Clinical Supervision Requirements in Nebraska

Licensing Board Overview

In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Licensure Unit issues mental health credentials, on the advice of the Board of Mental Health Practice. The regulations governing these professions are found in Title 172 of the Nebraska Administrative Code (NAC), Chapter 94.

Every track runs through one mental health practitioner license: provisional (PLMHP), then LMHP, then independent (LIMHP). Profession titles come from adding a certificate. An LMHP with a certified master social worker (CMSW) certificate is a "licensed clinical social worker", and an LMHP with a certified marriage and family therapist (CMFT) certificate is a "licensed marriage and family therapist" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-2116).

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Nebraska)

Nebraska's LCSW is governed by 172 NAC 94. Candidates hold a Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) license to practice while accruing hours. A Provisionally Certified Master Social Worker (PCMSW) credential is also needed only to use the social worker title during that time.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised mental health practice after the master's degree, at least 1,500 of them direct client contact (for the LMHP), and 3,000 hours of social work under a qualified social work supervisor (for the CMSW)
• Timeframe: No minimum duration. The provisional license lasts 5 years, and one second provisional may be issued
• Supervision hours: At least 1 hour of face-to-face supervision per week (172 NAC 94-009.05(D))
• Exam: ASWB Clinical Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold a CMSW credential; when the CMSW is sought together with the mental health practitioner license, supervision is by an LICSW or LCSW (172 NAC 94-008.01(C))
• A similar current credential from another jurisdiction also qualifies
• No board approval or registration of supervisors is required

LIMHP: Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (Nebraska)

Nebraska's LIMHP (which encompasses counseling) is governed by 172 NAC 94. Candidates hold a Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) credential and then an LMHP while accruing hours.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours for graduates of accredited (CACREP, COAMFTE, CSWE) or equivalent programs, or 7,000 hours over at least 10 years for other programs (Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-2124)
• Client population: At least half of the hours must be with clients diagnosed with a major mental illness or disorder
• Supervision ratio: A cumulative minimum of 2 hours of face-to-face supervision per 15 hours of contact with those clients, and no more than 45 such hours without supervision (172 NAC 94-009.03(B))
• Timeframe: No minimum duration on the 3,000-hour route
• Exam: Depends on the degree: NCE, NCMHCE, CRC, EPPP or equivalent for counseling degrees, AMFTRB for MFT degrees, and ASWB Clinical for social work degrees

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an active LIMHP license, or be a licensed physician/psychiatrist or licensed psychologist
• A similar current credential from another jurisdiction also qualifies
• No board approval or registration of supervisors is required

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Nebraska)

Nebraska's LMFT is governed by 172 NAC 94. Candidates hold a Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) credential while accruing hours.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised experience, earned during the five years before application
• Direct client contact: At least 1,500 hours must be direct client contact
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of supervisor-supervisee contact, with supervision at least 1 hour per week or 2 hours every 2 weeks (Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-2133)
• Exam: AMFTRB National Examination

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LMHP, LIMHP, psychologist or physician with an AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation, or an equivalent approved by the board (172 NAC 94-008.01(B))
• Or a CMFT who has practiced 5 years, completed a 5-hour supervision course endorsed by AAMFT or similar, and then received at least 1 hour a month of supervision from an AAMFT Approved Supervisor for a year
• No board approval or registration of supervisors is required

Nebraska-Specific Details

Provisional Licensure

Nebraska requires a provisional mental health practitioner license (PLMHP) for supervised practice in all three tracks. Hours earned in Nebraska count only while the provisional license is held. The PLMHP expires 5 years after issue, and only one second provisional may be issued.

LIMHP vs. LMHP

Nebraska has a two-tiered system for mental health practitioners: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) and Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP). The LIMHP allows for independent practice and diagnosis of major mental illnesses, requiring specific supervised experience and examination. The same hours may count toward both the LMHP and the LIMHP.

Weekly Supervision and Group Size

LMHP and social work supervision requires at least 1 hour of face-to-face contact per week. A supervisor may not supervise more than 6 people in one face-to-face supervisory meeting (172 NAC 94-009.01).

More Than One Supervisor

Hours may be earned under more than one supervisor. Each supervisor completes and signs their own affidavit, reporting only the hours they personally supervised, with direct and non-direct hours listed separately. You do not need to notify DHHS when you change supervisors. Affidavits are submitted with the license application, and the forms do not accept white-out, or changes the supervisor has not initialed.

Virtual Supervision in Nebraska

Face-to-face supervision may include interactive video that is secure and confidential (172 NAC 94-009.01(C)(vi)). The rules set no percentage limit on video supervision.

Interstate Compacts

Nebraska is a member of the Counseling Compact (LB 752, 2022), but it is not yet live, and only an LIMHP with a professional counselor certificate is eligible. Nebraska is also a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact (LB 932, 2024), which is not yet issuing multistate licenses.

Key Nebraska Board Contact Information

• DHHS Licensure Unit, Mental Health and Social Work Practice: dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Mental-Health-and-Social-Work-Practice.aspx
• Regulations (172 NAC 94): rules.nebraska.gov

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Nebraska

Supervisor requirements in Nebraska vary by discipline. There is no supervisor registration, and no training requirement except for MFT supervisors. Always confirm current standards with DHHS.

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor

• Hold a current CMSW credential; to supervise toward the LCSW, hold the LICSW or LCSW
• If your credential was disciplined, wait at least 1 year after the terms end
• Sign an affidavit for the hours you supervised when they are complete

Becoming an LIMHP Supervisor

• Hold an active Nebraska LIMHP license (or be a licensed physician/psychiatrist or licensed psychologist)
• If your credential was disciplined, wait at least 1 year after the terms end
• Sign an affidavit for the hours you supervised when they are complete

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor

• Hold an LMHP, LIMHP, psychologist or physician credential with an AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation, or meet the CMFT route above
• If your credential was disciplined, wait at least 1 year after the terms end
• Sign an affidavit for the hours you supervised when they are complete

How Guidara Helps Nebraska Supervisors

Nebraska asks each supervisor to attest to the hours they supervised and to weekly face-to-face contact. Guidara keeps hour logs, signed supervision notes and timesheets, with timestamps and audit trails. You can export PDF records to use when completing your affidavit.