Clinical Supervision Requirements in New York

Licensing Board Overview

The New York State Education Department (NYSED), through its Office of the Professions, licenses clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. It is advised by the State Board for Social Work and the State Board for Mental Health Practitioners. LMHC and LMFT candidates must hold a limited permit while accruing supervised experience. LCSW candidates accrue their experience as licensed LMSWs.

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (New York)

New York's LCSW is the independent clinical social work license, authorized to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Candidates hold an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) during their supervised experience period. The LMSW is a full license (not a permit), and it must be currently registered while hours are earned. Requirements are defined in 8 NYCRR Part 74 and Education Law §7704.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: At least 2,000 client contact hours in diagnosis, psychotherapy, and assessment-based treatment planning, completed over a continuous period of at least 36 months and no more than 6 years (§74.3). Case management, school social work, discharge planning, counseling, and client advocacy do not count.
• Contact hour: NYSED's Psychotherapy Log counts 45 minutes of psychotherapy as one client contact hour. Shorter psychotherapy sessions may be combined.
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of face-to-face individual or group clinical supervision, distributed appropriately over the experience period (§74.6). There is no weekly minimum and no separate individual minimum.
• Limited permit: Under Education Law §7705 and §74.4, the LCSW limited permit is for candidates who have already completed the experience and are waiting to take the exam. It lasts 12 months and is not renewable. Most LCSW candidates practice as LMSWs rather than on a permit.
• Exam pathway: MSW degree → pass ASWB Masters exam → LMSW → complete supervised experience → pass ASWB Clinical exam → LCSW

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be a New York LCSW, a psychologist qualified in psychotherapy, or a physician who is board certified in psychiatry by the ABPN (§74.6). No other professions may supervise.
• No minimum years of licensure apply. The supervisor must be licensed before starting to supervise you.
• The supervisor must be employed by the employer, not by the LMSW. Third-party supervision needs a written agreement between the employer, the supervisor, and the LMSW.
• No separate supervisor credential or training course is required by NYSED

LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (New York)

New York's LMHC is governed by 8 NYCRR Subpart 79-9 and Education Law §8402. Candidates must hold a limited permit while accruing supervised experience in New York.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: At least 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience in mental health counseling, of which at least 1,500 must be direct client contact (§79-9.3). The rest may be recordkeeping, case management, research, supervision, and professional development.
• Direct hours per setting: NYSED's guidance says at least half the hours must be direct in any setting where you complete fewer than 3,000 hours. Direct and indirect hours completed in different settings under different supervisors may not be combined.
• Supervision: An average of one hour per week, or two hours every other week, of face-to-face individual or group supervision (§79-9.3)
• Experience timeline: No minimum duration is set. The experience must fit within the limited permit, which can last no more than 48 months.
• Limited permit: Required to practice under supervision (§79-9.4). It is issued for specific settings and names your supervisor. It lasts 24 months and can be extended twice for 12 months each. Adding or changing a supervisor or setting needs an amended permit first, and leaving the employer voids the permit.
• Exam: NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination)

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be licensed and registered in New York as an LMHC, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, LCSW, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, and be competent in mental health counseling (§79-9.3). An LMFT may not currently supervise LMHC applicants.
• The regulation sets no minimum years of licensure. NYSED's supervision guideline mentions three years of experience, so confirm with NYSED.
• No separate supervisor credential or mandated training course. Each supervisor certifies on Form 5CS and is named on the supervisee's limited permit.

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (New York)

New York's LMFT is governed by 8 NYCRR Subpart 79-10 and Education Law §8403. MHC and MFT are both under the "Mental Health Practitioners" umbrella (Article 163).

