Nebraska PLMHP Requirements & Hours Tracker

Nebraska’s Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) credential is the entry license that allows a new master’s‑level clinician to begin practicing under supervision while accumulating the experience required for full licensure (LMHP and potentially LIMHP).

Below is a step‑by‑step description of what the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Licensure Unit / Board of Mental Health and Social Work Practice, currently requires—focusing on the hours, types of experience, and the board’s own terminology.

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1. How Nebraska Defines the PLMHP

On its licensure page, DHHS defines the credential this way:

“Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) is a person who needs to obtain 3,000 hours of supervised experience in mental health practice in Nebraska.” (dhhs.ne.gov)

In other words:

• The PLMHP itself does not require that you have already completed those 3,000 hours.
• Instead, it is the status you must hold while you earn 3,000 hours of post‑master’s supervised experience in Nebraska in order to qualify for LMHP (and, with additional conditions, LIMHP).

The board’s regulations define “supervised experience” as:

“The hours of experience obtained after receipt of the master’s degree, under appropriate licensure and before an applicant is granted the desired credential or certification.” (law.cornell.edu)

So all of the 3,000 hours discussed below are post‑degree hours earned while you hold a PLMHP (or comparable status) under a qualified supervisor.

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2. Baseline Requirements to Obtain the PLMHP

The official PLMHP/PCMSW application instructions (DHHS Licensure Unit, “Provisional Mental Health Practitioner and Provisional Master Social Worker” application packet) specify what you must have before the PLMHP can be issued. (dhhs.ne.gov)

To obtain the PLMHP, you must:

1. Hold the required graduate degree

   • A master’s or doctoral degree whose coursework and training were “primarily therapeutic mental health in content” (the phrase used by the application, referring to section 007 of the regulations). (dhhs.ne.gov)
   • The degree must include a practicum/internship (defined in section 002 of the regulations).

   For practicums/internships completed after September 1, 1995, DHHS requires:

   • A minimum of 300 clock hours of direct client contact under supervision as part of that graduate practicum/internship. (dhhs.ne.gov)

   In the application, the practicum is documented using the “affidavit of practicum/internship” form included in the packet.

2. Meet age and character requirements

   • You must be at least 19 years old and “of good character.” (dhhs.ne.gov)

3. Submit proof of lawful presence / citizenship

   • The packet lists acceptable documents (e.g., U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent resident card, etc.) and notes that non‑citizen documents are verified through the Department of Homeland Security. (dhhs.ne.gov)

4. Provide an official transcript

   • An official transcript showing your qualifying master’s or doctoral degree with primarily therapeutic mental health content.
   • If your degree is not from a program accredited by CACREP, COAMFTE, CSWE, CORE, or APA (for certain doctoral programs), you must submit syllabi and meet a 60‑semester‑hour coursework requirement that took effect July 12, 2023. (dhhs.ne.gov)

5. Document your practicum/internship

   • You must submit the practicum/internship affidavit, confirming that the practicum:
     • Was part of your degree program (not post‑degree work experience), and
     • Included the required 300 clock hours of direct client contact under supervision if completed after 9/1/1995. (dhhs.ne.gov)

6. Disclose convictions and other licenses

   • You must list and document all misdemeanor or felony convictions (with specific court records and explanations where applicable).
   • You must also have verification sent from any other health‑related licenses you hold or have ever held in any jurisdiction. (dhhs.ne.gov)

7. Pay the application fee (unless waived)

   • The PLMHP fee is listed as $125 in the current application (subject to fee‑waiver criteria for young workers, low‑income applicants, and certain military families). (dhhs.ne.gov)

Note: The PLMHP application instructions explicitly state, “You are NOT required to register your PLMHP supervisor with our office” at the provisional level, although supervision requirements do apply for hours that will count toward LMHP or LIMHP. (dhhs.ne.gov)

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3. Hours Required After You Obtain the PLMHP

Nebraska separates:

• Pre‑degree hours (your practicum/internship: 300 hours of direct client contact under supervision), from
• Post‑degree supervised experience hours required for full licensure.

