Hawaii requirements

LCSW requirements in Hawaii

What it takes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Hawaii: 3,000 supervised hours over at least 2 years, plus supervision, time limits, exams and whether you can be supervised by video. Every figure is sourced to the state board and dated.

Sourced to Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Social Worker ProgramChecked September 25, 2026Not individually reviewed by a clinicianAbout this site

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (clinical social worker) · Hawaii · regulated by Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Social Worker Program · high confidence

Supervised experienceat least three thousand hours of post masters clinical social work experience under supervision
Direct client contact≥2,000 hours assessment, clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy; ≤900 hours client-centered advocacy, consultation and evaluation
Supervisionat least 100 hours; ≥60 individual
Minimum time2 years
Time limit5 years
ExamsASWB Clinical

Supervision

  • How much: at least 100 hours; ≥60 individual
  • Group supervision: max 40 of the 100 hours in small groups (up to 6 supervisees)
  • Who may supervise: LCSW with at least 4,500 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience

When hours count and what to keep

  • Before your degree: not counted (post-master's)
  • Paperwork: Verification of Supervised Clinical Social Work Experience (notarized, by supervisor)

Can you be supervised remotely in Hawaii?

Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.

  • Video supervision: Some or all of the 100 h (≥60 individual, ≤40 small group ≤6) may be face-to-face by HIPAA-compliant video conference, by election with the supervisor.
  • In-person minimum: none (some or all by video)
  • Supervisor credential: LCSW with ≥4,500 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience.
  • Supervisee cap: small group supervision ≤6 supervisees
  • Board approval first: None: no associate license; accruing interns are exempt when titled 'clinical social work intern' and supervised.

The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.

Recent and pending changes

Act 93 (SLH 2024) made supervised clinical social work interns' services insurance-reimbursable from July 1, 2026 (HRS 467E-7(b)); no associate license was created for social work.

In the board’s own words

“at least three thousand hours of post masters clinical social work experience under supervision completed within no fewer than two years, but within no more than five years” — HRS § 467E-7(a)(3)(C)✓ matched in the source
“Not more than forty hours of direct face-to-face supervision may have been under small group (up to six supervisees) supervision.” — HRS § 467E-7(a)(3)(C)(ii)✓ matched in the source
“may elect to fulfill some or all of the supervision requirements set forth in subparagraph (C) through face-to-face supervision that is conducted electronically” — HRS §467E-7(3)(C)-(E) (versions until and from July 1, 2026)✓ matched in the source
“may elect to fulfill some or all of the supervision requirements set forth in subparagraph (C)” — HRS §467E-7(3)(C)-(E) (versions until and from July 1, 2026)✓ matched in the source
“in the process of obtaining three thousand hours of post masters clinical social work experience under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker” — HRS §467E-6(8) (exemption; version eff. July 1, 2026)✓ matched in the source
“The supervisor shall have been a licensed clinical social worker with at least four thousand five hundred hours of post masters clinical social work experience” — HRS §467E-7(3)(C)-(E) (versions until and from July 1, 2026)✓ matched in the source
“Not more than forty hours of direct face-to-face supervision may have been under small group (up to six supervisees) supervision.” — HRS §467E-7(3)(C)-(E) (versions until and from July 1, 2026)✓ matched in the source

Other licenses in Hawaii

Sources

Checked against Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Social Worker Program’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.

Track your hours as you earn them

Practice Harbor is free while you are pre-licensed. It counts your clinical hours from the sessions you mark as attended, and you can add outside hours by hand.

General information, not legal advice. Requirements are summarized from each state’s licensing board, statutes and regulations on the date shown; the board decides, and rules change. Becoming Licensed is not affiliated with any licensing board.