Licensed Clinical Social Worker (clinical social worker) · Tennessee · regulated by Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LMSW (or temporary LMSW) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | a total of three thousand (3000) hours of clinical experience |
| Supervision | 100 supervisor contact hours (in addition to the 3,000); ≥60 individual |
| Minimum time | not less than a two (2) year period |
| Time limit | not more than an eight (8) year period from the date the application and fee are received |
| Exams | ASWB Clinical exam |
Supervision
- How much: 100 supervisor contact hours (in addition to the 3,000); ≥60 individual
- How often: approximately 1 supervision hour to every 30 clinical experience hours
- Group supervision: no more than 40 hours in groups of no more than four supervisees
- Who may supervise: LCSW continuously licensed ≥3 years before supervision starts; 12 hours supervision CE (3 on TN rules) since 1/1/2023; no other disciplines
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted; LMSW or temporary LMSW required before beginning supervised clinical experience
- Paperwork: Supervision logs signed by supervisor and supervisee; verification submitted by both with LCSW application
Can you be supervised remotely in Tennessee?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: in-person minimum, video limited.
- Video supervision: Supervision may be by teleconferencing, visual multi-media or video conferencing (not email/IM/text or any non-visual format); no more than 75% of the ≥60 individual supervision hours may be by these technologies. No stated limit for group hours.
- Phone only: not allowed (any format that does not allow visual contact is excluded)
- In-person minimum: ≥25% of individual supervision hours in person (≤75% via video)
- Supervisor licensed in Tennessee? other: LCSW candidates need a supervisor with 'an active L.C.S.W. license' (Tennessee license titles) continuously held ≥3 years; out-of-state applicants may show supervision by that state's LCSW, or by a TN-licensed LCSW if their state has no licensure
- Supervisor credential: No registration; ≥3 years continuous LCSW (LAPSW for LAPSW track) plus 12 h supervision CE, 3 h of which cover Tennessee licensing rules; only social workers may supervise
- Supervisee cap: no overall cap; group supervision counts only with ≤4 supervisees
- Board approval first: No board approval of the supervisor or plan; a supervisor must be secured before hours accrue; the supervisee must hold an LMSW/temporary LMSW; verification is filed at application
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
Supervisor 12-hour CE requirement effective January 1, 2023 (amendments eff. 3/2/2022).
In the board’s own words
“shall have completed a total of three thousand (3000) hours of clinical experience” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)✓ matched in the source
“a total of one hundred (100) supervisor contact hours ... approximately one (1) supervision hour to every thirty (30) clinical experience hours” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)1✓ matched in the source
“completed over not less than a two (2) year period and not more than an eight (8) year period” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)✓ matched in the source
“No more than seventy-five (75) percent of individual supervision hours may be obtained through teleconferencing technologies” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)3✓ matched in the source
“Supervision may take place via teleconferencing technologies, visual multi-media technology, or video conferencing technology.” — 1365-01-.08(1)(c)✓ matched in the source
“Supervision may NOT take place via email, instant messaging, texting or any format that does not allow for visual contact.” — 1365-01-.08(1)(c)✓ matched in the source
“No more than seventy-five (75) percent of individual supervision hours may be obtained through teleconferencing technologies” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)3.✓ matched in the source
“An L.C.S.W. supervisor must have an active L.C.S.W. license” — 1365-01-.08(4)✓ matched in the source
“then the applicant must obtain the prerequisite supervision from an L.C.S.W. or L.A.P.S.W. licensed in Tennessee” — 1365-01-.08(7)✓ matched in the source
“Supervisors must obtain three (3) hours of the twelve (12) hours of continuing education covering Tennessee licensing rules” — 1365-01-.08(6)(b)✓ matched in the source
“no more than forty (40) hours may be in a situation where the supervisor is working with no more than four (4) supervisees” — 1365-01-.08(2)(a)2.✓ matched in the source
“Licensed master’s social workers shall engage only in supervised practice in or for an agency or organization” — 1365-01-.02(2)✓ matched in the source
1 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Tennessee
- LPC-MHSP (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- Psychologist
- All Tennessee licenses · every state
Sources
Checked against Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.