New-mexico LCSW Requirements & Hours Tracker

Licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Mexico is governed by the New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners under Title 16, Chapter 63 of the New Mexico Administrative Code. New Mexico uses the term “independent/clinical social worker,” and the LCSW designation is essentially the clinical, independent practice level.

According to the rules, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is a licensed independent social worker with a clinical specialty who has met the board’s clinical experience and supervision requirements for this highest level of licensure. (srca.nm.gov)

Below is a step‑by‑step guide focused on the actual hours and board language.

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1. Understand the License Type and Role

New Mexico’s rules describe an LCSW as an independent social worker with a clinical specialty, equivalent to an independent clinical social worker, intended to practice “independently” in providing clinical services (psychotherapy, diagnosis, treatment, etc.). (regulations.justia.com)

Regulatory provisions for this level are in 16.63.11 NMAC – Clinical Social Worker. (srca.nm.gov)

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2. Baseline Eligibility Before Earning Hours

To qualify for licensure as an independent/clinical social worker (LISW/LCSW), an applicant must: (srca.nm.gov)

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Hold a New Mexico LMSW license.
   • This presupposes a qualifying MSW from a program meeting CSWE-based standards (“qualified applicant” in 16.63.1.7). (regulations.justia.com)
3. Complete post‑graduate direct/clinical social work experience under appropriate supervision (details on hours below).
4. Complete the required course in New Mexico cultures. (srca.nm.gov)
5. Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) clinical or advanced exam (as determined by the board) and the New Mexico jurisprudence exam. (srca.nm.gov)
6. Provide any required criminal conviction disclosures as defined in the disciplinary rules. (srca.nm.gov)

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3. Required Clinical Experience: 3,600 Hours

The New Mexico rules lay out two related requirements for experience:

1. You must complete “not less than two years of post‑graduate direct/clinical social work experience” under appropriate supervision. (srca.nm.gov)
2. As a licensed master social worker aspiring to the independent clinical level, you must complete and document 3,600 hours of licensed master’s level social work experience within a limited time frame. (srca.nm.gov)

Key points about those 3,600 hours:

• Total hours required:
  • 3,600 hours of LMSW‑level social work practice.
• Time frame:
  • Hours must be accumulated over no more than 60 months (5 years). (srca.nm.gov)
  • The rules also require at least two years of post‑graduate direct/clinical experience, so you cannot compress the hours into less than two years.
• Nature of the work:
  • The rule characterizes it as post‑graduate direct/clinical social work experience—that is, master’s‑level clinical social work practice performed while licensed as an LMSW, under board‑defined appropriate supervision. (srca.nm.gov)

There is no split like “1,500 direct hours and 1,500 supervised hours.” Instead, New Mexico requires:

• 3,600 total hours of masters‑level practice, which must be supervised,
• plus a separate, specific requirement for 90 hours of supervision embedded within that period.

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4. Supervision Requirement: 90 Hours Within the 3,600 Hours

During the 3,600 hours of LMSW‑level experience, you must complete 90 hours of supervision. (srca.nm.gov)

The board’s rules specify:

• Total supervision hours:
  • 90 hours of supervision during the 3,600‑hour period.
• Frequency / ratio:
  • 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours worked must be documented. (srca.nm.gov)

Breakdown of the 90 Supervision Hours

The 90 hours must be composed as follows: (srca.nm.gov)

1. Direct supervision (minimum 70 hours)

   • The rule defines direct supervision as face‑to‑face supervision, which may include video‑teleconferencing.
   • At least 70 of the 90 required supervision hours must be direct supervision.

2. Group supervision (maximum 20 hours)

   • Defined as supervision provided to no more than six individuals per group at a time.
   • No more than 20 of the 90 supervision hours may come from group supervision.

3. Interdisciplinary supervision (maximum 30 hours)

   • In extraordinary circumstances, the board may accept supervision by other licensed clinical professionals, such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, or professional clinical counselors, provided they are in good standing with their own boards and the NM board has approved this arrangement in advance.
   • No more than 30 of the 90 supervision hours may be obtained from non‑LISW/LCSW (“interdisciplinary”) supervisors.

