How to Serve as a Clinical Supervisor in Michigan as an LCSW

Serving as a Clinical Supervisor in Michigan allows Licensed Master’s Social Workers (LMSWs) to guide and support the next generation of professionals while expanding their leadership impact. To supervise effectively and compliantly, it’s essential to understand the Michigan Board of Social Work’s requirements—covering license qualifications, supervision format, and CE expectations. This guide outlines each of these key areas and highlights how the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) can support your journey with expert-led, flexible training options that enhance your supervision practice.

✅ Supervisor Eligibility Requirements

To provide clinical supervision for LMSW–Clinical licensure in Michigan, you must meet the following state requirements:

• ✅ Be a Michigan-licensed LMSW with a Clinical designation in good standing (active license) at the time of supervision
• ✅ If providing supervision outside Michigan, you must hold a license equivalent to the Michigan LMSW–Clinical in that jurisdiction

📄 Source: Supervisor’s Verification of Social Work Experience Form (PDF)

Required Hours of Supervised Experience
Supervisees must complete 4,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical social work experience to qualify for LMSW–Clinical licensure. The state outlines the following conditions:

• The experience must be completed while holding a Michigan Limited LMSW license
• The supervisee must work 16 to 40 hours per week
• No more than 2,000 hours per year can be counted toward the total
• Supervision must be provided by a currently licensed LMSW–Clinical

Supervision Format
To meet state requirements, supervision must follow a specific structure:

• ✅ A minimum of 4 hours of supervisory review per month is required
• ✅ At least 2 of those hours must be individual supervision, conducted face-to-face or via live interactive video (telehealth)
• ✅ Group supervision is permitted, as long as at least 50% of the time involves individualized review of the supervisee’s clinical work

🎓 Initial Training or CE Requirements

• ❌ Michigan does not require supervision-specific CE or formal training to provide clinical supervision
• ✅ However, professional development in supervision is strongly recommended to ensure ethical, effective, and legally sound practice.

Even without a mandate, training in supervision helps avoid legal pitfalls and prepares you to guide new professionals effectively.

🔁 Ongoing or Renewal CE Requirements

• ❌ There are no supervision-specific CE requirements to maintain your eligibility as a supervisor.
• ✅ Supervisors must still meet general LMSW license renewal requirements:

Michigan LMSW Renewal Requirements (every 3 years):

• 45 total CE hours
• At least:
  • 5 hours in ethics
  • 2 hours in pain and symptom management
  • 1 hour in implicit bias training

👉 For full details, refer to the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Requirements brochure.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid

Clinicians sometimes make costly errors that result in supervision hours not counting toward licensure. Be aware of these mistakes:

• ❌ Supervisee not properly licensed
  Only hours accrued under a Michigan Limited LMSW license qualify.
• ❌ Improper supervision format
  Ensure monthly supervision includes 4 hours total, with 2 individual hours, and document all sessions.
• ❌ Unqualified supervisors
  Supervision must be provided by an LMSW with the Clinical designation and two years of post-master’s experience.

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

While Michigan does not mandate supervision-specific CE to serve as a clinical supervisor, high-quality training remains essential for ethical, effective, and confident supervision.

The Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI) offers a robust selection of supervision-focused CE courses for behavioral health professionals looking to sharpen their skills, stay compliant, and support supervisees more effectively.

Recommended Courses

• Clinical Supervision Certificate Program
  Our Clinical Supervision Certificate Program provides 49 CE hours, covering a comprehensive range of topics relevant to clinical supervision—including ethics, supervisory relationships, documentation, cultural responsiveness, and legal considerations.

  Please notes: While the program covers most supervision-related topics, it does not include pain and symptom management or implicit bias training, which must be fulfilled separately to meet Michigan’s full CE requirements.

• 🩺 Pain and Symptom Management
  We recommend the following evidence-based, self-paced CE courses:

  • Integrating Chronic Pain into Mental Health Treatment
    Learn practical, trauma-informed strategies for addressing chronic pain in clinical settings.
  • Assessment and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions in Clients with Chronic Pain
    Explore the biopsychosocial model and differential diagnosis in clients with co-occurring pain and mental health concerns.
   

• ⚖️ Implicit Bias Training
  To fulfill Michigan’s 1-hour implicit bias CE requirement, we recommend browsing TCI’s selection of cultural competence courses:

  • 👉 Explore Cultural Competency & Humility Courses
    These courses are designed to increase awareness of implicit bias, improve cultural responsiveness, and support equitable care—key components of ethical clinical supervision.

• Individual Supervision CE Courses
  If you’re looking for targeted training on a specific aspect of supervision, you can browse our individual supervision CE courses to find exactly what you need.

🤝 Free Clinical Supervision Forum

Stay connected, informed, and inspired through our live, bi-monthly Clinical Supervision Forum—open to all behavioral health professionals involved in supervision.

• ✅ Earn complimentary live CE hours
• 💬 Engage in real-world case discussions and practical Q&A
• 🌐 Network with supervisors from across the country and across disciplines

🔗 Register now to join the conversation and strengthen your supervisory practice.

🌟 Why Choose TCI for Your Training?

• ✅ Trusted by thousands of behavioral health professionals nationwide
• ✅ Fully online and self-paced — train on your schedule, from anywhere
• ✅ Accredited CE taught by industry-leading experts
• ✅ Modular and flexible — choose only the courses you need

⚠️ Disclaimer:

• “The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Licensing requirements, regulations, and interpretations vary by state and are subject to change. Readers are responsible for verifying current laws, qualifications, and procedures with their respective state licensing boards or official authorities.”

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

Advance your career and support the next generation of clinicians by serving as a clinical supervisor in Michigan.

👉Clinical Supervision Certificate Program
👉Clinical Supervision CE Courses

Empower others. Elevate the profession. Supervise with confidence.