How Many Supervision Hours Do I Need for MFT Licensure? A State-by-State Guide

One of the first questions every pre-licensed MFT asks is: how many hours do I need?

The answer depends on the state, and states don't even count the same things. Some set a large total of supervised work. Others count only direct client contact. Supervision may be a fixed number of hours or a ratio to your client hours, and the rules on video supervision range from fully allowed to not allowed at all.

This guide summarizes the rules for thirteen states as of October 2026, with the rule each figure comes from. Rules change, so confirm with your board before you plan your hours. Where a rule doesn't state something clearly, I say so.

If you plan to work with a supervisor by video, check this first. As of October 2026:

• Allowed, with conditions: Illinois (live audio and video), Texas (live video), Indiana (up to 100% by live audio and video), Ohio (after a first face-to-face meeting, which may be by video), New Mexico, New York (secure phone or video, per a 2021 board decision), Wisconsin (live video counts as face-to-face), and Alaska (with telesupervision training for the supervisor).
• Allowed with an in-person share: Arizona allows no more than 90 of the 100 supervision hours by video or phone. Florida's rule has required at least half of supervision interactions in person unless the supervisor determines electronic supervision won't harm the intern's clients, and a 2026 amendment changed related language, so check the current text.
• Not currently allowed: Michigan's statute requires face-to-face supervision. A bill to allow virtual supervision (HB 4905) passed the Michigan House in June 2026 and is pending in the Senate.
• Unclear in the rule text: Idaho's board form records live electronic supervision hours, though the rule doesn't address it. Hawaii's statute and guidance don't address it.

Alaska requires 1,700 hours of clinical contact with couples, individuals, and families after the degree, and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual (AS 08.63.100). The board approves each supervisor and each associate's supervision plan. Individual supervisors must be Alaska-licensed MFTs with five continuous years of licensed practice and recent supervision training (12 AAC 19.210). Applicants also complete domestic violence training and pass a state exam along with the national exam.

→ Alaska MFT supervision · Alaska licensure guide

Arizona's statute requires 1,600 hours of direct client contact over at least 24 months, with at least 1,000 hours with couples or families (A.R.S. 32-3311). The board rule still lists an older 3,200-hour total, and the statute controls; confirm with the board. Supervision is at least 100 hours, at least 25 individual, with a cap of 90 hours by video or phone (R4-6-212). At least 50 hours must come from an LMFT or from an independently licensed professional who holds the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation (R4-6-604).

→ Arizona MFT supervision · Arizona licensure guide

Florida registered interns need two years of post-master's experience, 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy, and 100 hours of supervision spread over at least 100 weeks (s. 491.005, F.S.; Fla. Admin. Code 64B4-2.002). Supervisors must be board-approved qualified supervisors before supervising any intern. AAMFT Approved Supervisor status satisfies the supervision-training part of that approval (64B4-11.007). Registration expires after 60 months. Florida also requires laws and rules, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence coursework.

→ Florida MFT supervision · Florida licensure guide

Hawaii created a provisional Associate MFT license effective July 1, 2026 (HRS 451J-7.2). Licensure requires 1,000 hours of post-degree MFT experience and 200 hours of clinical supervision over at least 24 months (HRS 451J-7). The state's guidance says post-master's supervisors must be Hawaii-licensed.

→ Hawaii MFT supervision · Hawaii licensure guide

Idaho requires 2,000 hours of post-graduate direct client contact, 1,000 of them conjoint, and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual, over at least two years (IDAPA 24.15.01.100). At least 100 supervision hours must be with an LMFT, and supervisors must be board-approved. A pending rule published in August 2026 would reduce supervision to 100 hours, 50 individual; check whether it is in effect.

→ Idaho MFT supervision · Idaho licensure guide

Illinois requires 3,000 hours of professional work experience over two to five years, including 1,000 hours of clinical activities and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1283.15 and 1283.25). Video supervision counts when it is live with verbal and visual interaction.

→ Illinois MFT supervision · Illinois licensure explained

Indiana requires 1,000 hours of post-graduate clinical experience over at least 24 months (839 IAC 1-4-3.2), and the licensing agency lists 200 supervision hours with 100 individual. Up to all supervision may be virtual by live audio and video (IC 25-23.6-8-2.7). AAMFT Approved Supervisors are recognized as supervisors (839 IAC 1-4-5). Indiana also requires a jurisprudence exam.

→ Indiana MFT supervision · Indiana licensure guide

Michigan requires at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact, at least half with couples or families physically present in the room, and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual, at a ratio of one supervision hour per five hours of experience (MCL 333.16909). AAMFT Approved Supervisors are recognized. Supervision must currently be face-to-face.

→ Michigan MFT supervision · Michigan licensure guide

New Mexico requires at least two years post-graduate, 1,000 hours of MFT client contact, and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual (16.27.6.9 NMAC). Supervisors must hold a board-issued supervision designation. Electronic supervision follows the same rules as in-person supervision.

→ New Mexico MFT supervision · New Mexico licensure guide

New York requires 1,500 clock hours of direct client contact, which can be earned in a graduate program, under a limited permit, or both, with at least one hour of supervision per week or four per month (8 NYCRR 79-10.3). Supervisors must be New York-licensed in a qualifying profession. The limited permit lasts 24 months and can be extended to a maximum of 48.

→ New York MFT supervision · New York licensure guide

Ohio requires at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, at least 500 with couples or families present, and 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 individual, over at least two years (OAC 4757-25-04). Training supervision must come from an Ohio IMFT with the board's training supervision designation, which AAMFT Approved Supervisors can obtain (OAC 4757-29-01).

→ Ohio MFT supervision · Ohio licensure guide

Texas requires 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice over at least two years, including 1,500 hours of direct clinical services (no more than 750 by telehealth) and 200 hours of supervision by a board-approved LMFT Supervisor, at least 100 individual (22 Tex. Admin. Code 801.142).

→ Texas MFT supervision · Texas licensure explained

Wisconsin requires 3,000 hours while holding the training license, including 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, with one hour of supervision per ten client contact hours (Wis. Stat. 457.10; Wis. Admin. Code MPSW 16.04). Groups may have up to eight supervisees. AAMFT Approved Supervisors are recognized. Wisconsin also requires a statutes and rules exam.

→ Wisconsin MFT supervision · Wisconsin licensure guide

The supervision relationship matters more than the hour count. Two hundred hours with a supervisor who doesn't understand your clinical context won't prepare you the way the right supervisor will.

Supervisor approval is its own requirement. Several states (Alaska, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas) require the board to approve or designate your supervisor. Confirm your supervisor's status for your state before you start.

Documentation requirements vary. Most boards have their own forms. Your supervisor should know what your board expects.

Mx. Love C. Dialogos is an LMFT and AAMFT Approved Supervisor licensed in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. Verify credential in the AAMFT directory.

• Group vs. Individual Supervision Hours for MFT Licensure
• Does Telehealth Supervision Count for MFT Licensure Hours?
• How to Track Your MFT Supervision Hours
• How to Choose a Queer-Affirming MFT Supervisor