Ohio LISW-S Requirements & Hours Tracker

Becoming an LISW‑S in Ohio: Requirements and Hour Breakdown

In Ohio, “LISW‑S” is a Licensed Independent Social Worker who also holds a training supervision designation. The Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board defines:

• LISW as an “Independent Social Worker”
• LISW‑S as an “Independent Social Worker with training supervision designation” (codes.ohio.gov)

Because of that, the path to LISW‑S is two-step:

1. Qualify for and obtain the LISW (independent social worker) license.
2. After you are an LISW, meet additional requirements to be granted the training supervision designation (the “‑S”).

Below is a step‑by‑step breakdown, with specific hours and the Board’s own terminology.

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Step 1 – Qualify for the LISW (Independent Social Worker) License

1. Education

Ohio Revised Code 4757.27 requires that an LISW applicant:

• Hold a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE‑accredited program (or a program in candidacy for accreditation). (codes.ohio.gov)

You must already be licensed as an LSW while you accrue the independent‑level experience.

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2. Supervised Employment Experience Hours (Practice Hours)

The governing rule is Ohio Admin. Code 4757‑19‑02(D), which requires two years of supervised social work experience, defined as:

• At least two complete years of supervised experience that:
  • Includes 3,000 hours of work “for a fee, salary or other consideration,”
  • During which you held licensure as a social worker, and
  • You cannot be credited with more than 1,500 hours in any 12‑month period. (codes.ohio.gov)

In plain terms:

• Total practice hours required for LISW:
  • 3,000 hours of post‑MSW employment experience in social work.
  • All 3,000 hours must be supervised social work experience (this is not 1,500 direct + 1,500 supervised; the entire 3,000 hours are supervised practice).

Supervision type:

• Any supervised experience obtained after October 10, 1986 in Ohio must be supervised by an independent social worker (LISW). (codes.ohio.gov)

Later rules further tighten who may provide the supervision for LISW licensure (see Step 3 below).

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3. Training Supervision Hours Within That Experience

Beyond the 3,000 hours of practice, Ohio requires a specific amount of “training supervision” in order for that experience to count toward LISW.

Ohio Admin. Code 4757‑23‑01(F) sets out the “requirements for social work professional training supervision to qualify for licensure as an independent social worker”:

• Supervision ratio:
  • 1 hour of individual and/or group supervision for every 20 hours of work by the supervisee.
• Minimum total supervision hours:
  • No less than 150 hours total of supervision. (codes.ohio.gov)

This is the Board’s key numerical standard. Taken together with the 3,000 practice‑hour requirement, that means:

• If you complete the full 3,000 hours of qualifying employment experience, you must log at least 150 hours of training supervision, at a 1:20 supervision‑to‑work ratio.

Who must supervise:

• The rule further specifies that employment experience required for LISW must be supervised by an LISW, and:
  • “Employment experience obtained after September 1, 2008… shall be supervised by an independent social worker with supervision designation” (i.e., an LISW‑S). (codes.ohio.gov)

So, for current candidates:

• Your 3,000 hours of experience for LISW must be supervised by an LISW‑S, not just any LISW.

Record‑keeping and submission:

• You, as the supervisee, must maintain supervision records/logs, including dates, content and goals of supervision, and the supervisor must sign/acknowledge them at least quarterly. Logs must be available to the Board upon request. (law.cornell.edu)
• When you complete the required supervision, the LISW‑S who last provided training supervision must submit your hours to the Board using its online evaluation form, based on your supervision log. (law.cornell.edu)
• There may be no direct family relationship between supervisor and supervisee for hours to count. (law.cornell.edu)

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4. Examination Requirement

Statute and rule require you to pass an examination for LISW licensure:

• ORC 4757.27(B)(3) and OAC 4757‑19‑02(D)(3) require passage of “an examination administered by the board for the purpose of determining ability to practice as an independent social worker.” (codes.ohio.gov)
• Under OAC 4757‑19‑02(D)(4), applicants must have passed the required exam within seven years of the application date (with limited exceptions such as already holding an equivalent independent license in another state). (codes.ohio.gov)

Recent Board action (July 10, 2025) phases out the ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam as a qualifying exam for the LISW. Starting July 10, 2026, the Board will recognize only the ASWB Clinical Exam for new LISW applicants, with narrow exceptions for those already in supervision specifically aiming for the Advanced Generalist. (linkedin.com)

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5. Application and Board Processing

The application steps themselves are in OAC 4757‑19‑02 and related procedural rules:

• Apply under the Board’s general application rule (OAC 4757‑1‑04) with the required fee, official transcripts, and any required documentation. (codes.ohio.gov)
• You must demonstrate:
  • MSW degree (per 4757.27),
  • 3,000 hours of qualifying supervised employment experience,
  • At least 150 hours of training supervision at the 1:20 ratio under an LISW‑S,
  • Passing score on the required LISW exam.

Once the Board confirms these, it issues the LISW license.

At this point you are an LISW, but not yet an LISW‑S.

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Step 2 – Obtaining the LISW‑S (Training Supervision Designation)

Once you hold an LISW, you may apply for the training supervision designation. This is what adds the “‑S” to your credential.

