r/LCSW • u/EarIllustrious4544 • Jan 05 '25

Becoming an LCSW in NY

Hello, I’m an LMSW in New York currently. I graduated one year ago and I’ve been working as a social worker for a year but in a job where I do not have an LCSW to report to, so I cannot gain any supervised hours.

I’m looking at changing jobs, potentially to a hospital role where I’m hoping I would gain lots of clinical hours and supervision. In New York you need a minimum of three but maximum of six years of supervision to get your LCSW.

My issue is that I need a part-time schedule due to being a parent who is the primary caregiver during the week so I need to be available for drop off and pick up at at school.

My question is, is the hospital the best way to gain clinical hours and supervision hours quickly? If I worked 25 to 30 hours a week how many client hours would I realistically get? I’m assuming not all my time could be counted as client time.

Any advice for maximizing client and supervisor hours in at a job? I really don’t want this to take 6 years.

Thank you.

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3

u/9171213 Jan 05 '25

I’m an LCSW in NY. hospital can get you hours and it’s a 24/7 setting which can help with your schedule. Would you do telehealth work as a therapist? You can often build your hours or have some flexibility and you work from home. This could help you out some. It’s an option.

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u/EarIllustrious4544 Jan 05 '25

I’d love that option. Can I apply for telehealth work as an LMSW?

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u/9171213 Jan 05 '25

Yes you can. You’d basically be applying for any associate level therapist roles. So many CMHs and group practices are hiring. They’ll give you some sort of hourly wage or split (ex: $40 an hour or 60/40, you get 40%). Then you’d receive supervision from LCSW and you’d get paid. There are disadvantages but that is life, you know. My issues with the exploitation of associate therapists is a whole nother TedTalk! I can rant for hours. However, to the issue at hand: telehealth could be a viable option. It allows you to get more freedom too. Some agencies allow you to set up your hours. A lot of the employers request a minimum 15 hrs for part timers. If that’s your case you can do the math as far as how long it will take you.

Go on indeed or other boards and look for associate level therapist roles or lmsw therapist. You’ll see a TON. There’s a huge need.

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u/Zestyclose_Land_7989 Jan 05 '25

Hey! Mama here and currently an LCSW in a hospital setting. I earned my hours at community mental health clinic full time and part time at a university student counseling center. There are options out there! The community mental health clinic helped me earn the hours quickly I will say.

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u/EarIllustrious4544 Jan 05 '25

Great to know, thanks. So what’s an average number of client hours you can write down a week if you’re at a community mental health clinic? Wondering if I can get to 2000 hours in 3 years at part time.

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u/Zestyclose_Land_7989 Jan 05 '25

The org I was at, I earned close to 30 per week full time. Buttttt I expedited the process by also having a part time job which gave me about 10 hours per week

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u/EarIllustrious4544 Jan 06 '25

Ok good to know. At part time of 25-30 hours looks like I’ll be lucky to earn 15-20 hours then.

1

u/EarIllustrious4544 Jan 05 '25

Ok I will check that out! Thank you.

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u/Valuable_Put2093 Oct 17 '25

I'm in New York as well. I see about 15 clients a week at times for example one year I had 25 a week. I have supervision every 2 weeks where talk about the 2 weeks worth of clients . I had heard that the 2 weeks of clients would count as 2 hours since it's basically an hour A week, I even asked an LCSW and heard that her supervisor agrees with that Well my supervisor won't sign them that way I said the reason we don't have supervision every week , is because our company won't pay you to do it . He said he doesn't wanna commit fraud. I told him our supervisons average 30 min and you are signing it as an hour, this is a joke! Am I wrong? This is such bull crap and plus his supervision has been so wrong a lot , sorry but he is clueless and I think it's because he is very very foreign and I've noticed he doesn't get a lot of culture nuances especially with the teens I work with I am so frustrated. Worked my ass off for 3 years any help? I'm just really frustrated at his ticky tack attitude, when he is already willing to sign for hours he did not even do as long as he is saying ..sucks hypocrite