Florida QS Requirements: Hours, Exams & Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a Board‑Approved Qualified Supervisor for Registered Interns in Florida

Florida’s Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (the “Board”) designates certain licensees as “Qualified Supervisors” (QS) to oversee registered interns’ post‑master’s supervised experience. The designation is added to your existing license; it is not a separate license class.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

This article breaks down, by profession, what Florida law and Board rules require—including the exact years of experience, coursework, and how the Board defines the intern hours you will be supervising.

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1. Legal framework and key definitions

Qualified Supervisor

Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 64B4‑2.0025 ties the term “qualified supervisor” directly to three discipline‑specific rules:(law.cornell.edu)

• For clinical social work: a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or equivalent who meets Rule 64B4‑11.007.
• For marriage and family therapy: a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or equivalent who meets Rule 64B4‑21.007.
• For mental health counseling: a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) or equivalent who meets Rule 64B4‑31.007.

The Board’s “Qualified Supervisors for Registered Interns” page summarises those definitions and gives an application process.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

Definition of “supervision” and intern hours

All three professions use the same supervision standard in Rule 64B4‑2.002, F.A.C. For an intern’s supervision to count toward licensure, the Board requires that the intern:(flrules.elaws.us)

• Receive at least 100 hours of supervision in no fewer than 100 weeks,
• Provide at least 1,500 hours of face‑to‑face psychotherapy with clients, and
• Receive at least one hour of supervision every two weeks.

These numbers (100 supervision hours, 1,500 face‑to‑face hours) are requirements for the intern’s supervised experience, not additional hour counts imposed on you to become a QS. However, as a QS you are responsible for ensuring your interns meet these thresholds.

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2. Requirements that apply to all Qualified Supervisors

Across all three professions, to be designated a Board‑approved Qualified Supervisor you must:

1. Hold a qualifying license or equivalent

   • LCSW / LMFT / LMHC, or an equivalent license in another state that meets Florida’s education and experience standards for that profession. Some cross‑discipline supervision is allowed with extra graduate coursework (details below).(law.cornell.edu)

2. Have the required years of clinical experience

   • Clinical social work: 4 years clinical social work experience (up to 2 years from a post‑master’s clinical internship; at least 2 years post‑licensure).(law.cornell.edu)
   • Marriage & family therapy: 5 years clinical experience (up to 2 years from a post‑master’s internship; at least 3 years post‑licensure).(flrules.elaws.us)
   • Mental health counseling: 5 years clinical experience (up to 2 years from a post‑master’s internship; at least 3 years post‑licensure).(law.cornell.edu)

   The only place the Board specifies hour‑based experience for a QS is for licensed psychologists supervising MHC interns: three years of psychotherapy with at least 750 hours of direct client contact per year (see section 5).(law.cornell.edu)

3. Complete post‑licensure supervision training
   After licensure in your profession, you must complete one of the following, as applicable to your discipline:(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

   • A graduate‑level course in supervision meeting Rule 64B4‑6.0025, F.A.C., or
   • A Board‑approved continuing education course in supervisory training meeting Rule 64B4‑6.0025, F.A.C., or
   • (For LCSW & LMHC paths) a post‑graduate training course for field instructors in clinical social work, or
   • An American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor designation (counts as supervision training for several paths),
   • For LMHC: being an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) through the Center for Credentialing & Education also qualifies.

4. Be in good standing (no active discipline)
   A licensee under a final disciplinary order may not serve as a qualified supervisor until all obligations in that order are satisfied; you must notify supervisees if a complaint or final order is filed against you.(law.cornell.edu)

5. Submit the Board’s Qualified Supervisor Statement and fingerprints

   • Complete Form DH‑MQA 5049, Qualified Supervisor Statement Instructions and Form, and submit it with documentation of your supervision training and, if cross‑discipline, your relevant transcripts.(law.cornell.edu)
   • Following House Bill 975 (2024), QS applicants must complete electronic fingerprinting as part of background screening before approval.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
   • There is currently no application fee for QS designation.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

6. Follow ongoing supervision rules

   • Supervise no more than 25 registered interns at a time.(flrules.elaws.us)
   • Ensure the intern’s experience meets the 100/100/1,500‑hour structure above and all requirements for in‑person vs. electronic supervision, group vs. individual supervision, and documentation.(flrules.elaws.us)

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3. Qualified Supervisor for Clinical Social Work Interns (LCSW & equivalents)

3.1 Standard path: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

To be recognized as a QS for registered clinical social worker interns, you must:(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

1. Hold an active LCSW license in Florida.

2. Clinical experience requirement

   • Complete four (4) years of clinical social work experience,
   • Up to two (2) of those years may be earned during a post‑master’s clinical internship,
   • The remaining two years must be post‑licensure as an LCSW.

