Telehealth Supervision for MFTs: Does It Count for Licensure Hours?

If you are a pre-licensed MFT thinking about a supervisor you would meet by video, you probably have one question before anything else:

Will those hours count toward my license?

It's reasonable to want that confirmed before you put months or years into a supervisory relationship. Nobody wants to finish hundreds of supervision hours and learn the board won't accept them.

Here is the direct answer.

Many state licensing boards accept supervision conducted by live video for licensure hours. Boards that accept it often attach conditions, such as requiring live two-way audio and video, or requiring that some portion of supervision happen in person.

Illinois is a good example of how this looks in rule. Its administrative code allows video supervision when sessions are synchronous, permit verbal and visual interaction, and comply with confidentiality requirements (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1283.25).

Before 2020, many boards required in-person supervision or said nothing either way. The pandemic pushed boards to address remote supervision, and many have since written video supervision into their permanent rules. Conditions still vary, which is why checking your own board matters.

Remote supervision started as an emergency accommodation. It stayed partly because of access. Pre-licensed therapists in rural areas or in communities where affirming supervision is scarce could suddenly work with supervisors they couldn't reach before. That access didn't go away when offices reopened.

Many supervisees also report that video supervision works well for them, with less commuting and, for some, more ease in speaking candidly.

Even where telehealth supervision is accepted, confirm a few things before you start logging hours with a remote supervisor.

1. Check your board's current rules.

Rules change. The most reliable source is your board's website or rules, or a direct inquiry to the board. Look for language about "supervision," "telehealth," "remote," "electronic," or "video."

2. Confirm your supervisor is licensed in your state.

This matters most and gets overlooked most. A supervisor doesn't need to be physically in your state, but in most states they need an active license in the state where you are seeking licensure. A supervisor licensed only in California typically can't provide supervision that counts toward a New York license.

That's why multi-state licensure matters. I hold active LMFT licenses in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.

3. Verify the supervisor's credential.

Most boards require supervision from a licensed MFT, or equivalent, who meets specific supervisor requirements. Many recognize the AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. Some states, Texas most clearly, require their own board approval as a supervisor.

You can verify AAMFT Approved Supervisor status in the AAMFT directory. The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) maintains a directory of state boards that is worth bookmarking.

4. Understand your board's documentation requirements.

Telehealth hours are usually documented the same way as in-person hours, through supervision logs and attestation forms. Some boards have their own forms. Make sure your supervisor knows what your board requires and documents correctly from the start.

A clear supervision contract that covers format and documentation protects both of you.

For each state where I am licensed, my state page lists the licensing board and its contact information so you can confirm current telehealth supervision rules directly:

Alaska · Arizona · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Michigan · New Mexico · New York · Ohio · Texas · Wisconsin

When pre-licensed therapists ask whether telehealth supervision counts, there's often a second question underneath: Is it as good as in-person supervision?

In my experience, the medium matters less than the relationship. Video supervision works when the supervisory relationship is strong and the supervisor is trained in supervision as well as clinical practice.

AAMFT's Code of Ethics includes standards for technology-assisted professional services, and the American Psychological Association's telepsychology guidelines have shaped how many behavioral health boards think about remote professional work.

What telehealth changes most is access. It removes geography as a barrier. If you are a queer or trans clinician in a state where affirming supervision is scarce, you can work with a supervisor who understands your clinical context without relocating or settling.

For many pre-licensed therapists, that access is the difference between supervision that merely counts and supervision that shapes the clinician they become.

• AMFTRB: directory of state MFT licensing boards, useful for checking your board's current rules
• AAMFT Code of Ethics: includes standards for technology-assisted professional services
• APA Guidelines for Telepsychology: written for psychologists and influential across behavioral health professions
• HHS Telehealth: federal telehealth resources for providers

Beyond licensure and credentials, here is what I would look for.

Clear structure. Good telehealth supervision has a consistent format: regular meeting times and a clear process for reviewing cases and tracking your development. No physical office doesn't mean no structure.

Familiarity with your state's requirements. Your supervisor should know what your board requires and what forms you'll need at the end of your pre-licensed period. You shouldn't have to manage this alone.

A supervision contract. A good supervisor starts with a written agreement covering format, frequency, fees, documentation, and what happens if the relationship ends.

Real understanding of your clinical context. If you work with LGBTQ+ clients or clients in non-traditional relationships, your supervisor should understand that context, not just tolerate it.

I offer supervision entirely via telehealth, meeting your board's requirements with your whole identity at the center of the supervisory relationship.

If you are working toward licensure in one of the states above, request a session to talk about where you are and whether we might be a good fit.

Mx. Love C. Dialogos is an LMFT and AAMFT Approved Supervisor licensed in thirteen states, offering queer-affirming clinical supervision entirely via telehealth. Verify credential in the AAMFT directory.

• MFT Licensure Hours by State: A Complete Guide
• Group vs. Individual Supervision Hours for MFT Licensure
• How to Track Your MFT Supervision Hours
• How to Choose a Queer-Affirming MFT Supervisor
• What to Expect in Your First MFT Supervision Session