Licensed Clinical Social Worker (clinical social worker) · Pennsylvania · regulated by State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | Licensed Social Worker (LSW) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after the master's degree in social work |
| Direct client contact | At least one-half of the experience must be clinical services (assessment, psychotherapy, interventions, consultation, family or group therapy) |
| Supervision | 2 hours per 40 hours of experience (≈150 hours for 3,000) |
| Minimum time | 2 years |
| Time limit | 6 years |
| Weekly cap | Not weekly: at least 500 and no more than 1,800 hours credited in any 12-month period |
| Exams | ASWB Clinical exam (LSW requires ASWB Masters) |
Supervision
- How much: 2 hours per 40 hours of experience (≈150 hours for 3,000)
- How often: Minimum 2 hours for every 40 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Group supervision: Of each 2 hours, ≥1 individual and in person; 1 may be group; supervisor ≤6 supervisees at once
- Who may supervise: LCSW with 5 years' experience in the last 10; or licensee with related master's/doctorate and 5 years in field in last 10
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted: experience is after the MSW, while licensed as a social worker
Can you be supervised remotely in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: Codified § 47.12c(b)(5) requires ≥2 h per 40 h, ≥1 h individual "in person"; board statement of policy § 47.101 treats HIPAA-compliant synchronous audio+video as "in person"; professional, secure setting required.
- Phone only: not allowed (telephone, email, chat excluded)
- In-person minimum: None in practice: codified "in person" individual hour met by synchronous video under the board policy
- Supervisor licensed in Pennsylvania? other: § 47.1a requires a license (LCSW with 5 yrs in last 10, or related licensee) without saying Pennsylvania
- Supervisee cap: ≤6 supervisees at the same time per supervisor (hardship exception on written request)
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.
Where the rules are unclear
Pennsylvania’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- The in-person interpretations (§§ 47.101/48.101/49.101) are a board-posted "Annex A" statement of policy; they were not found codified in the Pa. Code chapters read (current through July 2026). Is the policy still in force and is it published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin?
- Must the supervisor hold a Pennsylvania license, or does any US license satisfy "holds a license" (§§ 47.1a/48.3/49.3) and Act 4's "current and active license"?
In the board’s own words
“completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years, except that at least 500 hours and no more than 1,800 hours may be credited in any 12-month period” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c✓ matched in the source
“at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c✓ matched in the source
“At least 1 of the 2 hours shall be with the supervisee individually and in person” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c✓ matched in the source
“the Board considers “in person” supervision to be met if a HIPAA-compliant electronic platform is used that allows for synchronous audio and video communication” — § 47.101(c) statement of policy✓ matched in the source
“This would not include supervision by telephone, email, instant messaging, online chat or other non-secure electronic communications” — § 47.101(c) statement of policy✓ matched in the source
“At least 1 of the 2 hours shall be with the supervisee individually and in person” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c(b)(5)✓ matched in the source
“A supervisor shall supervise no more than 6 supervisees at the same time.” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c(b)(6)✓ matched in the source
“Hold a license as a clinical social worker” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.1a(1)✓ matched in the source
“Is licensed under the act as a social worker.” — 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c(a)(3)✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in Pennsylvania
- LPC (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- Psychologist
- All Pennsylvania licenses · every state
Sources
- 49 Pa. Code § 47.12c (Licensed clinical social worker), amended 10/10/2014
- 49 Pa. Code § 47.1a (Qualifications for supervisors)
- 49 Pa. Code § 47.11 (Examinations)
- Board Annex A, statement of policy § 47.101 (interpreting § 47.12c)
Checked against State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.