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: At least 1,500 client contact hours, all of them direct, face-to-face work with clients (§79-10.3). Graduates of NYS-registered or COAMFTE-equivalent programs may count client contact hours from their program. Graduates of allied-field programs count post-degree hours only.
• Supervision: An average of one hour per week, or two hours every other week, of face-to-face individual or group supervision
• Specialization: MFT practice is relational, but the rules set no minimum number of couples or family hours
• Limited permit: Required for practice under supervision (§79-10.4). It lasts 24 months and can be extended twice for 12 months each, up to 48 months in total.
• Exam: MFT National Examination administered by AMFTRB

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must be licensed in New York as an LMFT, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, LCSW, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, and be competent in marriage and family therapy (§79-10.3). An LMHC may not currently supervise LMFT applicants.
• The regulation sets no minimum years of licensure
• Each supervisor certifies on Form 5CS and is named on the supervisee's limited permit
• AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is commonly pursued as evidence of supervisory competence but is not a NYSED requirement

New York-Specific Documentation Requirements

NYSED uses profession-specific verification forms. Each supervisor completes and signs a form for the experience accrued under their own supervision.

• Supervision plan: NYSED's practice guidelines recommend a written supervision agreement. LCSW candidates may also file an optional Form 6 Plan for Supervised Experience before the supervised experience begins.
• Experience verification forms: A separate Form 4B is needed for each supervisor at each setting. The supervisor sends it directly to NYSED, by email to [email protected] or by mail. NYSED will not accept it from the applicant. For LMHC and LMFT, an agency representative also signs.
• Psychotherapy Log (LCSW): A weekly log of client contact hours and supervision hours, initialed each week by the applicant and the supervisor. The supervisor keeps it and produces it if NYSED asks.
• Supervisor records: For all three professions, the supervisor is responsible for keeping records of the supervised experience and supervision hours and providing them on request. No retention period is stated.
• Limited permit tracking: A new supervisor or setting counts only after the permit is amended, using the Limited Permit Change Form and a Form 5CS for each new supervisor. If the supervisee leaves the employer, the employer must return the permit immediately and it is voided.
• Supervisor caseload: No supervisor may supervise more than five limited permit holders at one time
• Meeting-level documentation: NYSED does not prescribe a format for supervision notes. Documenting each supervision meeting with dates, duration, modality, topics covered, and any action items supports verification if questions arise during the application review.
• LMSW pathway records: LCSW candidates practicing as LMSWs should record qualifying diagnosis, psychotherapy, and treatment planning hours separately from other LMSW work

Virtual Supervision in New York

Since September 25, 2024, the regulations for LCSW, LMHC, and LMFT candidates allow face-to-face supervision through technology acceptable to the Department, including secure video conferencing that protects confidentiality. Key considerations:

• Outdated pages: Some NYSED web pages and appendices still say supervision must be "in-person". The amended regulation is the current rule.
• Telephone: The regulations do not address telephone supervision. Confirm with the Office of the Professions before counting it.
• Documentation: When conducting supervision virtually, document the modality (video, in-person) for each meeting

New York-Specific Details

LMSW as an Intermediate License

New York's social work licensing pathway is distinctive. After earning an MSW and passing the ASWB Masters exam, candidates receive the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker). The LMSW is a full license that authorizes clinical social work practice under supervision. Most LCSW candidates practice as LMSWs while they complete at least 36 months and 2,000 client contact hours of supervised experience, rather than on limited permits. This two-tier system (LMSW → LCSW) is important to understand because the LMSW carries its own scope of practice and requirements.

No Formal Supervisor Designation

Unlike states such as Texas (which issues LPC-S, LCSW-S, and LMFT-S credentials), New York does not issue a separate supervisor credential for any discipline. The regulations set no minimum years of licensure for supervisors. What matters is holding one of the licenses each regulation lists. While NYSED does not mandate supervisor training courses, many supervisors pursue voluntary credentials like the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation or complete supervision-focused continuing education.

LCSW-R (Historical)

The "R" on an LCSW-R was a psychotherapy privilege used under New York's Insurance Law. Chapter 818 of the Laws of 2022 eliminated the requirement from January 1, 2023, and NYSED no longer processes R applications. The regulation section for it (§74.5) was repealed in September 2024. New applicants receive the standard LCSW.

Diagnostic Privilege

In New York, the LCSW can diagnose mental health conditions. Since June 24, 2024, LMHCs and LMFTs can also earn a diagnostic privilege (the "D") under Education Law §8401-a. It requires 2,000 additional hours of supervised direct client contact that includes diagnosis, psychotherapy, and treatment planning, verified on Form 4D. An optional diagnostic limited permit is available while the hours are earned. This matters for supervision because diagnostic-track supervisees need a supervisor qualified to oversee diagnosis.

