The short answer
Hawaii requires 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical social work over two to five years, including 100 hours of supervision, at least 60 of them individual and no more than 40 in a group of six or fewer. Your supervisor must be an LCSW with at least 4,500 hours of post-master's clinical experience.
The requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What Hawaiʻi asks for |
| --- | --- |
| Post-degree supervised experience | 3,000 hours of clinical social work |
| Inside those hours: clinical work | At least 2,000 hours of assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy |
| Inside those hours: advocacy cap | No more than 900 hours of client-centered advocacy, consultation, and evaluation |
| Clinical supervision | 100 hours total |
| Individual supervision minimum | At least 60 of the 100 hours |
| Group supervision maximum | Up to 40 hours, in groups of 6 or fewer |
| Supervisor qualification | LCSW with 4,500+ hours of post-master’s clinical experience |
| Time window | 2 to 5 years |
These come from the DCCA’s Social Worker licensing program. Requirements can change, so verify against the current application instructions before filing: DCCA Social Worker program.
The composition rules most candidates miss
Hawaiʻi does not just count your 3,000 hours, it looks inside them. At least 2,000 must be genuinely clinical: assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. And no more than 900 may be client-centered advocacy, consultation, or evaluation. If your role is heavy on case management, watch this closely, because hours beyond the caps simply do not count. Reviewing your role’s mix early, ideally with your supervisor, prevents the painful discovery that a year of work only partially qualifies. Our guide on What Counts Toward Clinical Hours in Hawaiʻi goes deeper.
The 60/40 supervision rule
The 100 supervision hours have a required shape:
- At least 60 hours of individual supervision, one on one
- No more than 40 hours of group supervision, and groups must be 6 people or fewer
This is stricter than the LMHC pathway, so plan your calendar around the individual hours. A steady rhythm, for example three individual sessions and one group session a month, gets you there without a scramble at the end. Every ICS group session is capped at six exactly because of this rule.
Your supervisor must be senior
Hawaiʻi requires your supervising LCSW to have at least 4,500 hours of post-master’s clinical social work experience. When you choose a supervisor, ask directly about their experience hours and their license standing. Every Island Clinical Supervision supervisor is verified with the DCCA every six months, and verification records are kept on file.
The exam and the record
You will take the ASWB Clinical examination, and your application will document your hours with supervisor verification. Between the composition rules, the 60/40 split, and the group-size cap, LCSW candidates carry the most bookkeeping of the three licenses. That bookkeeping is exactly what the ICS platform automates: sessions log with their format attached, the 60/40 balance is visible at a glance, sign-off happens in the app, and the export is board-ready.
Common questions
How many supervision hours does LCSW licensure require in Hawaii?+
100 hours, of which at least 60 must be individual supervision and no more than 40 may be group supervision in groups of six or fewer.
How many total clinical hours does the Hawaii LCSW require?+
3,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical social work over two to five years, including at least 2,000 hours of assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy, with no more than 900 hours of client-centered advocacy, consultation, and evaluation.
Who can supervise an LCSW candidate in Hawaii?+
A licensed clinical social worker with at least 4,500 hours of post-master's clinical social work experience.
Can LCSW supervision be done online in Hawaii?+
Yes, live video supervision is accepted, which is how Island Clinical Supervision serves candidates on every island.
What exam does Hawaii require for LCSW licensure?+
The ASWB Clinical examination.
Working toward your LCSW in Hawaiʻi?
Island Clinical Supervision pairs you with a licensed supervisor, tracks every hour, and handles the logistics, so your energy goes to the clinical work.
See LCSW supervision options