Washington LICSW hours requirements
Supervised postgraduate experience toward the Washington LICSW. Washington also licenses a licensed advanced social worker (LASW), a separate credential Accrue does not track.
The short answer
Headline figures: Total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours.
Supervision: 100 hours of supervision: 70 with an independent clinical social worker, and the rest may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
Time limit: At least 3,000 hours over a period of not less than two years. No maximum period is stated.
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed social worker associate-independent clinical · Authority: Washington State Department of Health
Requirements
| 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 |
| Supervision rate | At least 1 hour for every 80 hours of clinical practice |
Supervision
- 100 hours of supervision: 70 with an independent clinical social worker, and the rest may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
- 60 of the 100 hours must be one-to-one supervision, meaning one supervisor and one candidate. The remaining hours may be one-to-one or group, with no more than six candidates in a group.
- Supervision may be face-to-face or virtual.
- Regular supervision meets at least one hour for every 80 hours of your clinical practice time.
Time limits
- At least 3,000 hours over a period of not less than two years. No maximum period is stated.
- An associate license is valid for one year and must be renewed every year. There is no limit on the number of renewals.
What Accrue checks
- Counts your logged experience toward 3,000 hours, direct client contact toward 1,000, and supervision toward 100.
- Counts only individual supervision toward the 60 one-to-one hours. Triadic supervision does not count toward it, because Washington's one-to-one means a single candidate.
- Warns when your supervision falls below one hour per 80 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
- The reduced total for a substance use disorder professional is not counted. The rule states 2,600 hours, while RCW 18.225.095 sets a ten percent reduction; confirm the figure with the Department of Health.
- The requirement that the 1,000 direct hours be supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker is not checked.
- The requirement that 70 supervision hours be with an independent clinical social worker is not checked.
- The two-year minimum is not checked.
- The licensed advanced social worker (LASW) credential is not tracked.
Common questions
- How many hours do you need for the LICSW in Washington?
- The cited rule sets total experience 3,000 hours; direct client contact 1,000 hours. Source: RCW 18.225.090; WAC 246-809-330; WAC 246-809-310; WAC 246-809-020; RCW 18.225.095; WAC 246-809-990; RCW 18.225.145, checked September 17, 2026. Supervision and time limits also apply; see the sections above.
- What supervision does Washington require for the LICSW?
- 100 hours of supervision: 70 with an independent clinical social worker, and the rest may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. 60 of the 100 hours must be one-to-one supervision, meaning one supervisor and one candidate. The remaining hours may be one-to-one or group, with no more than six candidates in a group. Supervision may be face-to-face or virtual.
- Is there a time limit for LICSW hours in Washington?
- At least 3,000 hours over a period of not less than two years. No maximum period is stated. An associate license is valid for one year and must be renewed every year. There is no limit on the number of renewals.
- Does meeting these figures make me eligible?
- No. The Washington State Department of Health 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
- RCW 18.225.090
- WAC 246-809-330
- WAC 246-809-310
- WAC 246-809-020
- RCW 18.225.095
- WAC 246-809-990
- RCW 18.225.145
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.