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Experience

Notice: These requirements changed, effective July 1, 2023.  Q & A

Summary: Supervised Clinical Experience Requirements

  • Supervision requirements vary depending on the application method, as described below.
  • "Clinical experience" means the professional practice of applying principles and methods to provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals and families with mental health disorders.
  • "Direct client contact hours" means only those clinical experience hours that are therapeutic or a combination of assessment and subsequent therapeutic interactions.
  • Qualifying clinical work experience hours include: Those hours of counseling / therapy services performed directly with clients [family, individual, couple, or group]. They are therapeutic in nature and are comprised of face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication.
  • Related activities NOT considered clinical work experience: intake only, case management, casual contact, research, advocacy, administration of programs, instruction, attending training or discussion groups, or supervision hours.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Requirements

All applicants must complete (or have completed) at least three years (36 months) of qualified supervised clinical counseling experience in order to qualify for licensure.  See also OAR 833-030-0021.

Associate Registration Method
Supervised clinical experience must meet the requirements of OAR Ch. 833, Division 50 and Division 130.  It must include at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours of counseling, which may include up to 400 pre-degree hours.  Please refer to the Associate Registration Page.

Direct Method
Supervised clinical experience must be a formal arrangement under the supervision of a person who holds a graduate-level state-issued license or registration: professional counselor, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or equivalent as determined by the Board.  The experience must include at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours of counseling, which may include any combination of the following:
  • Post-graduate degree supervised experience completed in Oregon prior to June 30, 2002;
  • Post-graduate degree supervised experience completed in another jurisdiction pursuant to the jurisdiction's laws and rules;
  • Experience completed while a registered associate (or previously "registered intern") with the Board; or
  • Pre-Degree: Up to one year of full-time supervised clinical experience and 400 hours of supervised direct client contact completed during the clinical portion of the qualifying graduate degree program.

Reciprocity Method
The same Direct Method experience requirements (above) also apply to Reciprocity Method applicants who have been licensed less than three years, who must document such experience.  For those who have held an active license for three or more years in any U.S. state., the experience requirements are presumed to have been met, and there are no further documentation requirements.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Requirements

All applicants must complete (or have completed) at least three years (36 months) of qualified supervised clinical counseling experience in order to qualify for licensure.  See also OAR 833-040-0021.
 
Associate Registration Method
Supervised clinical experience must meet the requirements of OAR Ch. 833, Division 50 and Division 130.  It must include at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours of therapy, including at least 750 hours working with couples and families.  This may include up to 400 pre-degree hours.  Please refer to the Associate Registration Page.
 
Direct Method
Supervised clinical experience must be a formal arrangement under the supervision of a person who is trained specifically in the systemic approach to couples and family therapy and holds a graduate-level state-issued license or registration as a marriage and family therapist or equivalent as determined by the Board (e.g. professional counselor, clinical psychologist, or clinical social worker).  The experience must include at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours therapy, including at least 750 hours working with couples and families in the same session. Experience may be accrued via any combination of the following methods:
  • Post-graduate degree supervised experience completed in Oregon prior to June 30, 2002;
  • Post-graduate degree supervised experience completed in another jurisdiction pursuant to the jurisdiction's laws and rules;
  • Experience completed while a registered associate (or previously "registered intern") with the Board; or
  • Pre-Degree: Up to one year of full-time supervised clinical experience and 400 hours of supervised direct client contact completed during the clinical portion of the qualifying graduate degree program.
Reciprocity Method
The same Direct Method experience requirements (above) also apply to Reciprocity Method applicants who have been licensed less than three years, who must document such experience.  For those who have held an active license for three or more years in any U.S. state., the experience requirements are presumed to have been met, and there are no further documentation requirements.