Are there requirements of the supervisor to provide adequate supervision?

Rules for the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act (Section 1470.20 Professional Experience) further list requirements for the supervisor:

• The supervisor shall have met with the applicant an average of at least 4 hours each month to discuss client cases and treatment procedures.

• Only experience supervised by an LCSW will be acceptable to meet the professional experience requirement. If supervision was in another jurisdiction in which clinical social workers are not licensed, the supervisor shall have been engaged in clinical social work and be credentialed at the highest level required by that jurisdiction.

• The experience shall have been evaluated by the supervisor as satisfactory.

• An applicant may contract with an LCSW to provide supervision

• Supervision may be provided within an agency of employment or outside the agency.

• Supervision may be paid or unpaid.

• Supervision may be on an individual or group basis. When group supervision is provided, the number of supervisees may not exceed five.

Do my supervision hours expire?

While the hours of supervision themselves do not expire, the licensure application expires after three years (from the date it is received and entered into IDFPR's system). If a person waited two years after their application expired to reapply, they would be told that they needed to resubmit all supporting documents, including proof of experience. (Expired applications are generally destroyed after 6 months unless the applicant reapplies before then.) If you switch supervisors at any point during the process, we strongly encourage that you get your previous supervisor to sign off on all hours acquired before moving on to a new supervisor.

Can an LSW be considered as an independent contractor in Illinois?

Licensed Social Workers may not engage in the independent practice of clinical social work without a clinical social worker license. Independent practice of clinical social work means providing the services of or engaging in the practice of clinical social work, as defined in Section 3(5) of the Act, by an individual who regulates and is responsible for her or his own practice or treatment procedures. (Section 1470.97 Independent Practice of Clinical Social Work in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act)

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Can an LSW provide clinical social work services?

Licensed Social Workers may provide clinical social work services as set forth in Section 3(5). When engaging in or providing clinical social work services as set forth in Section 3(5), an LSW may only do so under the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a licensed clinical psychologist, or a psychiatrist, as defined in Section 1-121 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code [405 ILCS 5] and shall not regulate or be responsible for his/her own practice or treatment procedures. (Section 1470.97 Independent Practice of Clinical Social Work in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act)

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When providing clinical social work services as set forth in Section 3(5) of the Act (in the independent practice of clinical social work), a Licensed Social Worker shall always operate and represent himself/herself as an employee of the independent practice and may not work as an independent contractor as defined by Internal Revenue Service regulations.

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Can supervision hours be completed remotely?

Clinical supervision hours may be obtained virtually, although best practices recommend that supervision take place face-to-face either in person or virtually. Both supervisor and supervisee should also be aware of any applicable jursidictional and licensure issues when working remotely. Professional clinical experience obtained while an applicant is located in Illinois must be supervised by an Illinois licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

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Can the clinical practice one engages in toward the required supervised hours be remote?

Yes, the clinical practice hours one engages in to receive clinical supervision hours from a supervisor may be obtained through remote (telehealth) or in-person practice. However, as stated above, supervision should be face-to-face either in person or virtually. Both supervisor and supervisee should also be aware of any applicable jursidictional and licensure issues when working remotely.

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Where can I find a supervisor?

Most agencies have a licensed clinical social worker on staff that will qualify as a supervisor. This person does NOT have to be your direct supervisor, but you do have to meet with them the minimum required hours per month. See below for more information on the NASW-Illinois Chapter Supervisor Registry.