No Licensure Compacts

As of our last review, New York has not joined the Counseling Compact or the Social Work Licensure Compact, and no MFT compact exists. A bill to join the Counseling Compact (A4566) was still in committee. Clinicians licensed in other states must apply for New York licensure through NYSED.

Pending Legislation

Two bills passed both houses in 2026 but had not been signed at our last review. A9566-A would extend LMSW and LCSW limited permits to 24 months, renewable for two one-year periods. S8899 would let an LMFT supervise LMHC applicants and an LMHC supervise LMFT applicants, if the supervisor has been licensed at least 3 years, holds the diagnostic privilege, and has completed training in supervision.

Key New York Contact Information

• New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions: op.nysed.gov
• Phone: (518) 474-3817
• Address: 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234
• Social Work: op.nysed.gov/professions-index/social-work (8 NYCRR Part 74)
• Mental Health Counseling: op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-counselors (8 NYCRR Subpart 79-9)
• Marriage and Family Therapy: op.nysed.gov/professions/marriage-and-family-therapists (8 NYCRR Subpart 79-10)

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in New York

New York's State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions regulates all mental health licenses in the state. Supervisor requirements differ by discipline, and NYSED updates its rules periodically. Always verify current requirements directly with the Office of the Professions before applying.

Becoming an LMHC Supervisor in New York

• Licensure: Be licensed and registered in New York as an LMHC, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, LCSW, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, competent in mental health counseling, per 8 NYCRR §79-9.3
• Clinical experience: The regulation sets no minimum. NYSED Professional Practice Guideline 10 mentions three years of experience, so confirm with NYSED.
• Supervision training: New York does not currently mandate a specific supervisor training course or separate supervisor designation. Many supervisors complete formal training voluntarily
• Permit paperwork: There is no supervisor credential to apply for, but each supervisor completes Form 5CS and is named on the supervisee's limited permit. NYSED expects the supervisor to be employed by the same agency as the supervisee, with access to all patient files.

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor in New York

• Licensure: Be a New York LCSW, a psychologist qualified in psychotherapy, or an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist, per 8 NYCRR Part 74
• Clinical experience: No minimum years of licensure apply. You must be licensed before you start supervising.
• Supervision training: No separate supervisor certification or training course is required by NYSED
• Limited permit holders: You may supervise no more than five limited permit holders at one time

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor in New York

• Licensure: Be licensed in New York as an LMFT, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, LCSW, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, competent in marriage and family therapy, per 8 NYCRR §79-10.3
• Clinical experience: The regulation sets no minimum years of licensure
• Supervision training: No mandated training course. AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is commonly pursued as evidence of supervisory competence but is not a NYSED requirement

New York-Specific Considerations

• No formal supervisor designation: Unlike many states, New York does not issue a separate supervisor credential. Any clinician who holds one of the licenses the regulation lists for that profession may provide supervision
• Limited permit system: LMHC and LMFT permits last 2 years and can be extended twice for 1 year each. LMSW and LCSW permits last 1 year and are not renewable. Supervisors must understand the terms and limitations of the permit
• LMSW pathway: For LCSW candidates, the more common route is to obtain the LMSW license (which requires passing the ASWB Masters exam) and practice under supervision as an LMSW rather than on a limited permit
• Cross-discipline supervision: LMHC and LMFT applicants may each be supervised by six other professions besides their own. LCSW applicants may be supervised by an LCSW, a qualified psychologist, or an ABPN psychiatrist. Today an LMFT cannot supervise an LMHC applicant, or the reverse.
• Article 163: LMHC and LMFT both fall under Education Law Article 163 (Mental Health Practitioners), which means some regulatory provisions apply to both professions

How Guidara Helps New York Supervisors

New York's supervised experience runs for years and is verified one supervisor at a time. Guidara keeps hour logs, signed supervision notes, and timesheets for each supervisor, with a clear audit trail. Supervisors can export PDF records of their hours to work from when completing Form 4B or the weekly Psychotherapy Log.