Supervision
Supervision, as needed to acquire a social work license in Illinois, is an integral part of the social work profession. It aids in the professional growth and development of the social worker and improves clinical outcomes for clients. The purpose of supervision is to enhance social workers’ professional skills and knowledge in order to provide quality care to clients and to allow the applicant to be licensed in Illinois.
This page contains information around supervision requirements for those applying to become a licensed social worker (LSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). It also includes information about the NASW-Illinois Chapter Supervisor Registry which helps applicants find a clinical supervisor as well as NASW-Illinois Chapter Supervision Series courses.
SUPERVISION FOR LSW APPLICANTS
SUPERVISION FOR LCSW APPLICANTS
SUPERVISON FOR LCSW ALT TO EXAM HOURS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS TRACKING LOG
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FIND A SUPERVISOR
BECOMING A SUPERVISOR / SUPERVISION SERIES COURSES
SUPERVISION FOR LICENSED SOCIAL WORK (LSWs) APPLICANTS
Do I need supervision hours to acquire the LSW license?
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If your highest obtained degree is from a CSWE–approved graduate program of social work, you do not need to obtain supervision hours.
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If your highest obtained degree is from a CSWE–approved undergraduate program of social work, you will need to obtain three (3) years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the degree.
What qualifies as “supervised professional experience" for the LSW?
Supervised professional experience is that experience directly related to social work as defined in Section 3(9) of the Act. The experience shall be:
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Obtained under the direct supervision of a certified social worker registered under the Social Workers Registration Act, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), diplomate in clinical social work, designated member of ACSW, or other appropriate supervisor as approved by the Board (including other licensed clinical mental health professionals).
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Satisfactory as evaluated by the supervisor. The supervisor shall have met with the individual at least 4 hours each month.
NOTE: For the purposes of this section, we are only referring to supervisors for the purpose of acquiring hours towards the LSW. If you have hired an existing licensed social worker (LSW) and they are not seeking hours towards their LCSW, additional professions may oversee those LSWs in your practice or organization as determined by rules.
SUPERVISION FOR LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK (LCSWs) APPLICANTS
Do I need supervision hours to acquire an LCSW?
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Persons holding a master's degree in social work shall have completed 3,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience subsequent to the receipt of the degree.
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Persons holding a doctorate degree in social work shall have completed 2,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience subsequent to the receipt of the degree.
Of these hours, the required number of hours may have been obtained in the following manners:
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For full-time experience, a minimum of 30 hours per week but not more than 40 hours per week.
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For part-time experience, not more than 29 hours per week.
What qualifies as “clinical professional experience” for the LCSW?
Supervised experience shall be experience directly related to clinical social work practice as defined in Section 3(5) of the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act—that is, “the providing of mental health services for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in individuals, families, and groups based on knowledge and theory of professionally accepted theoretical structures, including, but not limited to, psychosocial development, behavior, psychopathology, unconscious motivation, interpersonal relationships, and environmental stress.” For your experience to qualify, you must meet with an LCSW supervisor for at least 4 hours per month.
SUPERVISION FOR LCSW ALT TO EXAM HOURS
Do I need hours to utilize alternative to licensure exam path?
To utilize the alternative to the licensure exam for LCSWs, an applicant may use professional work experience as a social worker. These additional hours cannot be the same 3,000 clinical supervision hours, acquired under the supervision of an LCSW, which were required to qualify to take the LCSW licensure exam.
What qualifies as “professional social work experience” for the purposes of the additional 3,000 hours?
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Completion of an additional 3,000 hours of professional experience as a social worker obtained within the last 10 years (prior to submission of alternative hours) and have those hours signed off by an LCSW or clinical professional as defined in rules. These hours are not 3,000 additional clinical supervision hours but rather professional experience hours which may consist of: social services to individuals, groups, or communities in any one or more of the fields of social casework, social group work, community organization for social welfare, social work research, social welfare administration, school social work, or social work education. Supervised professional experience may also include supervised clinical social work as described in Section 1470.20 of the Social Work Practice Act assuming these hours were not also used for your 3,000 clinical supervision hours to qualify to take the exam.
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There is no requirement per month to meet with your supervisor for these hours to qualify.
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The hours must have been acquired AFTER completion of your MSW and can occur before or after you completed your 3,000 clinical supervision hours with an LCSW.
