Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (marriage and family therapist) · South Dakota · regulated by SD Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists · high confidence
| Supervised experience | one thousand seven hundred hours of supervised experience in marriage and family therapy under a plan of supervision approved by the board |
|---|---|
| Direct client contact | 1,600 direct client contact hours; ≤1,000 by electronic means, rest in person |
| Supervision | 100 hours with a board-approved supervisor; ≥5 hrs each of case staffing, direct observation, co-therapy, record review |
| Time limit | Hours completed within the 4-year period preceding application (board may waive for good cause); plan valid 2 yrs, renewable once |
| Exams | AMFTRB National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy |
Supervision
- How much: 100 hours with a board-approved supervisor; ≥5 hrs each of case staffing, direct observation, co-therapy, record review
- How often: At least 1 hour of supervision per 20 hours of direct client contact
- Group supervision: Individual = 1-2 supervisees; group = 3+; no more than 50 of the 100 hours may be group
- Who may supervise: SD LPC-MH or LMFT licensed ≥2 yrs + 4 hrs supervision CE, or ≥1 yr + 15 hrs, or AAMFT approved supervisor
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted (after receiving an acceptable degree)
- Paperwork: Board-approved post graduate plan of supervision (one per supervisor); hours recorded on a board form
Can you be supervised remotely in South Dakota?
Yes by video, but the supervisor needs a state-specific supervisor credential and the board must approve the arrangement first. What shapes this: state-only supervisor credential, prior board approval.
- Video supervision: Supervision "may take place by electronic means" and must be synchronous (ARSD 20:71:05:02); ≥100 h, ≥1 h per 20 h direct contact, ≤50 h group, with ≥5 h each of case staffing, direct observation (in person or recorded), co-counseling and record review. SDCL 36-33-69 applies the chapter to supervision provided through electronic means.
- Supervisor licensed in South Dakota? required
- Supervisor credential: Board-approved supervisor status (application; renews each even-numbered Nov 30): SD LPC-MH or LMFT in good standing, AAMFT approved supervisor, or licensed ≥2 yrs + 4 h supervision CE (or ≥1 yr + 15 h)
- Supervisee cap: No per-supervisor cap; individual = supervisor + up to 2 supervisees; group = 3+
- Board approval first: Board must approve a post-graduate plan of supervision (one per supervisor) before hours count; plan valid 2 years, renewable once.
- If you live outside South Dakota: SD practice is defined by client location regardless of the provider's physical location (SDCL 36-33-69); no rule on an out-of-state supervisee.
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
ARSD 20:71:05:02 amended eff 11/24/2022
Where the rules are unclear
South Dakota’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Does audio-only supervision qualify as "synchronous"?
- Can co-counseling/direct-observation hours be done by live video?
In the board’s own words
“completed one thousand seven hundred hours of supervised experience in marriage and family therapy under a plan of supervision approved by the board” — SDCL 36-33-43(3)✓ matched in the source
“A minimum of 100 hours of supervision with a board approved supervisor.” — ARSD 20:71:05:02(2)✓ matched in the source
“At least one hour of supervision must take place for every 20 hours of direct client contact” — ARSD 20:71:05:02(2)✓ matched in the source
“Within the four-year period preceding the application” — SDCL 36-33-43(3)✓ matched in the source
“Supervision may take place by electronic means, as prescribed by chapter 20:71:08 and must be synchronous.” — ARSD 20:71:05:02✓ matched in the source
“licensed as a professional counselor-mental health or a marriage and family therapist, in good standing with the applicable South Dakota state licensing board” — ARSD 20:71:05:01✓ matched in the source
“Approval as a supervisor is valid from the date of approval through November 30 of the next even-numbered year and is subject to renewal.” — ARSD 20:71:05:07✓ matched in the source
“individual supervision is supervision between a supervisor and up to two supervisees” — ARSD 20:71:05:02(2)✓ matched in the source
“No more than 1,000 direct client contact hours may be acquired by counseling provided through electronic means” — ARSD 20:71:05:02(1)✓ matched in the source
“Private practice not permitted. Repealed.” — ARSD 20:71:05:05✓ matched in the source
“A post graduate plan of supervision must be approved by the board prior to the applicant acquiring the supervision experience” — ARSD 20:71:02:05✓ matched in the source
“regardless of the provider's physical location” — SDCL 36-33-69✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in South Dakota
- LPC-MH (professional counselor)
- CSW-PIP (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All South Dakota licenses · every state
Sources
- SDCL 36-33-43
- ARSD 20:71:02:05-:06, 20:71:05:00-:02, 20:71:05:11
- SDCL 36-33-69 (chapter 36-33 read in full)
Checked against SD Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.