The PLMHP is the license you must hold while you accumulate 3,000 hours of post‑master’s supervised experience in mental health practice in Nebraska. The application packet spells out how those hours must look if you are working toward LMHP and/or LIMHP. (dhhs.ne.gov)

3.1 Supervised experience to obtain LMHP

Under the heading “Supervised Experience to Obtain the LMHP”, the DHHS PLMHP application states that, while holding the PLMHP and working toward LMHP, you must:

1. Work under a qualified supervisor

   • You must be supervised by a Nebraska licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) or independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP) or psychologist or qualified physician when providing mental health services. (dhhs.ne.gov)

2. Accumulate 3,000 hours of mental health practitioner experience

   The application specifies:

   • “You must obtain at least 3,000 hours of MHP experience that includes a minimum of 1,500 direct (face‑to‑face) client contact hours.” (dhhs.ne.gov)

   In practice, this means:

   • Total supervised experience required for LMHP:
     • 3,000 hours post‑master’s, under appropriate supervision,
     • Of which at least 1,500 hours must be direct, face‑to‑face client contact (psychotherapy, counseling, assessment, etc.).
   • The remaining up to 1,500 hours can be “other” mental health practitioner experience that is not strictly direct client contact, such as:
     • Case management, documentation, treatment planning
     • Case conferences, record review, professional reading related to cases, staff meetings, etc. (examples described in DHHS and typical interpretations of “supervised experience”). (dhhs.ne.gov)

   So, in the format you asked for:

   • 1,500 hours minimum of direct face‑to‑face clinical work, and
   • Up to 1,500 hours of other supervised mental health practitioner activities,
   • For a total of 3,000 supervised post‑degree hours.

3. Meet weekly face‑to‑face supervision requirements

   • The application further requires:
     • “You must meet face‑to‑face with your supervisor for at least 1 hour per week.” (dhhs.ne.gov)
   • DHHS guidance recognizes that “face‑to‑face” supervision can be in person or via secure interactive video, as allowed in its supervision descriptions.

These requirements align with external summaries of Nebraska LMHP requirements, which also describe 3,000 post‑master’s hours including 1,500 direct client contact hours and weekly face‑to‑face supervision under a qualified Nebraska mental health professional. (counselingdegree.org)

3.2 Supervised experience to obtain LIMHP

If you intend to move beyond LMHP and qualify for the Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) credential (which includes independent diagnosis and treatment of major mental disorders), Nebraska imposes additional conditions on how your supervised hours are structured.

Under “Supervised Experience to Obtain the LIMHP,” the same PLMHP application specifies: (dhhs.ne.gov)

1. Type of supervisor

   • You must be supervised by a Nebraska licensed independent mental health practitioner, psychologist, or qualified physician when providing mental health services that will count toward LIMHP. (dhhs.ne.gov)

2. 3,000 hours with major mental illness focus

   The application requires:

   • “You must obtain at least 3,000 hours of mental health experience that includes a minimum of 1,500 comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category.” (dhhs.ne.gov)

   In structured terms:

   • Total supervised experience for LIMHP:
     • 3,000 hours of mental health practice (post‑master’s).
   • Within those 3,000 hours:
     • At least 1,500 hours must be with clients who have diagnoses in a major mental illness or disorder category.

