Licensed Clinical Social Worker (clinical social worker) · Indiana · regulated by Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board — Social Work section (Professional Licensing Agency) · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LSW (Licensed Social Worker) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | Two years of clinical social work experience; 'experience' = full-time paid experience of at least 1,500 hours per year (part-time: 4,500 total, 3,000 post-graduate) |
| Direct client contact | At least 50% of the time providing counseling services directly to clients (definition of clinical social work experience) |
| Supervision | Minimum of 4 hours per month face-to-face |
| Minimum time | 2 years |
| Time limit | Hours earned under a temporary permit usable for not more than 4 years (longer if board approves); hours after LSW licensure do not expire |
| Exams | ASWB Clinical |
Supervision
- How much: Minimum of 4 hours per month face-to-face
- How often: face-to-face contact between supervisor and supervisee ... for a minimum of four (4) hours per month
- Who may supervise: Indiana LCSW (board LCSW checklist, Forms I/II and FAQ); statute says 'qualified supervisor as determined by the board'
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted — experience must follow the graduate social work degree; doctoral internship may apply
- Paperwork: LCSW Form I (Verification of Supervision), Form II (Verification of Employment/Experience), Form III (Clinical Coursework) — State Form 50325 (R12/8-24)
Can you be supervised remotely in Indiana?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: Statute allows up to 100% virtual supervision (synchronous audio-video, HIPAA-compliant). 839 IAC 1-3-2(c) still says supervision must be face-to-face, 4 h/month; the later statute controls.
- Phone only: not allowed
- In-person minimum: none
- If you live outside Indiana: Hours earned in Indiana require an Indiana LSW license
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
IC 25-23.6-5-3.5 last amended by P.L.83-2024; unchanged in Indiana Code 2026 edition. 839 IAC 1-3-2 readopted 6/24/2024.
Where the rules are unclear
Indiana’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- 839 IAC 1-3-2(c) (face-to-face supervision) predates IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(h) (100% virtual): does the board treat virtual supervision as satisfying the rule?
- Does the IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(f) premises bar on independent private practice still apply when supervision is virtual under (h)?
In the board’s own words
“"experience" means full-time paid experience of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours per year” — 839 IAC 1-3-2(b)✓ matched in the source
“supervision must be face-to-face contact between the supervisor and supervisee ... for a minimum of four (4) hours per month” — 839 IAC 1-3-2(c)✓ matched in the source
“clinical social worker must have at least two (2) years ... of clinical social work experience after receiving a graduate degree in social work” — IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(b)✓ matched in the source
“For not more than four (4) years. (2) After the four (4) year period, if approved by the board.” — IC 25-23.6-5-3.5(i)✓ matched in the source
“you must be supervised by an individual holding an Indiana Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license” — PLA Behavioral Health licensing information FAQ✓ matched in the source
“at least four (4) hours of face to face supervision per each month of experience, provided by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)” — PLA LCSW application checklist, Form I✓ matched in the source
“(Note: One thousand five hundred hours (1,500) equals one (1) year of experience.)” — PLA LCSW application checklist, Form II✓ matched in the source
“Up to one hundred percent (100%) of the supervised clinical social work experience hours required under subsection (b) may be accounted for through virtual supervision” — Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-23.6 (behavioral health and human services), secs. 5-3.5 (LCSW), 8-2.7 (LMFT), 8.5-4 (LMHC), 7-1 board duties (Counseling Compact)✓ matched in the source
“Virtual supervision does not include telephone calls, electronic mail, or text messages.” — Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-23.6 (behavioral health and human services), secs. 5-3.5 (LCSW), 8-2.7 (LMFT), 8.5-4 (LMHC), 7-1 board duties (Counseling Compact)✓ matched in the source
“Up to one hundred percent (100%) of the supervised clinical social work experience hours” — Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-23.6 (behavioral health and human services), secs. 5-3.5 (LCSW), 8-2.7 (LMFT), 8.5-4 (LMHC), 7-1 board duties (Counseling Compact)✓ matched in the source
“supervision must be face-to-face contact between the supervisor and supervisee” — 839 IAC 1-3-2(b)-(d) (social work experience and supervision), via Cornell LII✓ matched in the source
“the clinical social work requirement may not be performed away from the qualified supervisor's premises if” — Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-23.6 (behavioral health and human services), secs. 5-3.5 (LCSW), 8-2.7 (LMFT), 8.5-4 (LMHC), 7-1 board duties (Counseling Compact)✓ matched in the source
3 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Indiana
- LMHC (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- Psychologist
- All Indiana licenses · every state
Sources
- IC 25-23.6-5-3.5 (Clinical social work experience; requirements), Indiana Code 2026 (IGA Article 23.6 PDF)
- 839 IAC 1-3-2(b)-(d) (Licensure by examination; experience and supervision defined) (LII mirror)
- PLA Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Information
- PLA LCSW Form I – Verification of Supervision (State Form 50325, R12/8-24)
- PLA LCSW Form II – Verification of Employment/Experience (State Form 50325, R12/8-24)
Checked against Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board — Social Work section (Professional Licensing Agency)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.