Clinical Supervision Requirements in Texas

Licensing Board Overview

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) is the overarching regulatory agency for mental health licensing in Texas. BHEC oversees four advisory boards: the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (TSBSWE), the Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas)

Texas uses the LPC-Associate designation during the supervised period. You hold an LPC-Associate license and work under an LPC-S (LPC-Supervisor) until you meet the requirements for full LPC status. Texas does not offer reciprocity or temporary licensure for LPC.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised experience (per BHEC LPC upgrade requirements)
• Supervision frequency: Minimum 4 hours of supervision per month (per §681.93), divided as needed between individual and group formats
• Supervisor limit: LPC-Associates may have up to 2 LPC-Supervisors at a time
• Exams: NCE or NCMHCE (from NBCC) plus the Texas Jurisprudence exam
• Documentation: Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF) must be submitted before supervision begins. Supervised Experience Documentation Form (SEDF) must be submitted within 30 days of supervision ending

Supervisor Qualifications (LPC-S)

• Must hold an unrestricted Texas LPC license in good standing for a minimum of 5 years (per §681.72). The board may consider time licensed in another jurisdiction
• Must complete a 40-clock-hour supervision training course covering supervision models, ethics, evaluation, and multicultural competence (no expiration on completed courses)
• Must have completed a for-credit, doctoral-level supervision course from a regionally accredited institution (shown on official transcript)
• Must apply to BHEC for the LPC-S designation

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Texas)

Texas uses the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) as the pre-clinical designation. The LMSW is a standalone license that gets reclassified to LCSW upon completion of supervised experience requirements. Supervision requirements are defined in 22 TAC §781.401.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised professional clinical experience over a period of at least 24 months
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of supervisory sessions over the course of the 3,000 hours, under an approved LCSW-S
• Exams: ASWB Clinical exam (specifically the Clinical level, not Advanced Generalist) plus the Texas Social Workers Jurisprudence exam (dated no earlier than 6 months before application)
• Additional requirements: NPDB self-query report and fingerprint background check
• Documentation: Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW (completed at start) and Clinical Supervision Verification Form (CSV Form) completed by supervisor

Supervisor Qualifications (LCSW-S)

• Must hold an active Texas LCSW license in good standing with LCSW-S (Supervisor) designation
• Can supervise LMSWs accruing hours toward LCSW, LMSWs toward Independent Practice Recognition (IPR), or LBSWs toward IPR
• Must meet BHEC-specified supervisor training and experience requirements (confirm current standards with the board)

LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Texas)

Texas uses the LMFT Associate designation during the supervised period. The LMFT Associate license is valid for 5 years from issuance and is non-renewable (you must reapply if it expires). Requirements are defined in 22 TAC Part 35, Chapter 801.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: Post-degree supervised experience as prescribed in §801.142 (confirm current hour requirements with BHEC)
• Supervision: Must practice under an approved LMFT-S. LMFT Associates may have up to 2 LMFT Supervisors at a time
• Case diversity: Must include work with couples and families, not exclusively individual therapy
• Exams: AMFTRB exam (or California full LMFT exam) plus the MFT Jurisprudence exam, both required before applying for LMFT Associate
• Documentation: Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF) must be approved before the LMFT Associate license is issued. Supervised Experience Verification Form (SEV Form) required for upgrade to full LMFT
• Hour carryover: Hours accrued during a previous LMFT Associate license generally carry over to a subsequent license

Supervisor Qualifications (LMFT-S)

• Must hold an active Texas LMFT license in good standing
• 3,000 hours of independent LMFT practice over a minimum of 3 years post-licensure
• Must complete one of: a 3-semester-hour graduate course in MFT supervision from an accredited institution, a 40-hour CE course in clinical supervision (per §801.143(m)), or the AAMFT Approved Fundamentals of Supervision course
• AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is one accepted pathway but is not required

Texas-Specific Details

Associate License Designations

Texas uses different associate-level designations depending on the discipline. For counseling, the pre-licensed designation is LPC-Associate. For social work, the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) serves as the pre-clinical license and is reclassified to LCSW upon meeting requirements. Texas also has LBSW and LMSW-IPR (Independent Practice Recognition) designations. For MFT, the designation is LMFT Associate, which is valid for 5 years and non-renewable.

BHEC Centralized Oversight

Unlike states with completely separate boards, Texas consolidates its four advisory boards under the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC). Each discipline still has its own TAC chapter (681 for LPC, 781 for Social Work, 801 for MFT) and its own rules around supervision. But the practical effect is one application portal, shared administrative rules (22 TAC Part 41, Chapters 881-885 covering application processing, jurisprudence exams, etc.), and a single contact point at BHEC.

BHEC-Specified Forms

Texas is unusually form-driven. Each discipline has specific BHEC forms that must be completed at defined points in the supervision relationship:

• LPC: Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF), Supervised Experience Documentation Form (SEDF), and Practicum Documentation Form
• LCSW: Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW and Clinical Supervision Verification Form (CSV Form)
• LMFT: Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF), Supervised Experience Verification Form (SEV Form), and Supervised Clinical Practicum and Experience Verification Form

All forms are downloadable from the BHEC Forms and Publications page.

