Florida
Your Step-by-Step Path to Licensure and Beyond
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
How to become a social worker
Step 1: Attain MSW from a CSWE-accredited school
- Complete 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in theory of human behavior and practice methods as a course in clinical oriented services, including a minimum of one course in psychopathology.
- Courses NOT considered to be clinically oriented are:
- Policy
- Administration
- Organization
- Communities
- Complete a supervised field placement providing clinical services directly to clients.
Step 2: Qualify for the Florida Social Work License
- Complete 2 years of post-master supervised experience under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Before beginning your supervised hours, first register with the Florida Board as a Registered Clinical Social Worker online here
- Find a supervisor and put together a supervision plan
- The supervised hours must consist of:
- At least 1,500 hours providing psychotherapy face-to-face with clients for the profession for which the license is sought, and shall accrue no less than 100 weeks.
- At least 100 hours of supervision per 1,500 hours of psychotherapy face-to-face with clients provided by the intern.
- At least 1 hour of supervision per 15 hours of psychotherapy, with a minimum of 1 hour of supervision every 2 weeks
- If you obtain group supervision, each hour must alternate with an hour of individual supervision.
- Individual supervision is defined as one supervisor supervising no more than two (2) interns and group supervision is defined as one supervisor supervising more than two (2) but a maximum of six (6) interns in the group.
Step 3: Get Florida Board Approval to Take the Clinical Exam
- Apply for approval to take the ASWB clinical exam by the Florida Board: Apply here
- $100 application fee + $105 licensing fee
Step 4: Register and Start Studying
- Once you’ve gotten Florida Board approval, contact the Association of Social Work Boards to register for the exam, and then Pearson VUE to select your date and location.
- Finally, sign up for TDC’s LCSW Exam Prep: ASWB Clinical Level Exam program to study and pass your exam with confidence!
Continuing Education Requirements
Pre-licensure - Social workers in FL have the same CE requirements as Licensed Social workers.
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years (Must be renewed by March 31 if every ODD year)
- Total Hours Required: 30 hours
- Must include:
- 3 hours alternating every 2 years between: Ethics and Boundaries and Telehealth
- 2 hours Medical Error Prevention
Every 3rd Renewal:
- 3 hours Florida Law and Rules
- 2 hours Domestic Violence
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)
How to become a Marriage & Family Therapist
Step 1: Earn Your Degree
- Master’s in MFT or related field from COAMFTE approved school
Step 2: Accrue Supervised Experience
- At least 2 years of supervised experience
- 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks.
- Minimum of 1,500 hours face-to-face psychotherapy services in no less than 100 weeks
- At least 1 hour of direct supervision every 2 weeks
Step 3: Pass Required Exams
- Apply to take the AMFTRB National MFT Exam
- Exam fee $365
- Study with TDC’s NMFT exam prep course and pass with confidence!
Step 4: Apply for LMFT Licensure
- Submit supervised hours and exam results
- Submit official transcripts
- Application fee $100
Continuing Education Requirements
CE Requirements For Florida MFTs
License Renewal
- Renewal Cycle: Every 2 years
- Total Hours Required: 30 hours
- Must include:
- 2 hours medical errors
- 3 hours ethics or telehealth (either course can be taken in alternating biennial renewal periods)
- 3 hours Florida rules and laws (every 6 years)
- 2 hours domestic violence (every 6 years)
- 4 hours supervisor training for supervisors (every 6 years)
- 2 hours HIV-AIDS for Florida pre-licensure
- No limit on hours earned through home study courses
- Supervisory Training- 12 clock hours of in person didactic and interactional instruction
Therapist Development Center is an approved provider through ASWB ACE