   Nebraska statute for independent mental health practitioners (38‑2124) likewise requires 3,000 supervised hours, with one‑half comprised of experience with clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category, confirming this 1,500/1,500 split for LIMHP‑level practice. (law.justia.com)

3. Intensity and content of supervision

   The application further breaks down supervision for LIMHP‑level hours:

   • Review of diagnostic criteria:
     Supervision must include a review of the diagnostic criteria for clients diagnosed with major mental disorders.
   • Supervision ratio for major‑disorder cases:
     • You must have a minimum cumulative ratio of 2 hours of face‑to‑face contact with your qualified supervisor per 15 hours of client contact with clients diagnosed with major mental disorders.
     • You may not accumulate more than 45 hours of such client contact without this required supervision being provided. (dhhs.ne.gov)
   • What counts as supervised experience (but not direct contact):
     The application notes that supervised experience that is not direct client contact can include:
     • Review of client records
     • Case conferences
     • Direct observation or video observation
       and similar activities. (dhhs.ne.gov)
   • Duration of required supervision:
     • A licensed mental health practitioner seeking LIMHP “must receive supervision of all direct client contact where the licensee is providing services to clients with major mental disorders” until the independent credential is granted, not merely until a certain number of hours is reached. (dhhs.ne.gov)

So, for LIMHP‑level supervised experience, the board’s structure looks like:

• 3,000 total post‑degree supervised hours of mental health practice,
• At least 1,500 hours with major mental illness/disorder diagnoses,
• Ongoing high‑intensity supervision for those major‑disorder cases (2 hours supervision per 15 hours of such client contact), with strict limits on how many client hours can accrue before supervision occurs.

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4. How the Pieces Fit Together for a Nebraska PLMHP

Putting this into a single progression:

1. Before PLMHP is issued

   • Earn a qualifying master’s or doctoral degree in therapeutic mental health.
   • Complete a practicum/internship with at least 300 hours of supervised direct client contact (if after 9/1/1995).
   • Meet age, character, lawful presence, transcript, practicum documentation, conviction disclosure, and fee requirements. (dhhs.ne.gov)

2. While holding the PLMHP

   • Practice under a qualified supervisor in Nebraska.
   • Accumulate 3,000 hours of post‑master’s supervised experience:
     • For LMHP:
       • At least 1,500 hours of direct, face‑to‑face client contact,
       • Up to 1,500 hours of other supervised MHP work,
       • With at least 1 hour of face‑to‑face supervision per week. (dhhs.ne.gov)
     • For LIMHP (if you also seek independent practice with major mental disorders):
       • Those 3,000 hours must include 1,500 hours with clients diagnosed under a major mental illness/disorder category,
       • Supervision must emphasize diagnostic review and meet the 2‑hours‑per‑15‑hours ratio for those cases, with no more than 45 hours accrued between supervisory contacts. (dhhs.ne.gov)

3. After your hours are complete

   • Your supervisor submits the relevant Affidavit of Supervised Experience (MHP and/or LIMHP forms) to DHHS. (dhhs.ne.gov)
   • You then apply for full LMHP and, if eligible, LIMHP, meeting the appropriate examination requirements (NCE, NCMHCE, or other exam depending on degree type and certification route). (dhhs.ne.gov)

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5. Key Hour Numbers at a Glance

• Graduate practicum/internship (to qualify for PLMHP)

  • 300 clock hours of direct client contact under supervision, if completed after Sept. 1, 1995.

• Post‑master’s supervised experience for LMHP (while holding PLMHP)

  • 3,000 total hours of mental health practitioner experience.
  • At least 1,500 hours must be direct (face‑to‑face) client contact.
  • The remaining up to 1,500 hours may be other supervised mental health practitioner activities.
  • Supervision: at least 1 hour of face‑to‑face supervision per week. (dhhs.ne.gov)

• Post‑master’s supervised experience for LIMHP (often also while holding PLMHP or LMHP)

  • 3,000 total hours of mental health practice.
  • At least 1,500 hours must be with clients “diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category.”
  • Supervision ratio for major‑disorder cases: 2 hours of face‑to‑face supervision for every 15 hours of such client contact; no more than 45 client hours may accrue without that supervision. (dhhs.ne.gov)

All of these hour requirements and terms (“direct (face‑to‑face) client contact hours,” “supervised experience,” “clients diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category”) come directly from the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit’s own application instructions and the Nebraska statutes/regulations cited above.