Licensure Supervision
COVID-19 ALERT! During the pandemic, the PA State Board is allowing online supervision, so supervision will occur on-line for the foreseeable future
NOTE: This page is only for post master’s degree counselor and therapist graduates pursuing licensure in Pennsylvania as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) LCSW or LMFT
If you are NOT a post master’s degree counselor and therapist graduate and have landed on this page, the information contained here may ONLY be helpful in understanding the education, training, and supervision that your potential counselor or therapist has under their belt; also this information will also explain what means to be licensed v. not being licensed.
About PA Licensure
The governing Pennsylvania law and state board for professional counseling licensure can be found here: (Please click below and read)
> PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapist & Professional Counselors
> 49 Pa. Code § 49 Licensed Professional Counselor
Respectively the law for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapist can be found here:
~ 49 Pa. Code § 47 Licensed Social Worker
~ 49 Pa. Code § 48 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
Your Responsibility
Prior to calling about supervision, you need to ensure you are indeed an eligible candidate for licensure
It is critical that you read and comprehend the governing code of law, guidelines, and regulations regarding licensure and contact the board for any clarification you need to correctly following the license process. The links above will be a good place to begin. Also, ask yourself:
- Have you successfully completed the required graduate coursework?
- Do you have the have a masters in the required field of study?
- Are you working in the field and accruing the required hours of clinical experience?
- Have you passed the required prerequisite licensure exam? (can be done while earning hours)
Your supervisor is NOT responsible or liable for delays in the licensure process once you apply to the state if you failed to ensure you are indeed an eligible candidate for licensure OR you fail to maintain accurate records of your clinical experience and supervision hours. It is your responsibility to keep accurate records of your work and clinical supervision hours
About Supervision
Supervision focuses on expanding your clinical skills, expertise and encouraging your professional growth so you adhere to strict ethical and professional standards
- Pennsylvania requires 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, post-graduation and prior to licensure
- Half of your required hours for licensure as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW can be in a group format and half MUST be done individually
- General clinical supervision may feel similar but it is NOT the same as supervision for licensure
- General clinical supervision typically happens in the setting where one works and does not need to be performed by a licensed professional
- Supervision for licensure is in addition to general supervision and MUST be performed by a licensed professional
Me As A Supervisor
I am pleased to provide supervision services for candidates currently pursuing licensure.
Now more than ever, licensed professionals are needed and I am more than happy to facilitate adding qualified practitioners to the field. During supervision, I provide helpful information and insight for practitioners as well as concrete tools for helping clients. Because of my own experience, I also understand that most licensure candidates are working very hard, typically in settings with high demands so I try to be flexible and supportive. In satisfaction of the PA requirements for a licensed supervisor, I hold a LPC license, have a Master’s in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University and I have 5 years of experience within the last 10 years. I am a qualified to supervise for the following licenses:
- LPC: ALL Hours
- LMFT: Half of required 3,000 accrued hours of clinical experience
- LCSW: Half of required 150 supervision hours
Please contact me for a free 15 consult if you want to pursue LPC supervision and to determine if are a good fit.
Please Note
Time
Conceivably, the required 3000 hours could be completed in about 1.5 years because 3,000 hours equates to 75 weeks based on a 40-hour work week (i.e. 40 hours X 75 weeks = 3000 hours). However, realistically you should allow for 2.5 years because it is improbable that you will work 40 hours a week for 75 consecutive weeks, without any leave or a vacation and attempting to do so is not advisable. Also, your work hours may vary each week, particularly if you work part-time or have client cancellations and this will increase the time to complete the requirement. Lastly, supervision may not always take place due to your or the supervisor’s inability to meet due to illness, emergency, vacations, or holidays.
Fees
Typically, fees for supervision are equivalent to an average cost of an hour of therapy BUT to encourage the addition of needed qualified practitioners to the field, my rates are discounted. Keep in mind that financing supervision on your own can be quite expensive, so I highly encourage you to obtain “free” supervision by working for any agency who has a LPC providing licensure supervision.
- Group Supervision: $75
- Individual Supervision: $100
Supervision is the Key to Success
You are not alone when navigating the art of helping others.
“Only as a warrior can one withstand the path of knowledge.” — Carlos Castaneda