These limits interact. For example, all of the following must be true simultaneously:

• At least 70 hours are direct face‑to‑face (which can include individual or group, so long as it’s face‑to‑face).
• No more than 20 hours are group supervision.
• No more than 30 hours are interdisciplinary supervision.

“Appropriate Supervision” and Supervisor Qualifications

The term “appropriate supervision” is also defined by rule: (regulations.justia.com)

• Supervision must be provided by an individual qualified by the Board of Social Work Examiners.
• For LMSWs seeking the independent clinical level, supervision must be provided by:
  • A licensed independent social worker at the LISW or LCSW level engaged in direct clinical practice, or
  • Another licensed clinical professional approved by the board (for interdisciplinary supervision, within the 30‑hour cap).
• Supervisors must:
  • Complete a 3‑hour administrative course on supervision,
  • Submit an application with CV to the board for approval before starting supervision, and
  • Submit a plan for supervision describing frequency and the types of supervision (individual, group, teleconferencing).

There is also a requirement for a signed supervision agreement if the LCSW supervisor is external to the LMSW’s employing agency, including confidentiality provisions and acknowledgement that clinical care decisions rest with the agency. The employing agency must be kept informed of changes in the supervisory arrangement. (regulations.justia.com)

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5. Cultural Course and Examinations

New Mexico Cultures Course

Applicants must document completion of the board‑required course in New Mexico cultures. (srca.nm.gov)

• The board hosts information and a link to the cultural course on its licensing page.

ASWB Clinical / Advanced Exam and Jurisprudence

To obtain the independent/clinical license, you must: (srca.nm.gov)

• Pass the ASWB Clinical or Advanced exam (the board specifies which is required).
• Pass the New Mexico jurisprudence exam with a minimum passing score (FAQ notes at least 70%).
• Complete the board’s application process; only then will the board approve you to sit for the exam. The FAQ notes that approval is not granted before an application is on file.

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6. Application Process, Provisional Status, and Fees

Application Method

• New Mexico uses an online licensing portal (NM‑PLUS); initial LCSW/independent clinical applications must be submitted electronically, not by paper. (rld.nm.gov)

Provisional / Exam‑Only Approval

• After your 3,600 hours and 90 supervision hours are verified, the board may issue either:
  • A provisional independent/clinical license while you take the exam, or
  • An “exam‑only” approval (approval to sit for the ASWB exam without a provisional license), depending on your situation. (rld.nm.gov)

The FAQ clarifies that your supervision verification must be uploaded and approved before you are issued either provisional status or exam‑only approval.

Fees (as of current board schedule)

The board’s fee schedule lists, among others: (rld.nm.gov)

• Application for Clinical Social Worker licensure: $125
• ASWB Advanced/Clinical exam fee: (paid to ASWB) currently listed at $260 on the board’s fee table.

Fees are subject to change, but these figures reflect the board’s published schedule as of mid‑2025.

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7. Compact Summary of Hour Requirements (New Mexico LCSW Path)

In New Mexico, for LCSW/independent clinical licensure you must:

1. Hold an LMSW and be at least 18. (srca.nm.gov)
2. Complete at least two years of post‑graduate direct/clinical social work experience. (srca.nm.gov)
3. Accumulate 3,600 hours of licensed master’s level social work experience, while licensed as an LMSW, within no more than 60 months. (srca.nm.gov)
4. Complete 90 hours of supervision during those 3,600 hours, following all of these constraints: (srca.nm.gov)
   • 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of work.
   • At least 70 hours must be direct (face‑to‑face) supervision (video‑teleconferencing allowed).
   • No more than 20 hours may be group supervision (maximum six supervisees per group).
   • No more than 30 hours may be interdisciplinary supervision with non‑LCSW/LISW clinical professionals, and this must be pre‑approved by the board.
5. Ensure all supervision is “appropriate supervision” by board‑qualified supervisors (LCSW/LISW or other board‑approved clinical professionals) and follows the board’s supervision plan and agreement requirements. (regulations.justia.com)
6. Complete the New Mexico cultures course, pass the ASWB Clinical/Advanced exam and the New Mexico jurisprudence exam, and submit the online application with required fees and documentation. (srca.nm.gov)

This framework—3,600 hours of LMSW‑level practice plus 90 supervision hours with specific minimums and caps—is the core of New Mexico’s clinical licensure requirements for the LCSW/independent clinical level.