How to Become an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Georgia as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

If you're a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in Georgia, becoming an approved clinical supervisor allows you to shape the future of the profession while deepening your own clinical and leadership skills. But Georgia has very specific standards for who qualifies as a Board Approved Supervisor—and missing even one requirement can disqualify your supervisee’s hours.

This guide breaks down the Georgia clinical supervisor requirements, including who qualifies, the supervision-specific training required, ongoing CE expectations, and how the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) can support your journey.

✅ Supervisor Eligibility Requirements

To be recognized as a Board Approved Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor in Georgia, you must meet the criteria outlined in Rule 135-5-.06(c) of the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists.

Who Qualifies Under State Board Rules?
According to Rule 135-5-.06(c):

“Board Approved Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor means a person who is licensed as a marriage and family therapist and who has been approved by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists to provide supervision of the practice of marriage and family therapy.”
— Rule 135-5-.06(c)

To obtain this designation, the MFT must submit documentation showing:

• Three years of full-time, post-licensure clinical experience in marriage and family therapy;

• 180 hours of experience providing supervision to at least two supervisees over a period of no less than two years and no more than five;

• 36 hours of supervision-of-supervision, which must include:

  • A minimum of 24 hours of individual supervision, and

  • All supervision-of-supervision must be provided by either:

    • An AAMFT Approved Supervisor, or

    • A Georgia Board Approved MFT Supervisor,specifically in the skill of providing marriage and family therapy supervision.

• Written recommendations from each of the supervisors who provided supervision-of-supervision, confirming the applicant’s supervisory competence;

• Alternatively, the Board may, in its discretion, approve a supervisor who:

  • Is licensed as an MFT in another jurisdiction, and

  • Has been designated an approved supervisor by that jurisdiction’s licensing board.

📜 Source: Rule 135-5-.06 – Marriage and Family Therapists, Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists.

🔁 Ongoing / Renewal CE Requirements

While Georgia does not require supervision-specific continuing education (CE) to maintain supervisor status, you must still fulfill the state’s general CE requirements to keep your LMFT license active—and remain eligible to supervise.

According to Rule 135-9-.01, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists in Georgia must complete:

35 hours of continuing education every two years, including:

• At least 5 hours in ethics, which must be obtained through synchronous activities only (Rule 135-9-.01.2(b))

• Independent study is limited to a maximum of 5 hours total (Rule 135-9-.01.2(g))

  • Ethics hours may NOT be obtained through independent study

  • Core hours may NOT be obtained through independent study

• Of the remaining 30 hours:

  • A minimum of 15 hours must be core hours

  • No more than 15 hours may be related hours (Rule 135-9-.01.2(c))

📘 Key Definitions (Rule 135-9-.01.1)

• Synchronous Activities (135-9-.01.1(a))
  Activities requiring participants and instructors to be present at the same time, either in person or online. Examples include live workshops, live webinars, and video conferencing.

• Core Hours (135-9-.01.1(e))
  CE acquired in activities directly related to Marriage and Family Therapy, the specialty in which the license is held.

• Related Hours (135-9-.01.1(f))
  CE acquired in activities outside the MFT specialty or in allied professions such as psychology, psychiatry, or psychiatric nursing.

ℹ️ Additional guidance on what qualifies as “related hours” can be found in Rule 135-9-.01.2(f).

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid

Even well-intentioned clinicians can make supervision mistakes that invalidate hours. Here are the pitfalls to avoid in Georgia:

• 🚫 Supervisee Not Registered
  Supervisees must be officially registered and approved by the Board before supervision begins. Hours accrued prior to board registration will not count.

• 🚫 Supervisor Not Meeting Requirements
  Supervisors must be formally approved by the Georgia Board before providing supervision. Simply being licensed and experienced is not enough—you must submit documentation and receive official approval.

• 🚫 Poor or Missing Documentation
  Supervision hours must be thoroughly documented using Board-approved forms. Missing dates, unclear logs, or insufficient details can lead to hours being rejected.

📘How the Telehealth Certification Institute Helps You Meet Supervision CE Requirements

At the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI), we offer high-quality, supervision-focused continuing education (CE) courses designed to help you strengthen your clinical supervision skills and fulfill Georgia’s general license renewal requirements.

🎓 Recommended Courses:

• ✅ 10-CE Clinical Supervision Training Bundle
  This bundle covers foundational topics such as models of supervision, ethics, and cultural competency. Since Georgia allows only 10 CE hours through self-study, this course is ideal for fulfilling your self-study cap while building essential supervision knowledge.

• ✅ Live Webinars
  To meet the remaining 25 hours required for license renewal, browse our live webinar courses, which provide real-time, interactive instruction—fully compliant with Georgia’s live CE requirement.

• ✅ Clinical Supervision Certificate Program (49 CE Hours)
  This comprehensive program exceeds Georgia’s 10-hour self-study limit but is perfect if you want in-depth training in supervision models, legal/ethical considerations, and cultural dynamics—all delivered in a structured, instructor-led format.

• ✅ Individual Clinical Supervision CE Courses
  Prefer to focus on specific areas like ethics, documentation, or multicultural supervision? Browse our catalog of individual CE courses and choose the exact topics that match your interests and professional goals.

🤝 Free Clinical Supervision Forum

Join our live, bi-monthly clinical supervision forum—designed specifically for current and aspiring clinical supervisors in behavioral health.

• ✅ Earn free, live CE hours – stay compliant and informed
• 💬 Engage in real-world supervision case discussions
• 🌐 Network with clinical supervisors nationwide

🔗 Register now and be part of the conversation

🌟 Why Choose TCI for Your Training?

✅ Trusted by thousands of behavioral health professionals across the U.S.
✅ 100% online & self-paced – learn anytime, anywhere
✅ Accredited continuing education (CE) taught by leading industry experts
✅ Modular, flexible courses – pay only for the CE training you need

⚠️ Disclaimer

“The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Licensing and supervision requirements may change, and interpretations may vary. It is the responsibility of each individual to verify the current rules and qualifications directly with their state licensing authority.”

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