Licensed Clinical Social Worker (clinical social worker) · New Jersey · regulated by New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | Licensed Social Worker (LSW) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | 3,000 hours under direct supervision subsequent to earning the MSW ('two years of full-time clinical social work') |
| Direct client contact | At least 1,920 face-to-face client contact hours, half (960) in psychotherapeutic counseling |
| Minimum time | No less than two years |
| Time limit | No more than four years; experience completed no more than five years before application |
| Exams | ASWB Clinical examination |
Supervision
- How often: At least one hour per week face-to-face individual or group clinical supervision
- Group supervision: Allowed; max 4 social workers in any single group
- Who may supervise: NJ LCSW licensed ≥3 years with 20 CE credits in clinical supervision (SIFI does not count); ≤6 LCSW-track supervisees
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted (hours subsequent to the MSW)
- Paperwork: Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience (optional pre-approval); Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience Form for LCSW Candidates; supervisor quarterly progress reports
Can you be supervised remotely in New Jersey?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: in-person minimum, video limited.
- Video supervision: ≥1 h/week face-to-face individual or group supervision, or 1 h individual via HIPAA-compliant synchronous video, video capped at half of total supervision hours
- Phone only: not allowed (only synchronous video named as the remote option)
- In-person minimum: ≥50% of supervision hours face-to-face (video ≤ half)
- Supervisor licensed in New Jersey? required: 'clinical social worker licensed by this State', LCSW ≥3 years
- Supervisor credential: ≥20 Board-approved CE credits in clinical supervision (SIFI does not count), courses taught in person
- Supervisee cap: ≤6 LSWs pursuing LCSW experience; ≤4 per supervision group
- Board approval first: Optional: Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience 'can be submitted prior to ... or while ... ongoing' for Board approval/feedback; supervisor must verify LSW licensure before starting
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
N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1 and 8.1 amended eff. 9/17/2018 (50 N.J.R. 2017(a)); pre-9/17/2018 starters need only 1,920 client-contact hours
In the board’s own words
“"two years of full-time clinical social work" means 3,000 hours under direct supervision” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1(a)✓ matched in the source
“The 3,000 hours shall be completed in no less than two years and no more than four years.” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1(a)✓ matched in the source
“at least one hour of face-to-face individual or group clinical supervision per week” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)1v✓ matched in the source
“individual clinical supervision through synchronous video conferencing ... for no more than half of the total supervision hours” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)1v✓ matched in the source
“one hour of individual clinical supervision through synchronous video conferencing” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)1v✓ matched in the source
“for no more than half of the total supervision hours” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)1v✓ matched in the source
“Clinical supervision shall be rendered by a clinical social worker licensed by this State.” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)2✓ matched in the source
“Has completed at least 20 continuing education credits of post-graduate course-work related to clinical supervision approved by the Board” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(b)3ii✓ matched in the source
“A supervisor shall oversee a maximum of six social workers pursuing the two years of full-time clinical social work experience” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(f)✓ matched in the source
“Upon written consent of the employer, the social worker shall arrange for off-premises supervision, where no supervision is available onsite.” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(i)✓ matched in the source
“An LSW may be employed by, or volunteer at, a private practice owned by a healthcare professional licensed to provide clinical mental health services.” — N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1(a)✓ matched in the source
“The Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience can be submitted prior to the start date of clinical supervision or while the clinical supervision” — Board: Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in New Jersey
- LPC (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- Psychologist
- All New Jersey licenses · every state
Sources
- N.J.A.C. 13:44G-4.1 (LCSW requirements)
- N.J.A.C. 13:44G-8.1 (clinical supervision)
- Board: Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience Form for LCSW Candidates
- Board: Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience
Checked against New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.