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Beginning January 1, 2026, the applicant must have acquired an LSW or PEL with School Support Personnel Endorsements in School Social Work prior to acquiring their alternative hours. Until January 1, 2026, the department is accepting hours post-MSW that may have been acquired while the applicant did not have an LSW or PEL with School Support Personnel Endorsements in School Social Work.
Who qualifies to sign off on “professional social work experience” for the purposes of the additional 3,000 hours?
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The additional hours should be signed off by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). If an LCSW is not available to sign off on the hours, the department currently allows the following professions to sign off on the alternative hours:
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Licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical psychologist (LCP), or licensed psychiatrist (LP) as defined in Section 1-121 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code [405 ILCS 5/1-121]
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Licensed advanced practice psychiatric nurse (LAPN) as defined in Section 1-101.3 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code [405 ILCS 5/1-101.3].
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NOTE: The above professions can only sign off on the alternative to the exam hours; only an LCSW can supervise and sign off on the mandated 3,000 clinical supervision hours required to apply for an LCSW.
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The person signing off on the hours should be able to verify the hours were completed and can attest the applicant's performance was satisfactory or better.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
About Supervision
What additional requirements are there for LCSW licensure supervision?
Rules for the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act (Section 1470.20 Professional Experience) further list requirements for the supervisor:
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The supervisor shall have met with the applicant an average of at least 4 hours each month to discuss client cases and treatment procedures.
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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.
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The experience shall have been evaluated by the supervisor as satisfactory.
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An applicant may contract with an LCSW to provide supervision
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Supervision may be provided within an agency of employment or outside the agency.
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Supervision may be paid or unpaid.
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Supervision may be on an individual or group basis. When group supervision is provided, the number of supervisees may not exceed five.
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Supervisor may also need to fulfill continuing education requirements for supervision.
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. This includes the prohibition of LSWs from being 1099 independent contractors, but rather must be employees of your organization or practice.
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)
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)
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.
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).
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.
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.
CLINICAL SUPERVISION HOURS TRACKING LOG
The NASW-Illinois Chapter Clinical Supervision Hours Tracking Log is a practical tool aimed to support you in your journey toward obtaining your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.
Although maintaining a log of supervision hours is mandatory, our tracking log is neither approved nor required by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You have the flexibility to record your hours in any format that fulfills the licensure requirements.
The NASW-IL Clinical Supervision Hours Tracking Log aligns with the newly updated IDFPR Verification of Employment/Experience Form (VE-SW). The VE-SW is required by the department to be completed at the completion of your supervision hours with your supervisor.
Understanding the NASW-IL Clinical
Supervision Hours Tracking Log
Page 1: Purpose
This page includes detailed information about the purpose of the tracking log and valuable guidance on supervision.
Page 2: Professional Experience Eligible for Clinical Hours
This page outlines various work experiences that could qualify for clinical hours in Illinois. While a range of activities can contribute to acquiring these hours, it is crucial for both the applicant and the supervisor to remain focused on the primary goal—achieving sufficient competency in clinical social work practice. This competency is necessary for the applicant to qualify for a license to practice clinical social work independently. Therefore, the primary work experiences should directly reflect and support this objective.
Page 3: Clinical Supervision Hours Tracking Log
The initial fields of the tracking log (Month/Year through Name of and Address of Worksite) will likely remain consistent across most of your monthly logs. To save time, we recommend completing this information once and either saving the log digitally or printing multiple copies for future use. Completing these fields is essential as they mirror the required information on the VE-SW.
On the line labeled Total number of clinical work hours acquired this month (maximum of 40hr/week), enter the total number of hours worked in that particular month that qualify for clinical hours (refer to page 2 for examples). Please note that for the purposes of clinical supervision, you cannot exceed 40 hours per week, even if you have worked more than 40 hours.
The next section includes the following fields:
Date of Supervision: _____________________________________
Choose or Circle One: Individual or Group
Length of supervision: _________________________________
To ensure your clinical hours count toward the required number, you must meet with a supervisor for at least 4 hours each month. We have provided four sections to log these hours for those meeting one hour per week. If you meet in longer sessions, such as all 4 hours at once, you do not need to use all the lines. Simply ensure that the total in the section labeled “Total hours of supervision this month” equals at least 4 hours.
The next section should be completed by your supervisor:
The applicant's performance was satisfactory or better (Choose or circle answer): YES / NO
The above indicated clinical experience has been documented by myself and has been performed by the applicant pursuant to my order, control, and full professional and legal responsibility as a supervisor. I do hereby declare that the information contained herein is true and correct.
