Associate Supervision
Who can supervise an associate in California?
Your supervisor must hold a current, active California license as an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LEP, licensed psychologist, or a physician board-certified in psychiatry. They must have held that license for at least two of the last five years, and have practiced psychotherapy or supervised associates for at least two of the last five. AMFTs, APCCs and ASWs share that list. ASWs have one extra rule: at least 1,700 of your 3,000 hours, and 13 of your 52 individual weeks, must be under an LCSW.
Evalin Sosa, AMFT
Published · 4 min read
Which licenses can supervise your hours?
Supervisor License | AMFT | APCC | ASW |
|---|---|---|---|
LMFT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
LCSW | Yes | Yes | Yes |
LPCC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
LEP | Yes, up to 1,200 hours; educationally related services within LEP scope only | ||
Licensed psychologist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Board-certified psychiatrist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
An eligible license must be active in California, and an out-of-state supervisor does not qualify. Check out our guide for more on how much supervision you need each week.
How long must your supervisor have been licensed?
Your supervisor must pass two tests. First, they must have held an active license for at least two of the last five years in California or another state. Second, they must have spent at least two of the last five years practicing psychotherapy or supervising associates and trainees.
What training must your supervisor have done?
Anyone who first supervised in California on or after January 1, 2022 must finish 15 hours of supervision training. This must be done within 60 days of starting supervision. They must also complete six hours of supervision-related professional development each renewal cycle. They are also required to send a one-time Supervisor Self-Assessment Report to the Board within 60 days of starting.
Psychologists, psychiatrists and holders of an AAMFT, ABECSW, CAMFT or CCE supervisor certification are exempt from the 15-hour and 6-hour rules.
Who cannot supervise you?
Three kinds of people cannot supervise you, even if they hold the right license:
- Anyone who has been your therapist
- Your spouse, domestic partner or relative
- Anyone whose relationship with you undermines their authority as a supervisor
In a private practice or professional corporation, your supervisor must be employed by, contracted with, or an owner of the practice (AB 690). They must also either provide therapy there or hold a written contract providing access to clinical records.
What is different for ASWs?
ASWs must have at least 1,700 hours under an LCSW. They must also have 13 of the 52 individual or triadic weeks under an LCSW. The remaining hours can be under a psychiatrist, LMFT, LPCC or psychologist. ASWs can have up to 1,200 hours under an LEP, but only for educationally related services within LEP scope. Here’s more on ASW hour requirements.
Can an LPCC supervise an AMFT?
Since AB 462 took effect on January 1, 2022, an LPCC can supervise an AMFT or MFT trainee without the old couples-and-families add-on. The Board's LMFT handbook still carries the older wording, so follow the statute.
What if your supervisor does not work for your employer?
If your supervisor isn’t employed by your employer, and isn’t supervising you as a volunteer, a written oversight agreement is required. In it, the employer agrees not to interfere with supervision. Here’s the Board’s sample written oversight agreement.
How do you check a supervisor before you start?
Check three things before you start: the supervisor’s license, their history and training, and the signed agreement.
- Look up the license. Use the DCA license search, run by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and note the expiration date.
- Ask for their history. Ask for the two-of-five-years history and the 15-hour supervision training date. Remember that exempt supervisors, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, do not need a training date.
- Sign the agreement. Sign the Supervision Agreement (Form 37M-300) within 60 days of starting supervision. Every relationship that began on or after January 1, 2022 needs one.
Questions associates ask about supervisors
Can my clinical director supervise me if they are not my direct manager?
Their title doesn’t matter. They must meet every requirement in this guide: an active California license of an eligible type, two of the last five years licensed, two of the last five years practicing psychotherapy or supervising associates, and the required supervision training unless they're exempt.
Can I have two supervisors at once?
Yes. Each supervisor must meet every rule in this guide. Each supervision relationship that began on or after January 1, 2022 needs its own Supervision Agreement (Form 37M-300) as well.
Can a supervisor in another state supervise me by video?
No. Your supervisor must hold an active California license. An out-of-state license does not qualify. Time licensed in another state can still count toward the two-of-five-years rule, however.
Does my supervisor have to be the same license type as me?
Not for AMFTs and APCCs. Any of the six license types in the table above can supervise you, and LEP hours count for at most 1,200. ASWs are the exception: at least 1,700 hours and 13 of the 52 individual or triadic weeks must be under an LCSW. ASWs can have up to 1,200 hours under an LEP for educationally related services within LEP scope.
What if my supervisor's license lapses mid-year?
Your supervisor cannot supervise you while the license is not active. It must be active in California. Read our guide to changing supervisors for your next steps.
Can a psychologist supervise an ASW?
Yes. Licensed psychologists are on the ASW list. Their hours count toward the part of your 3,000 that is not under an LCSW, not toward the 1,700 LCSW hours.
Get every supervised hour signed
SparkHours records the supervisor on every week and collects the signature by email, so a supervisor change never leaves unsigned weeks. Your supervisor can see how that works at SparkHours for supervisors.