Washington LMHCA to LMHC hours requirements
Supervised postgraduate mental health counseling toward the Washington LMHC, stated as 3,000 hours or 36 months of full-time counseling.
The short answer
Headline figures: Total experience 3,000 hours; direct counseling 1,200 hours.
Supervision: 100 hours of immediate supervision with a qualified licensed mental health counselor or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
Time limit: The experience is stated as 3,000 hours or 36 months of full-time counseling. No maximum period is stated.
Post-degree experience · Title while gaining experience: Licensed mental health counselor associate (LMHCA) · Authority: Washington State Department of Health
Requirements
| 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 |
Supervision
- 100 hours of immediate supervision with a qualified licensed mental health counselor or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
- Immediate supervision is a meeting with one supervisor and no more than two candidates.
- Regular supervision meets at least one hour for every 80 hours of your clinical practice time.
Time limits
- The experience is stated as 3,000 hours or 36 months of full-time counseling. 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 counseling toward 1,200, and all supervision, group included, toward 100.
- 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 2,700-hour total for a substance use disorder professional is not counted.
- The credit of 500 experience hours and 50 supervision hours for a CACREP-accredited program is not applied.
- The 36-month full-time alternative is not tracked.
Common questions
- How many hours do you need for the LMHC in Washington?
- The cited rule sets total experience 3,000 hours; direct counseling 1,200 hours. Source: RCW 18.225.090; WAC 246-809-230; WAC 246-809-210; WAC 246-809-020; 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 LMHC?
- 100 hours of immediate supervision with a qualified licensed mental health counselor or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Immediate supervision is a meeting with one supervisor and no more than two candidates. Regular supervision meets at least one hour for every 80 hours of your clinical practice time.
- Is there a time limit for LMHC hours in Washington?
- The experience is stated as 3,000 hours or 36 months of full-time counseling. 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
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.