Ohio LSW to LISW hours requirements
Two complete years of supervised social work experience toward the Ohio LISW, Ohio's clinical social work license. Ohio has no LCSW and states no minimum for direct client contact.
The short answer
Headline figures: Total supervised experience 3,000 hours.
Supervision: One hour of individual or group supervision for each twenty hours of work, with no less than 150 hours total.
Time limit: At least two complete years of supervised experience, with no more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12-month period. No maximum period is stated.
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) · Authority: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Requirements
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total supervised experience | 3,000 hours Work for a fee, salary or other consideration while licensed as a social worker |
| Yearly limit | Not more than 1,500 hours in any 12-month period |
| Supervision | At least 150 hours Individual and group count alike |
| Supervision rate | 1 hour per 20 hours of work |
Supervision
- One hour of individual or group supervision for each twenty hours of work, with no less than 150 hours total.
- Individual supervision is one supervisor with no more than two supervisees; group supervision is one supervisor with no more than eight.
- Supervision starts with an initial face-to-face meeting. After that it may be in person, by videoconference or by phone.
Time limits
- At least two complete years of supervised experience, with no more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12-month period. No maximum period is stated.
What Accrue checks
- Counts your logged experience toward 3,000 hours and supervision toward 150 hours.
- Credits at most 1,500 hours in any 365 days.
- Warns when your supervision falls below one hour per 20 hours counted, supervision hours included, checked across all your hours rather than week by week. A warning never removes credit.
What Accrue does not check
- Practice-setting rules, such as the bar on a licensed social worker being in solo private practice, are not checked.
- The two complete years are not checked.
Common questions
- How many hours do you need for the LISW in Ohio?
- The cited rule sets total supervised experience 3,000 hours. Source: OAC 4757-19-02; OAC 4757-23-01; ORC 4757.27, checked September 17, 2026. Supervision and time limits also apply; see the sections above.
- What supervision does Ohio require for the LISW?
- One hour of individual or group supervision for each twenty hours of work, with no less than 150 hours total. Individual supervision is one supervisor with no more than two supervisees; group supervision is one supervisor with no more than eight. Supervision starts with an initial face-to-face meeting. After that it may be in person, by videoconference or by phone.
- Is there a time limit for LISW hours in Ohio?
- At least two complete years of supervised experience, with no more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12-month period. No maximum period is stated.
- Does meeting these figures make me eligible?
- No. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board reviews your application and your supervisors' verifications and decides. Accrue keeps the record and shows how the cited rule applies to it.
Sources
Sources checked
Accrue is a record-keeping aid and is not affiliated with any licensing board, accreditor or school. Rules change; confirm the requirements that apply to you with the authority that sets them before you rely on a figure.