What Counts Toward Clinical Hours in Hawaiʻi
Understanding what counts toward clinical hours is an important part of working toward licensure in Hawaiʻi. Many supervisees are surprised to learn that not every work activity counts toward their required hours. Tracking the correct types of experience helps ensure that you meet licensing requirements and avoid delays in your application process.
Direct Client Contact:
Direct client contact is typically the most important category of clinical hours, and hese hours represent the core of your clinical training. This includes time spent:
Conducting therapy sessions
Completing intake assessments
Providing crisis intervention
Leading therapy groups
Delivering other direct therapeutic services
Indirect Clinical Activities:
Some indirect activities may also count toward supervised experience, however, the percentage of indirect hours that count toward licensure may be limited. These may include:
Case documentation
Treatment planning
Clinical consultation or Case Consultation with Peers
Professional development related to clinical work
Training or Specialized Learning
Supervision Hours and supervision sessions themselves are also a required part of the licensure process. These sessions ensure that supervisees receive guidance, support, and accountability during their clinical training.
Supervision may include:
Individual supervision
Group supervision
Case consultation with a qualified supervisor
Tracking Hours Properly:
Keeping accurate records of your clinical hours is essential. Accurate documentation helps prevent confusion and ensures that your hours are accepted when applying for licensure.
Supervisees should track:
Dates and duration of direct and indirect clinical work
Type of activity
Number of hours completed
Supervision sessions attended
When in doubt, ask, as licensure requirements can be complex, and regulations may change over time. When questions arise about whether a particular activity counts toward clinical hours, it is best to consult your supervisor or review guidance from the Hawaiʻi licensing board.
