Clinical Supervision Requirements in Mississippi

Licensing Board Overview

Mississippi regulates mental health professions through two primary boards. Social workers and marriage and family therapists are governed by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists, while counselors are governed by the State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Mississippi)

Mississippi's LCSW is governed by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists Rules, Part 1902, Chapter 2. Candidates hold a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) credential while accruing supervised experience.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: At least 24 months of supervised clinical social work practice (must be completed within 36 months)
• Direct client contact: At least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact
• Supervision hours: Regular, face-to-face supervision as defined by the board
• Exam: ASWB Clinical Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an active Mississippi LCSW license
• Must have at least 2 years of post-licensure clinical practice experience
• Must complete a 16-hour board-approved supervisor training course

LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor (Mississippi)

Mississippi's LPC is governed by the State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors Rules, Title 30, Part 2201, Chapter 4. Candidates hold a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC) credential while accruing hours.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised experience
• Direct client contact: At least 1,200 hours must be direct client contact
• Timeframe: Must be completed over a minimum of 18 months
• Exam: NCE (National Counselor Examination) or NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination)

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an active Mississippi LPC license
• Must have at least 5 years of post-licensure experience (or 2 years with a PhD)
• Must hold the Board Qualified Supervisor (BQS) credential
• Must complete a 24-hour supervisor training course

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Mississippi)

Mississippi's LMFT is governed by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists Rules, Part 1903, Chapter 4. Candidates hold a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFTA) credential while accruing hours.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: Minimum of 2 years of post-master's experience
• Direct client contact: At least 1,000 hours of direct client contact (including 500 hours with couples/families)
• Supervision hours: Regular, face-to-face supervision as defined by the board
• Exam: AMFTRB National Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an active Mississippi LMFT license
• Must have at least 2 years of post-licensure experience
• Must complete a 30-hour AAMFT-approved supervisor training course or hold AAMFT Approved Supervisor status

Mississippi-Specific Details

Board Qualified Supervisor (BQS)

Mississippi requires LPC supervisors to obtain the specific Board Qualified Supervisor (BQS) credential before they can provide clinical supervision. This requires an application process and significant training (24 hours) beyond standard licensure.

Provisional Licensure

Mississippi utilizes a provisional licensure system for counselors (P-LPC) and associate licensure for MFTs (LMFTA). Candidates must hold these credentials before they can begin accruing hours toward independent clinical licensure.

Virtual Supervision in Mississippi

Mississippi boards generally permit telehealth supervision, provided it occurs via secure, HIPAA-compliant, two-way interactive video. Supervisors should verify current board guidance on any limitations related to the percentage of supervision that can be conducted virtually versus in-person.

Key Mississippi Board Contact Information

• Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists: swmft.ms.gov
• State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors: lpc.ms.gov

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Mississippi

Supervisor requirements in Mississippi vary by discipline, with LPCs requiring the most extensive experience (5 years) and training (24 hours). Always confirm current standards with the respective board.

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor

• Hold an active Mississippi LCSW license
• Complete at least 2 years of post-licensure clinical practice
• Complete a 16-hour board-approved supervisor training course
• Submit the required supervisor registration forms to the Board

Becoming an LPC Board Qualified Supervisor (BQS)

• Hold an active Mississippi LPC license
• Complete at least 5 years of post-licensure experience (or 2 years with a PhD)
• Complete a 24-hour board-approved supervisor training course
• Submit the application for the BQS designation to the LPC Board

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor

• Hold an active Mississippi LMFT license
• Complete at least 2 years of post-licensure experience
• Complete a 30-hour AAMFT-approved supervisor training course (or hold AAMFT Approved Supervisor status)
• Submit the required supervisor registration forms to the Board

How Guidara Helps Mississippi Supervisors

Guidara structures your supervision records the way Mississippi licensing boards expect: signed supervision documentation, hour tracking by category, timesheet approvals, and exportable reports. Everything is stored digitally with timestamps and audit trails, so you're always audit-ready.