Florida RCSWI Requirements & Hours Tracker

Florida regulates Registered Clinical Social Worker Interns (RCSWIs) through the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling under Chapter 491, Florida Statutes. The Board treats this status as a “license” category for people who are in the process of earning the supervised post‑master’s experience required for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

Below is a step‑by‑step guide based directly on the Board’s own language and statutory rules, with special emphasis on the required hours.

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1. Purpose of the RCSWI Credential

On the Board’s official page, the RCSWI is described as:

“This license is for those earning two years of supervised post-master’s experience.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

In practice, this registration allows you to provide clinical social work services only under the supervision of a Board‑approved Qualified Supervisor while you accumulate the post‑master’s clinical experience needed for full LCSW licensure.

By statute, anyone who intends to practice clinical social work in Florida to satisfy the clinical experience requirement must register as an intern before commencing that practice, or the time will not count toward licensure. (flsenate.gov)

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2. Educational Requirements

To be approved as a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern, you must meet specific education requirements set out in Board rule and statute. The Board summarizes these requirements as follows: (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

2.1. Degree

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–accredited school of social work. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the school to the Board; they must show the degree conferred date.

2.2. Clinical Coursework

Board language for coursework (for full clinical licensure) is:

• “Completed 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in theory of human behavior and practice methods as courses in clinically oriented services, including a minimum of one course in psychopathology.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

Courses in policy, administration, organization, and communities are not counted as “clinically oriented” for this purpose. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

For RCSWI registration specifically, the Board allows you to register before all 24 semester hours are completed:

• You may become a registered intern after completing at least 15 semester hours or 22 quarter hours of the required clinically oriented coursework.
• The remaining coursework must be completed before you can be approved for the licensing exam and full LCSW licensure. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

2.3. Practicum / Field Placement

You must also document:

• A supervised field placement (practicum, internship, or field experience) that was part of your MSW program “during which the applicant provided clinical services directly to clients.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

A school official (e.g., Dean or Department Chair) must send a letter on university letterhead verifying that this supervised practicum/internship was completed and met the Board’s clinical requirements.

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3. Securing a Qualified Supervisor

Before you can be issued an RCSWI number, you must have a Board‑approved Qualified Supervisor.

The Board states that applicants must: (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

• Obtain a letter from a Board‑approved Qualified Supervisor.
• The letter must:
  • Originate from the supervisor.
  • Include the supervisor’s license number.
  • Include your name as it appears on your application.
  • State that the supervisor “has agreed to provide the applicant with supervision while a registered intern.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

Your RCSWI number will not be issued until this supervisor letter is received and approved by the Board. Supervised experience will not count toward licensure until: (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

1. Your intern registration has been issued, and
2. The Board has approved your Qualified Supervisor.

Qualified Supervisors must themselves meet specific requirements (e.g., years of clinical experience and specific supervision training) under Rule 64B4‑11.007, F.A.C. (law.cornell.edu)

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4. Application & Background Requirements

To register as an RCSWI, you must:

1. Complete the application form and pay the Board‑set, nonrefundable application fee (statute caps it at $200). (flsenate.gov)
2. Arrange for your official transcript, practicum letter, and (if applicable) advanced standing letter to be sent.
3. Submit the Qualified Supervisor letter described above.
4. Complete electronic fingerprinting / background screening, as now mandated following Florida House Bill 975 (2024). The Board notes that your application cannot be approved until background screening and all other criteria are met. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
5. If applicable, submit additional documentation regarding:
   • Health history,
   • Discipline history, and
   • Criminal history,
     as described in detail on the Board page and in §456.0635, F.S. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

By law, intern registration is valid for 5 years. Any later intern registration in the same profession must meet all requirements again and is issued at the Board’s discretion. (flsenate.gov)

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5. Required Hours During the RCSWI Period

Once you are registered as an RCSWI and your supervisor has been approved, you begin accruing the post‑master’s supervised clinical experience required for LCSW licensure.

The Board’s own description under “During Supervision” states:

“Two (2) years of post-master’s supervised experience under the supervision of a Board approved Qualified Supervisor is required for full licensure.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

The supervised experience must consist of all of the following (Board bullet list):

1. “At least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks;” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
2. “1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients;” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
3. “One (1) hour of supervision every two (2) weeks.” (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

In other words, the Florida Board’s required experience for an RCSWI working toward LCSW licensure is:

• 100 hours of supervision total
• Occurring over at least 100 weeks
• 1,500 hours of direct, face‑to‑face psychotherapy with clients
• Minimum supervision frequency: at least 1 hour of supervision every two weeks

There is no separate requirement for “1,500 supervised hours” in addition to the 1,500 face‑to‑face psychotherapy hours; instead, Florida’s rule combines:

• A specific number of client contact hours (1,500), and
• A specific amount and frequency of supervision (100 hours; one hour every two weeks; minimum 100 weeks). (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

The same hour structure appears on the Board’s LCSW licensure page, confirming that these are the hours you are expected to complete while registered as an RCSWI. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

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6. Practice Restrictions While Registered as an RCSWI

Florida statutes and Board rules impose several key limitations on interns:

1. No independent practice

   • A registered intern may not engage in his or her own independent private practice. (flsenate.gov)

2. On‑site licensed professional in private practice settings

   • When a registered intern provides clinical services in a private practice setting, “a licensed mental health professional must be on the premises” at the time services are provided. (flsenate.gov)

3. Mandatory use of title and display of registration

   • A registered clinical social worker intern must conspicuously display the valid registration at each practice location and must include the words “registered clinical social worker intern” on all records, reports, and promotional materials naming the intern. (flsenate.gov)

These restrictions underscore that the RCSWI is a supervised, non‑independent status.

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7. Documenting Hours and Moving to Full Licensure

After you complete your supervised experience:

• Your post‑master’s clinical hours must be documented on the Board’s “Verification of Clinical Experience Form” by each Qualified Supervisor or the hours will not count toward licensure. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)
• The Board instructs interns to submit one form per Qualified Supervisor, and notes that this form is not required until you apply for full LCSW licensure, not at the time of intern registration. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

For full LCSW licensure, in addition to the supervised experience, you must meet all coursework requirements, complete required Board‑approved courses (e.g., 8‑hour Florida laws and rules, 2‑hour prevention of medical errors), and pass the ASWB Clinical exam, as detailed on the LCSW licensure page. (floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov)

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8. Hour Requirements – Concise Summary

Using the Board’s own structure, the experience and hours tied to the RCSWI registration (on the path to LCSW) are:

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

These figures, along with the educational and supervision requirements above, are the Florida Board’s official requirements to be registered and supervised as a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSWI) on the way to full LCSW licensure.