Make sure you know what the requirements are for your field.

There’s some overlap, but some important differences depending on whether you’re an LMHCA, LSWAIC, or LMFTA in Washington state.

The applicable Washington state laws and regulations are Chapter 18.225 RCW and Chapter 246-809 WAC. Below, I’ll summarize my understanding of the requirements, but always refer to the RCW and WAC to see if there are any updates.

Updated as of November 15, 2024

  • Experience required to get your LICSW:

    • 3,000 hours of postgraduate experience, “over a period of not less than two years,” which must include:

      • 1,000 hours of direct client contact supervised by a LICSW*

      • 100 hours must be in direct supervision

        • 70 hours must be supervised by an LICSW. (up to 30 hours can be supervised by another approved supervisor like an LMHC or LMFT)

        • 60 hours must be in one-to-one supervision. (up to 40 hours can be in group supervision with not more than 6 associates meeting with an approved supervisor)

    * this has tripped up some folks. All the direct contact hours (or at least 1000) have be supervised by your LICSW supervisor. If you are working with another qualified supervisor (e.g. LMHC or LMFT), they can sign off on “other” hours and supervision hours, but not the direct client hours unless you have also accumulated 1000 hours with an LICSW supervisor.

  • Experience required to get your LMHC:

    • A minimum of 36 months full-time counseling or 3000 hours of postgraduate mental health counseling under the supervision of a qualified LMHC or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Of those 3000 hours:

      • 100 hours in immediate* supervision

      • At least 1200 hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups.

    If you went to a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) for graduate school, you can be credited with 50 hours of postgraduate supervision and 500 hours of postgraduate experience. You don’t need to write these hours into the paperwork - DOH will credit those hours to you when they review your application.

    * Immediate supervision means an approved supervisor meeting with no more than two associates.

  • Experience required to get your LMFT:

    • A minimum of 3,000 hours including:

      • 1000 hours of direct client contact

        • at least 500 of those 1000 hours must be in diagnosing and treating couples and families

      • 200 hours of direct supervision with a qualified supervisor, of which:

        • at least 100 hours must be with a LMFT with at least 5 years of clinical experience and the rest can be with any approved supervisor

        • at least 100 hours must be one-on-one supervision and remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group supervision (no more than 6 associates with one supervisor).

    If you went to a CAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) program, you can be credited with 500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of qualified supervision with an approved supervisor. You don’t need to include those hours on the DOH application form - they will credit you with those hours after reviewing your transcript.

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