3. Supervision training (post‑licensure) – you must have completed one of:

   • A graduate‑level supervision course (meeting Rule 64B4‑6.0025),
   • A continuing‑education supervisory training course meeting the same rule, or
   • A post‑graduate training course for field instructors in clinical social work, or
   • Designation as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

4. Submit the Qualified Supervisor Statement and supporting documentation to the Board.

3.2 Cross‑discipline path: LMFT or LMHC supervising CSW interns

If you are not an LCSW but wish to supervise clinical social work interns, you must:(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

1. Hold either:

   • A Florida LMFT or LMHC license, or the equivalent license in the state where the supervision occurs, and

2. Document graduate‑level coursework in social work:

   • At least nine (9) semester hours or twelve (12) quarter hours in social work theories and techniques from a CSWE‑accredited graduate school of social work;
   • Content must cover three of six areas:
     • Human behavior and social environment I and/or II
     • Social work practice theories
     • Models of social work practice
     • Advanced social work practice
     • Ethical issues in contemporary social work practice

3. Meet the same four‑year clinical experience and post‑licensure supervision‑training requirements as LCSWs, under Rule 64B4‑11.007(3).(law.cornell.edu)

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4. Qualified Supervisor for Marriage & Family Therapy Interns (LMFT & equivalents)

4.1 Standard path: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

To supervise registered marriage and family therapy interns, you must:(flrules.elaws.us)

1. Hold an active LMFT license in Florida (or the equivalent license in another state where supervision took place).

2. Clinical experience requirement

   • Complete five (5) years of clinical experience in marriage and family therapy,
   • Up to two (2) years may be earned in a post‑master’s clinical internship,
   • At least three (3) years must be post‑licensure.

3. Supervision training (post‑licensure) – you must have completed one of:

   • A graduate‑level supervision course meeting Rule 64B4‑6.0025,
   • A continuing‑education supervisory training course meeting Rule 64B4‑6.0025, or
   • Holding the AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential.

4. Submit the Qualified Supervisor Statement and documentation.

4.2 Cross‑discipline path: LCSW or LMHC supervising MFT interns

A Florida LCSW or LMHC can be a QS for marriage and family therapy interns if they:(flrules.elaws.us)

1. Hold the applicable license (LCSW or LMHC) in Florida or in the state where the supervision occurred;
2. Have completed at least six (6) semester hours or eight (8) quarter hours of graduate coursework in marriage and family systemic theories and techniques from an accredited university; and
3. Have five years of clinical experience in marriage and family therapy, with up to two years during a post‑master’s internship; and
4. Meet the same post‑licensure supervision‑training requirement as LMFTs.

4.3 Intern hours you will supervise

For MFT interns, as for the other two professions, the Board requires:(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

• Two years of post‑master’s supervised experience;
• Within that period:
  • At least 100 hours of supervision over no fewer than 100 weeks,
  • 1,500 hours of face‑to‑face psychotherapy with clients,
  • At least one hour of supervision every two weeks.

These numbers describe the intern’s supervised experience you are responsible to structure and document.

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5. Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counselor Interns (LMHC, LCSW/LMFT, or Psychologist)

5.1 Standard path: Licensed Mental Health Counselor

To supervise registered mental health counselor interns, the LMHC path requires:(law.cornell.edu)

1. Active LMHC license in Florida (or equivalent in another state for out‑of‑state supervision).

2. Clinical experience requirement

   • Five (5) years of clinical experience,
   • Up to two (2) years during a post‑master’s clinical internship,
   • At least three (3) years post‑licensure.

3. Supervision training (post‑licensure) – any one of:

   • A graduate‑level course in supervision that meets Rule 64B4‑6.0025, or
   • A continuing‑education supervisory training course meeting that rule, or
   • A post‑graduate training course for field instructors in clinical social work, or
   • Being an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) (Center for Credentialing & Education), or
   • Being an AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

4. Submission of the Qualified Supervisor Statement and evidence of training.

5.2 Cross‑discipline path: LCSW or LMFT supervising MHC interns

A clinical social worker or marriage and family therapist may supervise MHC interns if they:(law.cornell.edu)

1. Hold an active LCSW or LMFT license (in Florida or in the state where supervision occurred);

2. Have completed a three (3) semester hour or four (4) quarter hour graduate course covering three of the following six content areas:

