Pennsylvania supervised hours requirements
What Pennsylvania requires for LMFT, LPC, LCSW and psychologist licensure: hours, supervision and time limits from the rule text, with the sections cited and the date checked.
The short answer
Licensing authority: State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors; State Board of Psychology.
- LMFT: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours.
- LPC: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours.
- LCSW: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours.
- Psychologist: total postdoctoral experience (minimum) 1,750 hours.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Post-degree experience
The supervised clinical experience toward the Pennsylvania LMFT: 3,000 hours over 2 to 6 years, at least half of them direct, with 2 hours of supervision for every 40 hours of experience.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total supervised experience | 3,000 hours Over no less than 2 and no more than 6 years. |
| Direct | 1,500 hours At least half of the total. |
| Supervision | 2 hours per 40 hours of experience |
| Hours credited in any 12 months (maximum) | 1,800 hours |
| Hours per year (minimum) | 500 hours |
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Post-degree experience
The supervised clinical experience toward the Pennsylvania LPC: 3,000 hours over 2 to 6 years, at least half of them direct, with 2 hours of supervision for every 40 hours of experience.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total supervised experience | 3,000 hours Over no less than 2 and no more than 6 years. |
| Direct | 1,500 hours At least half of the total. |
| Supervision | 2 hours per 40 hours of experience |
| Hours credited in any 12 months (maximum) | 1,800 hours |
| Hours per year (minimum) | 500 hours |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Post-degree experience
The supervised clinical experience toward the Pennsylvania LCSW: 3,000 hours over 2 to 6 years, at least half of them direct, with 2 hours of supervision for every 40 hours of experience.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total supervised experience | 3,000 hours Over no less than 2 and no more than 6 years. |
| Direct | 1,500 hours At least half of the total. |
| Supervision | 2 hours per 40 hours of experience |
| Hours credited in any 12 months (maximum) | 1,800 hours |
| Hours per year (minimum) | 500 hours |
Licensed Psychologist (LP)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Psychology resident
The postdoctoral year toward the Pennsylvania psychologist license: at least 1,750 hours over at least 12 months, at 15 to 45 hours a week.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total postdoctoral experience (minimum) | 1,750 hours Over at least 12 months. |
| Hours counted per week | 15 to 45 hours |
| Clinical activities | Half of the hours |
| Supervision | An average of 2 hours a week Individual and face-to-face. |
| Exams | EPPP Part 1 and the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination |
Common questions
- What does Pennsylvania require for therapist licensure hours?
- LMFT: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours. LPC: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours. LCSW: total supervised experience 3,000 hours; direct 1,500 hours. Psychologist: total postdoctoral experience (minimum) 1,750 hours. Each license page lists the supervision rules and time limits.
- Who sets these requirements in Pennsylvania?
- State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors; State Board of Psychology. Each figure on these pages cites the rule section it comes from.
- Do these figures mean I am eligible for a license?
- No. Your licensing board reviews your application and your supervisors' verifications and decides. These pages summarize the published rules as Accrue models them, including what Accrue does not check.
Sources
Sources checked
- 49 Pa. Code § 48.13
- 49 Pa. Code § 49.13
- 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c
- 49 Pa. Code § 41.31
- 49 Pa. Code § 41.32
- 49 Pa. Code § 41.33(a)(5)
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.