Name of Supervisor: __________________________
Supervisor Signature: ________________________ Date: ___________
Again, these fields mimic the VE-SW, and we strongly encourage you to have your supervisor circle the appropriate answer and sign this monthly.
The final line is for your personal records. After your supervisor has signed off on your hours, total all your accrued hours to date and record the sum at the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About the Tracking Log
We will update this section as questions arise. The following was correct at the time of printing. However, rules are subject to change, and we recommend that you verify requirements if you have questions. For the complete article, click here.
Do I have to use this tracking log?
No, this log was created by the NASW-Illinois Chapter to assist you in logging and tracking your clinical hours. While we strongly recommend usage of this tracking log or a method of logging your hours that mimic the VE-SW form, you are only required to log your hours. At the completion of your clinical hours, you will need to have your supervisor complete the VE-SW form through IDFPR.
I already have a log for my hours—do I have to use this tracking log now?
No. If you are happy with how you are currently logging your hours, you are free to continue using that method. This tracking log is entirely voluntary and meant only as a tool to help you track your hours in a way that better protects your process.
Has IDFPR approved this tracking log?
No. The state currently only requires you to maintain a log of your hours and to have your supervisor complete the VE-SW form upon completion of your clinical hours. This tracking log was designed to help you track your clinical hours effectively. The department does not require any specific format for the tracking log.
Do supervisors refuse to complete the VE-SW?
While it is incredibly rare, situations can arise where a supervisor is unable or unwilling to sign off on all of your hours on the VE-SW at the end of your supervision period. We specifically designed the tracking log to provide you with the best support for an appeal in such cases. Additionally, the VE-SW requires supervisors to certify that your work is satisfactory or better. It is beneficial to know early on if there are concerns about the quality of your work so you can address them before investing significant time and money in completing your clinical hours.
What’s the difference between clinical work hours and hours of supervision?
In the social work field, terms are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion, and there is no consistency in definitions across state licensure practices. In Illinois, an MSW must accumulate 3,000 clinical work hours. These are the hours worked each week—not exceeding 40 hours—that qualify (i.e., clinical work hours. For these weekly hours to count toward your 3,000 clinical work hours, you must spend at least 4 hours per month with your supervisor reviewing your work (i.e., hours of supervision).
To read our complete article with additional FAQ, click here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SUPERVISOR REGISTRY
The NASW-Illinois Chapter has created the NASW-Illinois Chapter Supervisor Registry (see right) for social work graduates who are looking for a supervisor outside of their current employment. Program participants listed in the registry supplied all personal information contained in the following pages. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this document. Supervisees should confirm license status with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) prior to obtaining supervision. Listing in this document does not denote endorsement or recommendation by the NASW-Illinois Chapter; rather it only indicates that listed social workers meet criteria for inclusion in this registry. Fees or supervision requirements are set by the supervisor; the NASW-Illinois Chapter is not part of that arrangement.
Want to be added to the NASW-IL Supervisor Registry? All registry participants have completed the following: completed the four-hour NASW- Illinois Chapter course, Fundamentals of Individual Clinical Social Work Supervision Course; are a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in good standing with IDFPR at the time of listing in the NASW-Illinois Chapter Supervisor Registry; and must abide by the NASW Code of Ethics.
If you experience any unethical behaviors by a supervisor from our registry, please contact the NASW-Illinois Chapter Ethics Committee (CEC) for an ethics consulation.
For a list of upcoming course dates, see course calendar below.
BECOMING A SUPERVISOR
Oftentimes we get questions from first-time supervisors asking, What do I need to do or complete in order to become an supervisor in Illinois? Unfortunately, the long and short of it is that beyond what is defined in the Social Work Rules, (Section 1470.20 Professional Experience), the state doesn’t have a clear definition of best practices for being a good supervisor.
The NASW-Illinois Chapter feels it is essential for training supervisors to be good and ethical supervisors who engage effectively with their supervisees. As such, we have developed our Supervision Series, a series of three courses aimed at new and experienced supervisors on how to effectively, legally, and ethically engage with their supervisees as well as basic strategies for effective individual or group supervision. All NASW-IL Supervision Series courses qualify for clinical supervision CEUs in Illinois.
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Fundamentals of Individual Clinical Social Work Supervision
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Clinical Social Work Supervision II
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Group Supervision in Social Work
Don't see a date below that works with your schedule? Please note that these courses are offered on a rolling basis, dependent on interest. Click here to add yourself to the Supervision Course Waiting List for alerts about future trainings.
