Washington supervised hours requirements
What Washington requires for LMFT, LMHC and LICSW licensure: hours, supervision and time limits from the rule text, with the sections cited and the date checked.
The short answer
Licensing authority: Washington State Department of Health.
- LMFTA to LMFT: total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours.
- LMHCA to LMHC: total experience 3,000 hours; direct counseling 1,200 hours.
- LICSW: total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed marriage and family therapist associate (LMFTA)
Supervised postgraduate experience toward the Washington LMFT. Washington states its supervision frequency as one hour per 80 hours of clinical practice, not as a weekly requirement.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total experience | 3,000 hours |
| Direct client contact | 1,000 hours |
| Diagnosing and treating couples and families | At least 500 hours Part of the 1,000 |
| Supervision | At least 200 hours With an approved supervisor |
| One-on-one supervision | At least 100 hours One supervisor and no more than two candidates |
Full LMFTA to LMFT requirements, supervision and time limits
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed mental health counselor associate (LMHCA)
Supervised postgraduate mental health counseling toward the Washington LMHC, stated as 3,000 hours or 36 months of full-time counseling.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total experience | 3,000 hours Or 36 months of full-time counseling |
| Direct counseling | 1,200 hours With individuals, couples, families or groups |
| Immediate supervision | 100 hours One supervisor and no more than two candidates |
| Supervision rate | At least 1 hour for every 80 hours of clinical practice |
Full LMHCA to LMHC requirements, supervision and time limits
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed social worker associate-independent clinical
Supervised postgraduate experience toward the Washington LICSW. Washington also licenses a licensed advanced social worker (LASW), a separate credential Accrue does not track.
| Requirement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total experience | 3,000 hours Over not less than two years |
| Direct client contact | 1,000 hours Supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker |
| Supervision | 100 hours |
| One-to-one supervision | 60 hours One supervisor and one candidate |
| Supervision with an LICSW | 70 hours |
Common questions
- What does Washington require for therapist licensure hours?
- LMFTA to LMFT: total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours. LMHCA to LMHC: total experience 3,000 hours; direct counseling 1,200 hours. LICSW: total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours. Each license page lists the supervision rules and time limits.
- Who sets these requirements in Washington?
- Washington State Department of Health. 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
- WAC 246-809-130
- WAC 246-809-110
- WAC 246-809-020
- RCW 18.225.090
- WAC 246-809-990
- RCW 18.225.145
- WAC 246-809-230
- WAC 246-809-210
- WAC 246-809-330
- WAC 246-809-310
- RCW 18.225.095
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.