How much supervision do you need for the LMHC in New York?

The rule

“The supervisor shall provide an average of one hour per week or two hours every other week of face-to-face individual or group supervision” (8 NYCRR 79-9.3).

NYSED's limited permit FAQ adds that supervision must be provided in full one-hour sessions.

Supervision time counts toward your 3,000 hours as indirect time, not toward the 1,500 direct hours.

It applies at each job. NYSED's board staff have said that if a permit holder practices in more than one setting, “the same supervision standard applies in each setting, from a qualified supervisor in that setting” (State Board minutes, October 22, 2021). Supervision at one job doesn't cover hours at another.

Does video count?

Yes. Since September 25, 2024, the regulation says face-to-face supervision “may utilize technology acceptable to the Department, including secure video conferencing to protect confidentiality” (8 NYCRR 79-9.3). Before that change it said in-person, and NYSED's license requirements page still uses the older wording.

Phone or audio-only supervision isn't named in the regulation. Don't rely on it without asking NYSED.

Who can supervise

Your supervisor must be licensed and registered in New York as one of these (8 NYCRR 79-9.3):

• A licensed mental health counselor
• A physician or physician assistant
• A psychologist
• A licensed clinical social worker
• A registered professional nurse or nurse practitioner
• Or someone with equivalent qualifications, as NYSED determines

Limits on the arrangement

• No supervisor may supervise more than five permit holders at one time (8 NYCRR 79-9.4)
• Hiring or contracting with your own supervisor is, in NYSED's words, “as a general rule, unacceptable”
• The setting cannot be a private practice you own or operate
• On Form 4B your supervisor attests that they are employed by the same agency as you, with access to your records

Thinking about the diagnostic privilege too?

Hours supervised by an LCSW, a psychotherapy-trained psychologist, a qualifying psychiatrist, or (from June 24, 2024) an LMHC who holds the privilege can later count toward the privilege as well. Hours under an LMHC without the privilege count toward the license only.

Who keeps the record

Your supervisor is responsible for keeping documentation of your supervised practice and supervision hours (8 NYCRR 79-9.3), and sends NYSED a Form 4B for the period they supervised you.