1. How the Board Defines LISW‑S

Ohio’s definitions rule states:

• An “Independent Social Worker with training supervision designation” is a social worker licensed as an LISW under the Board’s statute and “awarded a training supervision designation per [the social work supervision rule].” (codes.ohio.gov)
• OAC 4757‑3‑02 authorizes use of the abbreviation “LISW‑S” for this credential. (codes.ohio.gov)

This designation is what allows you to provide training supervision for LSWs working toward LISW, and to provide clinical supervision to certain other licensees. (codes.ohio.gov)

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2. Eligibility to Apply for Training Supervision Designation

Ohio Admin. Code 4757‑23‑01(H) sets the requirements for social work professional training in supervision to qualify for a training supervision designation:

An applicant must:

1. Already be an LISW, and

2. Meet both of the following:

   a. Post‑licensure LISW experience

   • Have one year of post‑licensure experience as an independent social worker. (codes.ohio.gov)

   The rule is time‑based (one year), not a specified additional number of client hours.

   b. Supervision‑specific education

   • Complete at least 9 hours of continuing education in supervision OR
   • Complete one master’s‑level supervision course from an accredited university. (codes.ohio.gov)

   Timing requirements:

   • If using CE hours, those 9 hours must be completed between the date you were first licensed as an LISW and the date you apply for the designation. (codes.ohio.gov)
   • If using a master’s‑level course, it must have been completed within the last three years. (codes.ohio.gov)

   Content requirements for the 9 hours:

   • The supervision training must total nine clock hours of didactic and interaction instruction and cover specific learning objectives, including:
     • Models of supervision and development of a personal model,
     • Dynamics of supervisee–client and supervisor–supervisee–client relationships,
     • Distinctive issues in supervision (e.g., power, boundaries),
     • Contextual variables such as culture, gender, ethnicity, power, and economics,
     • Ethical, legal, and regulatory issues of supervision,
     • The role of evaluation in supervision. (codes.ohio.gov)

   The coursework must be Board‑approved when it is CE, and must specifically be social work training supervision content.

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3. Maintaining the LISW‑S Designation

Once you obtain the designation, OAC 4757‑23‑01(H)(2) requires that you continue to meet supervision‑education requirements:

• Each renewal period, an LISW‑S must complete:
  • 3 hours of continuing professional education in supervision OR
  • A master’s‑level supervision course (if relevant). (codes.ohio.gov)

These hours must be Board‑approved and are in addition to any general CE requirements for LISW license renewal.

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4. What LISW‑S Supervisors Are Expected to Do

Under OAC 4757‑23‑01(C), “training supervision of licensed social workers by licensed independent social workers with a supervision designation” requires the LISW‑S supervisor to:

• Demonstrate competence in the area they are supervising,
• Have training in supervision theory and practice,
• Have training in legal and ethical issues relevant to counseling, psychosocial interventions, and social psychotherapy,
• Complete and forward all supervision evaluations required by the Board within 30 days of completing supervision with a supervisee,
• Promote non‑discriminatory delivery of services. (codes.ohio.gov)

Scope of practice:

• The LISW‑S scope rule (OAC 4757‑21‑03) explicitly authorizes an independent social worker with supervision designation to:
  • Provide training supervision for social workers seeking LISW licensure,
  • Provide clinical supervision of social work assistants, social workers, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists, as well as certain chemical dependency professionals, when they meet the applicable education/experience requirements. (codes.ohio.gov)

This is the functional benefit of obtaining the “‑S”.

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Putting It All Together: Hour and Requirement Summary

To be licensed as an LISW in Ohio (independent social worker):

• Education

  • MSW from a CSWE‑accredited (or candidate) program. (codes.ohio.gov)

• Supervised employment experience (“two years employment experience”)

  • 3,000 hours of post‑MSW supervised social work employment,
  • Must be at least two full years,
  • No more than 1,500 hours credited in any 12‑month period,
  • You must be licensed as an LSW during this experience,
  • Experience in Ohio must be supervised by an LISW, and if obtained after September 1, 2008, by an LISW‑S. (codes.ohio.gov)

• Training supervision hours (within those 3,000 hours)

  • 1 hour of individual and/or group supervision for every 20 hours of work,
  • Minimum 150 hours of training supervision total,
  • Supervision must be provided by an LISW‑S,
  • Supervision logs maintained by the supervisee; final training‑supervision hours submitted online by the last LISW‑S supervisor. (codes.ohio.gov)

• Examination

  • Pass the Board‑required LISW exam (currently ASWB Clinical; Advanced Generalist exam accepted only under limited grandfathered conditions),
  • Exam must have been passed within 7 years of applying, with limited exceptions. (codes.ohio.gov)

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To add the LISW‑S training supervision designation:

• Current status

  • Hold an active LISW license in Ohio.

• Experience

  • At least one year of post‑licensure experience as an LISW. (codes.ohio.gov)

• Supervision‑specific education

  • Either:
    • ≥ 9 hours of Board‑approved continuing education in social work training supervision completed between the date of LISW licensure and the date of designation application, or
    • A master’s‑level supervision course completed within the last three years. (codes.ohio.gov)
  • The 9 hours must be didactic and interactive and address Board‑specified learning objectives (supervision models, ethics, multicultural/contextual issues, evaluation, etc.). (codes.ohio.gov)

• Application

  • Submit the Board’s training supervision designation application form with documentation of:
    • LISW status,
    • One year of LISW practice,
    • Required supervision‑training coursework.

• Ongoing maintenance

  • Complete 3 hours of Board‑approved supervision CE (or a master’s‑level supervision course) each renewal period to maintain LISW‑S status. (codes.ohio.gov)

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In summary, Ohio’s pathway to LISW‑S is structured around:

• 3,000 hours of supervised post‑MSW employment experience,
• At least 150 hours of structured training supervision at a 1:20 ratio under an LISW‑S (for LISW licensure), and
• One year of LISW practice plus 9 hours of supervision‑specific education, followed by ongoing supervision CE (for the “‑S” training supervision designation).

All of this is defined in detail in the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4757 and Ohio Administrative Code Chapters 4757‑19, 4757‑21, 4757‑23, and 4757‑3, as administered by the CSWMFT Board.