather than in administrative rules. For LCSW specifically, IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(g) allows up to 50% of supervised clinical social work hours to be accounted for through virtual supervision. This gives the allowance more permanence than rule-level provisions, which boards can change more easily.

Non-Expiring LCSW Hours

Indiana explicitly states that supervised clinical social work hours accumulated after LSW licensure do not expire. Some states impose 5- or 7-year windows during which hours must be completed or they reset. Indiana's approach is more flexible for supervisees who may have career interruptions.

One-Year LMFTA Permit

The Marriage and Family Therapist Associate temporary permit is valid for exactly one year and cannot be renewed. This is unusually restrictive. If you can't complete your 300 client contact hours and 100 supervision hours within that year, you may need to pursue an alternative path. Plan your caseload and supervision schedule carefully from day one.

Counselors Licensure Compact

Indiana has adopted the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact (IC 25-23.6, Article 42.5). This enables eligible counselors to practice across compact member states without obtaining a separate license in each state. If you hold multistate clients or plan to relocate, this compact can simplify the process.

Documentation Requirements

• Applications require evidence of education, supervised experience, and clean disciplinary history
• Background check required, including verification of no convictions with direct bearing on professional practice
• Must demonstrate no disciplinary actions from other states
• Supervision verification submitted through the BHHS Board via the Professional Licensing Agency
• Keep detailed logs of supervision meetings and clinical hours throughout your supervised period

Virtual Supervision in Indiana

For LCSW, Indiana allows up to 50% of supervised clinical social work hours through virtual supervision. This is codified directly in statute (IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(g)), making it one of the more clearly established virtual supervision policies in the country. Supervised work may generally be performed away from the supervisor's premises, but it may not be independent private practice without a qualified supervisor available. Virtual supervision policies for LMHC and LMFT are likely addressed in administrative code rather than statute. Contact the BHHS Board for current guidance on those disciplines.

Key Indiana Board Contact Information

• Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board (BHHS Board): in.gov/pla — BHHS Board
• Governing statute: IC 25-23.6
• Administrative rules: Indiana Administrative Code Title 839

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Indiana

Indiana's Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board (BHHS Board), under the Professional Licensing Agency, oversees all three disciplines. Always verify current requirements with the BHHS Board before applying.

Becoming an LMHC Supervisor in Indiana

Per 839 IAC 1-5-1.5, Indiana defines eligible supervisors for mental health counselor associates by license type. The following individuals may provide "approved supervision":

• Eligible license types: Licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed physician with psychiatric training, licensed psychologist, or licensed clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric/mental health nursing
• Licensure: Must hold an active Indiana license in good standing
• Scope: Must be supervising within their scope of experience and training
• Additional requirements: Indiana defines supervision eligibility primarily by license type rather than requiring a separate approved supervisor application. Contact the BHHS Board for any additional training or experience expectations

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor in Indiana

• Licensure: Must hold an active Indiana LCSW license in good standing
• Clinical experience: Must meet the BHHS Board's post-licensure experience requirements (confirm with the board)
• Supervision training: Must complete board-approved supervisor training
• Approval: Must receive BHHS Board approval before supervising pre-licensed social workers

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor in Indiana

• Licensure: Must hold an active Indiana LMFT license in good standing
• Clinical experience: Must meet the BHHS Board's post-licensure experience requirements
• Supervision training: Must complete board-approved supervisor training. AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is commonly accepted
• Approval: Must receive BHHS Board approval before supervising pre-licensed MFTs

Indiana-Specific Considerations

• Single board: Indiana regulates all three disciplines under the BHHS Board, which provides some consistency in supervisor requirements
• License-type eligibility: Indiana defines supervisor eligibility primarily by license type rather than using a separate approved supervisor application process. This differs from states that require additional supervisor credentials
• Cross-discipline: The administrative code allows several license types (LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical nurse specialist) to supervise mental health counselor associates. Verify current cross-discipline rules with the BHHS Board

How Guidara Helps Indiana Supervisors

Indiana's consolidated board and statutory virtual supervision rules make clear documentation essential. Guidara tracks your clinical hours and supervision hours by category, with running totals that let you see your progress toward the 300 client contact hours and 100 supervision hours at any time. Supervision notes, e-signatures, and timesheets are all captured in one place, so your records stay organized throughout the LMFTA permit period. When it's time for board review, everything is ready to export.