No Licensure Compacts (as of 2026)

Texas has not enacted either the Counseling Compact or the Social Work Interstate Compact. Legislation for the Social Work Compact (HB 3503 and SB 1726) was introduced in the 89th regular session but did not advance before the session ended in June 2025. The topic may be reconsidered at the 90th regular session starting January 2027.

LMFT Associate 5-Year Expiration

The LMFT Associate license expires after 5 years and cannot be renewed. If you haven't completed your supervised experience requirements by then, you must reapply. Hours accrued during a previous LMFT Associate license generally carry over. This creates a meaningful deadline that other states don't impose.

Documentation Requirements

Texas licensing boards expect thorough documentation of supervised clinical experience, with discipline-specific BHEC forms required at defined milestones:

• Written supervision plan or agreement (SAF for LPC/LMFT, Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW) must be filed before supervision begins
• Regular supervision meeting documentation with dates, duration, and topics covered
• Signed hour logs or timesheets with category breakdowns
• Supervisor verification forms (SEDF for LPC, CSV for LCSW, SEV for LMFT) submitted at completion
• Records of evaluations and feedback provided
• SEDF for LPC must be submitted within 30 days of supervision ending

Virtual Supervision in Texas

Texas has embraced telehealth broadly, and BHEC maintains a Virtual Practice and Mobility FAQ covering out-of-state practice, virtual therapy standards, and AI-related guidance. Virtual supervision is generally accepted across disciplines, though supervisors should confirm current board policies regarding any specific modality requirements. Note that Texas licensure is based on the client's physical location, so out-of-state practitioners with Texas clients need a Texas license.

Key Texas Board Contact Information

• Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC): bhec.texas.gov (oversees LPC, LMFT, psychology, and social work licensing)
• Address: 1801 Congress Ave., Ste. 7.300, Austin, TX 78701
• Phone: (512) 305-7700
• Rules: LPC: 22 TAC Chapter 681 | Social Work: 22 TAC Chapter 781 | MFT: 22 TAC Chapter 801

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Texas

Texas licenses for mental health professionals are regulated by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC). If you're a licensed clinician looking to offer supervision, each discipline has its own pathway. Requirements change periodically, so confirm current standards with BHEC before applying.

Becoming an LPC Supervisor in Texas

• Licensure: Must hold an unrestricted Texas LPC license in good standing for a minimum of 5 years (per §681.72). Time licensed in another jurisdiction may count
• Supervision training: Must complete a 40-clock-hour supervision training course covering supervision models, ethics, evaluation, and multicultural competence. No expiration on completed courses
• Doctoral-level coursework: Must have completed a for-credit, doctoral-level supervision course from a regionally accredited institution (shown on official transcript)
• Application: Must apply to BHEC for the LPC-S designation and submit a Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF) before beginning supervision
• Ongoing requirements: Minimum 4 hours of supervision per month. Associates limited to 2 supervisors at a time (per §681.93)

Becoming an LCSW Supervisor in Texas

• Licensure: Must hold an active Texas LCSW license in good standing
• Supervisor designation: Must apply for and receive the LCSW-S (Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor) designation through BHEC
• Scope: LCSW-S supervisors can supervise LMSWs accruing hours toward LCSW, LMSWs toward Independent Practice Recognition (IPR), or LBSWs toward IPR
• Clinical experience: Must meet BHEC-specified post-licensure experience requirements (confirm current standards with the board)
• Forms: Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW must be completed at the start of supervision. Clinical Supervision Verification Form (CSV Form) completed by supervisor at the end

Becoming an LMFT Supervisor in Texas

• Licensure: Must hold an active Texas LMFT license in good standing
• Clinical experience: 3,000 hours of independent LMFT practice over a minimum of 3 years post-licensure
• Supervision training (one of three options): A 3-semester-hour graduate course in MFT supervision from an accredited institution, a 40-hour CE course in clinical supervision (per §801.143(m)), or the AAMFT Approved Fundamentals of Supervision course
• Note: AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is one accepted pathway but is not required
• Supervisor designation: Must apply for and receive the LMFT-S designation through BHEC
• Forms: Supervisory Agreement Form (SAF) must be approved before the LMFT Associate license is issued

Cross-Discipline Supervision

Texas generally requires supervisors to hold the same license type as the credential the supervisee is working toward. Verify current cross-discipline rules with BHEC.

How Guidara Helps Texas Supervisors

Texas requires specific BHEC forms at the start and end of every supervision relationship, with discipline-specific hour tracking throughout. Guidara handles the ongoing documentation: supervision notes with timestamps, hour tracking by category, signed timesheets, and exportable records that map to the verification forms (SEDF, CSV, SEV) each board requires. Whether you're supervising an LPC-Associate, LMSW, or LMFT Associate, the records stay organized and audit-ready.