   • Counseling theories
   • Counseling practice
   • Assessment
   • Career counseling
   • Substance abuse
   • Legal, ethical, and professional standards

   The course must be from a clinical counseling program in an institution accredited by a body recognized by CHEA and/or the U.S. Department of Education; an accredited school of social work alone does not satisfy this requirement.(law.cornell.edu)

3. Also satisfy the same five‑year clinical experience and post‑licensure supervision‑training requirements as LMHCs (per Rule 64B4‑31.007(2)).(law.cornell.edu)

5.3 Licensed psychologist supervising MHC interns (hour‑specific requirement)

A licensed psychologist may be a QS only for mental health counselor interns, and must meet explicit hour‑based criteria:(law.cornell.edu)

1. Hold an active psychology license (in Florida or in the state where the supervision took place);
2. Have completed a minimum of three (3) years of experience providing psychotherapy, and
3. For each of those three years, have provided at least 750 hours of direct client contact (i.e., psychotherapy hours).

This is the one situation where the Board specifies a numerical hour requirement for the supervisor’s own experience:

• 3 years × 750 direct client hours/year = at least 2,250 hours of direct client psychotherapy experience.

Psychologists who qualify under this rule may supervise only MHC interns, not CSW or MFT interns.(law.cornell.edu)

5.4 Intern hours you will supervise

For mental health counselor interns, the supervised experience standard is the same as for CSW and MFT interns:(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

• Two years of post‑master’s supervised practice;
• Within that time:
  • At least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks,
  • 1,500 hours of face‑to‑face psychotherapy with clients,
  • At least one hour of supervision every two weeks.

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6. Comparison summary

Supervisor’s clinical experience requirement (to qualify as QS)

• LCSW QS (for CSW interns):

  • 4 years clinical social work experience (≤2 during post‑master’s internship; ≥2 years post‑licensure).(law.cornell.edu)

• LMFT QS (for MFT interns):

  • 5 years clinical MFT experience (≤2 during post‑master’s internship; ≥3 years post‑licensure).(flrules.elaws.us)

• LMHC QS (for MHC interns):

  • 5 years clinical experience (≤2 during post‑master’s internship; ≥3 years post‑licensure).(law.cornell.edu)

• Psychologist QS (for MHC interns only):

  • 3 years psychotherapy experience with ≥750 hours of direct client contact per year (i.e., ≥2,250 hours total).(law.cornell.edu)

Intern’s supervised experience (what you must provide as QS, for all three professions)

• Duration: 2 years post‑master’s supervised experience.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
• Supervision hours: At least 100 hours of supervision over no fewer than 100 weeks.
• Direct client hours: At least 1,500 hours of face‑to‑face psychotherapy with clients.
• Frequency: At least one hour of supervision every two weeks.(flrules.elaws.us)

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7. Practical checklist to become a QS in Florida

1. Confirm your license type and jurisdiction

   • LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, or psychologist, and whether you intend to supervise only your own profession or also cross‑discipline.

2. Verify that you meet the experience requirement

   • 4 or 5 years of clinical work as required by your path (with the allowed portion from post‑master’s internship), or 3 years at 750 direct‑client hours/year if you are a psychologist supervising MHC interns.

3. Complete (or document) supervision training

   • Graduate supervision course, CE supervision course, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, ACS credential, or approved field‑instructor training, depending on your discipline and path.

4. If supervising outside your discipline, confirm extra coursework

   • For CSW: 9 semester / 12 quarter hours in specified social work content.
   • For MFT: 6 semester / 8 quarter hours in marriage and family systemic theories and techniques.
   • For MHC: 3‑semester / 4‑quarter‑hour course covering three of six counseling content areas.

5. Complete the Board’s Qualified Supervisor Statement (DH‑MQA 5049)

   • Attach supervision‑training documentation and relevant transcripts.

6. Complete electronic fingerprinting and background screening

   • Per the 2024 legislative change (HB 975), QS designation cannot be approved until fingerprinting and all other criteria are met.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

7. Await Board approval and verify your status

   • The Board will update your online license verification to show “Qualified Supervisor” once approved; supervision of registered interns should not begin until this status appears.(floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

This structure reflects the current Florida statutes and rules as updated through mid‑2025; because licensure rules can change, it is prudent to check the Board’s site and the latest versions of Chapter 491, F.S., and Chapter 64B4, F.A.C., before submitting your application or taking on new interns.