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

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) in Texas who want to mentor the next generation of clinicians must first qualify as clinical supervisors. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) sets clear rules for eligibility, responsibilities, and ongoing education. Below you’ll find a summary of the Texas clinical supervisor requirements, guidance on renewal CE obligations, pitfalls to avoid, and how the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) can help you meet supervision training needs.

✅ Supervisor Eligibility Requirements

Under 22 Texas Administrative Code §801.143(a)(1-3), LMFTs must meet several conditions to obtain supervisor designation:

• Application and fee – Supervisors must formally apply to the Council and pay the required fee.

• Experience – A minimum of 3,000 hours of LMFT practice over at least three years is required.

• Training requirement – Applicants must complete either:

  • a graduate-level supervision course (3-semester-hour),

  • a 40-hour continuing education program in clinical supervision, or

  • the AAMFT-approved Fundamentals of Supervision course.

Restrictions (§801.143(b-c))

• Supervisors cannot be employed by the associate they are supervising.

• Supervisors cannot be related to their supervisees within the second degree by marriage or the third degree by blood/adoption.

Documentation and Records (§801.143(d))

Within 60 days of beginning a supervisory relationship, supervisors must maintain a file that includes:

• A copy of the Supervisory Agreement Form,

• Proof of Council approval,

• A list of practice locations,

• Signed logs of each supervision meeting documenting total hours, direct client contact hours, and work with couples/families,

• A plan for custody of records if the supervisor becomes unavailable or incapacitated, and

• Any remediation plans developed for the supervisee.

Supervisors must also notify the Council within 30 days when supervision ends (§801.143(e)).

License and Status (§801.143(g–l))

• Supervisor designation automatically ends if the LMFT license expires, is not renewed, or changes to inactive status.

• Disciplinary actions that result in suspension or revocation of the license also revoke supervisor status. In such cases, supervisors must inform supervisees, refund any fees received after the disciplinary order, and help associates find alternate supervision.

• Providing supervision without current approval is grounds for disciplinary action.

• Supervisors may be compensated for supervision unless it is part of their regular employment duties.

Standards for the 40-Hour CE Option

For those completing the 40-hour continuing education pathway (§801.143(a)(3)(B)), the training must:

• Taught by a graduate-level licensee holding supervisor status issued by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council,

• Be finished within 90 days, and

• Include defined content areas:

  • 3 hours on supervision models,

  • 3 hours on supervisory relationships and therapist development,

  • 12 hours on methods and multicultural supervision,

  • 12 hours on ethics, standards, and legal issues, and

  • 3 hours on administrative tasks such as contracts, scheduling, and recordkeeping (§801.143(m)).

📄 Source: Texas Administrative Code – 22 TAC §801.143: Supervisor Requirements

🔁 Renewal CE Requirements

During each renewal period, LMFTs must complete:

• 30 hours of continuing education

Including:

• 6 hours in ethics

• 3 hours designed to ensure competency when providing services to a distinct population

Supervisors must also complete:

• 6 hours in supervision

Licensees who provide telehealth services must complete:

• 2 hours in technology-assisted services

The Texas jurisprudence examination must be taken and passed; 1 hour of ethics CE may be claimed for passing the exam.

Up to 10 hours may be carried forward to the next renewal period. At least 50% of CE hours must be obtained from qualifying provider categories listed in §801.261(e). The Council does not pre-approve CE providers; licensees are responsible for ensuring compliance.

📄 Source: Texas Administrative Code – 22 TAC §801.261: Requirements for Continuing Education.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid

Supervisors sometimes run into issues that jeopardize supervisee hours:

• Unapproved supervision – Hours won’t count unless the Supervisory Agreement Form is filed and approved.

• Incomplete supervision records – Missing signatures, inaccurate hour tracking, or absent remediation plans can invalidate supervision logs.

• Ineligible supervisor status – Hours accrued while the supervisor’s license is expired, inactive, or revoked may not be accepted (§801.143(g–i)).

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

The Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) provides accredited continuing education (CE) courses designed to support the professional development of Texas-licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.

Texas does not pre-approve CE providers. Licensees are responsible for ensuring that their selected CE activities comply with 22 TAC §801.261, including content requirements and the 50% qualifying-provider rule.

Please note that TCI provides continuing education (CE) courses only, not university-level training.

For Renewal (every license cycle)

• 6 Hours in Supervision CE (§801.261(b)(1))
  Texas supervisors must complete 6 hours of continuing education in supervision during each renewal period. TCI’s 10-CE Clinical Supervision Training Bundle offers supervision-focused CE topics such as supervision models, cultural competency, and foundations of supervision. Licensees may apply eligible hours toward their renewal requirements in accordance with Texas CE rules.
  👉 10-CE Clinical Supervision Training Bundle

• 2 Hours in Technology-Assisted Services (§801.261(b)(3))
  Licensees who provide telehealth services must complete 2 hours of continuing education in technology-assisted services. TCI’s TeleMental Health Clinical Skills course includes content related to telehealth practice. Licensees are responsible for determining whether the course satisfies the technology-assisted services requirement under Texas rules.
  👉 TeleMental Health Clinical Skills – Self-Study

• Choose Individual Supervision Topics
  Prefer to focus on a single area of supervision training? You can browse TCI’s catalog of individual supervision CE courses and select the topic that best fits your needs to fulfill your renewal requirement.
  👉 Browse Individual Supervision CE Courses

🤝 Free Clinical Supervision Forum

Join our live, bi-monthly forum—open to all behavioral health professionals!

• ✅ Earn complimentary live CE hours
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🔗 Register now and be part of the conversation

🌟 Why Choose TCI for Your Training?

• ✅ Trusted by thousands of behavioral health professionals across the nation
• ✅ Fully online & self-paced — learn at your convenience, wherever you are
• ✅ Accredited CE courses taught by industry-leading experts
• ✅ Flexible, modular courses — only pay for the 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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