Tips For Associate Mental Health Social Workers and Therapists in Washington State

1. Apply for your LSWAIC/LMHCA/LMFTA within 90-days of graduating. I recommend applying the day you receive your diploma.

2. Follow all instructions for the LSWAIC/LMHCA/LMFTA application. If the application wants you to use black ink for a physical application, do not use blue ink. Use black ink.

3. Wait several months (usually 2-5 months, but at its worst due to staffing shortages and other issues, 9-months) for the DOH to issue your credential. Take a vacation, rest, sleep, travel, find a temporary part time job before you’re issued your credential. You’re allowed to practice and see clients once issued your credential.

4. Learn about the requirements of renewal for your LSWAIC/LMHCA/LMFTA.

5. Renew your LSWAIC/LMHCA/LMFTA before it expires.

6. Confirm your supervisor is an Approved Supervisor.

7. Document all your experience and supervision hours. Create an Excel sheet. Have supervisor(s) sign off on this at least once every 1-3 months. I’ve heard of horror stories where supervisors pass away/die, refuse to sign off on supervision hours, etc.

8. Periodically send your documented supervision hours to the DOH (every 4-6 months). Keep a copy for your records.

9. Meet the minimum continuing education credits for licensure renewal annually. Keep your CEU documentation for at least 4 years in a Google Drive/somewhere safe.

10. Contact the Department of Health if you have questions via email/message for written documentation.

11. Stay informed with the Department of Health’s updates.

12. Stay informed with your profession’s updates.

13. Review the exam breakdown/outline for your respective profession and study for areas of growth ongoing. This is a much more effective study method than cramming your studying into several weeks or month once you accrue enough hours/meet the minimum length of time to apply for independent licensure.

14. Ask for help. We can rarely do things alone. Develop a peer support or consultation group. Find an effective and good fit supervisor.

15. Seek out your own personal counseling.