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Overview of Key Changes
Supervisor Qualifications
New supervisors will now be required to:
- Hold an active license in good standing;
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Have at least three years of post-candidate licensure; and
- Complete board-approved supervision training.
- Supervisors who are supervising before the rule's effective date are "grandfathered" in and may continue supervising without completing the new requirement.
Regarding the board-approved training course:
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This training course may not have been taken during the supervisor’s graduate program or while licensed as a candidate and obtaining supervised work experience.
LCSW Candidate Requirements
Individuals who become LCSW candidates after the effective date of the rule will be required to complete:
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3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience over at least 24 months;
- 1,500 hours of direct client contact; and
- Existing supervision requirements, including individual supervision and direct observation.
- Individuals who were already licensed as LCSW candidates before the rule takes effect will continue under the previous requirements.
Supervised Experience Standards
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Supervised work experience for all candidate license types must now have been earned within five years of applying for licensure, creating greater consistency across professions.
Suicide Related Continuing Education
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The required suicide-related continuing education has been updated to focus on suicide risk assessment and safety planning.
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Rather than being tied to an individual's renewal cycle, this requirement will now occur on an odd-year cycle for all licensees, simplifying compliance and audits.
Additional Clarifications
The Board also adopted a number of technical and clarifying changes, including:
- Clarifying examination approval procedures for candidates.
- Defining 10,000 hours as the equivalent of five years of professional experience for certain endorsement pathways.
- Clarifying supervisor qualifications and candidate registration timelines.
- Updating several definitions and technical provisions across the rules to improve consistency.
NASW Montana's Involvement
NASW Montana participated throughout the rulemaking process by reviewing the proposed changes, submitting formal comments, and providing feedback to the Board of Behavioral Health. We appreciate the Board's willingness to engage with stakeholders throughout this process. While not every recommendation was incorporated, the final package reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen Montana's behavioral health licensure system while providing greater clarity for licensees, candidates, and supervisors.
We encourage current licensees, supervisors, and candidates to review these changes and consider how they may affect future supervision, licensure planning, and continuing education. NASW-MT is committed to helping our members navigate these changes and we welcome any questions or comments you may have.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the social work profession and your support of NASW Montana Chapter.
Sincerely,
Nathan Stahley, LCSW | He/Him
Executive Director, Montana Chapter
National Association of Social Workers
nstahley.naswmt@socialworkers.org
(406) 449-6208
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