Virginia supervised hours requirements
What Virginia requires for LMFT, LPC, LCSW and LCP licensure: hours, supervision and time limits from the rule text, with the sections cited and the date checked.
The short answer
Licensing authority: Virginia Board of Counseling; Virginia Board of Social Work; Virginia Board of Psychology.
- LMFT: The marriage and family therapy residency toward the Virginia LMFT, which begins after your master's degree. The rule, as amended effective December 18, 2025, states no total-hours figure: the residency is 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, 1,000 of them with couples or families, 200 hours of supervision and at least 21 months.
- LPC: The post-graduate counseling residency toward the Virginia LPC. The rule, as amended effective December 18, 2025, states no total-hours figure: the residency is 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, 200 hours of supervision and at least 21 months.
- LCSW: total supervised post-master's experience 3,000 hours; face-to-face client contact 1,380 hours.
- Clinical psychologist: total residency hours 1,500 hours.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Resident with a temporary license
The marriage and family therapy residency toward the Virginia LMFT, which begins after your master's degree. The rule, as amended effective December 18, 2025, states no total-hours figure: the residency is 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, 1,000 of them with couples or families, 200 hours of supervision and at least 21 months.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Overall hours | No total-hours figure is stated The residency is set by client contact, supervision and length |
| Face-to-face client contact | 2,000 hours Face-to-face means in-person delivery, so telehealth does not count |
| With couples or families | 1,000 hours Part of the 2,000, also face-to-face |
| Supervision | 200 hours |
| Residency length | At least 21 months |
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Resident with a temporary license
The post-graduate counseling residency toward the Virginia LPC. The rule, as amended effective December 18, 2025, states no total-hours figure: the residency is 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, 200 hours of supervision and at least 21 months.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Overall hours | No total-hours figure is stated The residency is set by client contact, supervision and length |
| Face-to-face client contact | 2,000 hours Face-to-face means in-person delivery, so telehealth does not count |
| Supervision | 200 hours |
| Residency length | At least 21 months |
| Supervision rate | 1 to 4 hours per 40 hours of work experience |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Post-degree experience
Supervised post-master's experience toward the Virginia LCSW. Virginia's social work definition of face-to-face includes real-time interactive technology, so telehealth counts as client contact here.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total supervised post-master's experience | 3,000 hours |
| Face-to-face client contact | 1,380 hours Real-time interactive technology counts; the remaining hours may be ancillary services such as case management, recordkeeping, referral and coordination of services |
| Supervision | At least 100 hours |
| Supervision rate | 1 to 4 hours per 40 hours of work experience |
| Group supervision | Up to 50 hours Of the 100, in groups of no more than six unless the board approves more in advance |
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)
Post-degree experience
The supervised residency toward Virginia's clinical psychologist license. Virginia states no direct-contact minimum for the residency.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total residency hours | 1,500 hours |
| Residency length | 12 months to 3 years You may request an extension for extenuating circumstances |
| Individual supervision | 2 hours per 40 hours of supervised experience Never less than 1 individual hour per 40 hours |
| Group supervision | May replace one of the two hours Two group hours equal one individual hour; groups of up to five residents |
| Doctoral practicum hours | May count toward the residency Internship hours do not count toward the 1,500 |
Full clinical psychologist requirements, supervision and time limits
Common questions
- What does Virginia require for therapist licensure hours?
- LCSW: total supervised post-master's experience 3,000 hours; face-to-face client contact 1,380 hours. Clinical psychologist: total residency hours 1,500 hours. Each license page lists the supervision rules and time limits.
- Who sets these requirements in Virginia?
- Virginia Board of Counseling; Virginia Board of Social Work; Virginia 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
- 18VAC115-50-60
- 18VAC115-50-10
- 18VAC115-50-90
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-3500
- 18VAC115-20-52
- 18VAC115-20-10
- 18VAC140-20-50
- 18VAC140-20-10
- 18VAC140-20-40
- 18VAC125-20-65
- 18VAC125-20-54
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.