Law Changes
- Law Changes 2021
- Fee Increases Effective 1/1/2021 Fact Sheet
- AB2138 FAQ’s
- Law Changes for 2020
- Law Changes for 2019
- LCSW, LMFT, LPCC: Upcoming License Renewal Fee Increase (SB 1188):
All licensees with an expiration date on or after July 1, 2018 will experience a fee increase upon renewal. This is a result of the passage of SB 1188 (Chapter 557, Statutes of 2017), and the increased revenue will provide additional funds to the Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund (more info):
- LMFTs: Biennial renewal fee will increase from $140 to $150
- LCSWs: Biennial renewal fee will increase from $110 to $120
- LPCCs: Biennial renewal fee will increase from $175 to $195
- LMFT Out-of-State Educational Requirements (BPC §4980.81):
Applicants shall meet (each of) the following educational requirements:
- A minimum of two semester units of instruction in the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, and treatment of mental disorders, including severe mental disorders, evidence-based practices, and promising mental health practices that are evaluated in peer reviewed literature.
- At least one semester unit or 15 hours of instruction in psychological testing AND at least one semester unit or 15 hours of instruction in psychopharmacology.
- LPCC Core Content Areas (AB 1917):
No applicant shall be deficient (prohibits remediation outside of the applicant’s qualifying degree program) in the required core content areas of:
- Assessment, appraisal, and testing of individuals, as specified.
- Principles of the diagnostic process and the use of diagnostic tools, as specified.
- LPCC Treatment of Couples and Families (CCR §1820.7):
LPCCs shall obtain Board confirmation of qualifications to treat couples and families, and shall provide a copy of this confirmation to:
- 1) Couple or family clients prior to commencement of treatment.
- 2) An associate marriage and family therapist or trainee prior to commencement of supervision.
- 3) Another LPCC or Associate PCC gaining supervised experience to comply with requirements to treat couples or families prior to commencement of supervision.
- Subsequent Registration Associates and Interns (BPC: ASW: §4992.09(f),(g); IMF: §4980.39(f),(g); APCC: §4999.55(f),(g))
Applicants who obtained a subsequent (2nd or 3rd) ASW, IMF, or APCC registration anytime during 2016, must pass the California Law and Ethics Exam, in order to renew their registration in 2017.
In addition, on or after January 1, 2017, applicants for subsequent ASW, IMF, or APCC registration must pass the California Law and Ethics Exam, before a subsequent registration may be issued.
- Pending Legislation
For further information regarding pending legislation see California's Legislative Information website, which provides the bill's language, history, status, and analysis as provided by the California State Legislature
BBS Position on Pending Bills
- None
- Approved Legislation
- Citizen's Guide to Participation
- Pending Regulations
The following regulations are pending approval from the Office of Administrative Law:
Supervision-Related Requirements
This proposal would create consistency in supervisor requirements among license types, set standards for documentation when a supervisor is deceased or becomes incapacitated, require supervisors licensed as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) to notify the Board that they are supervising an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or MFT Trainee, an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) or an applicant for Associate registration, and confirm that they meet the qualifications to supervise.
It would also require supervisors and supervisees to sign a supervision agreement, codify how completed experience hours shall be verified to the Board, require supervisors to address dynamics that could lead to ineffective supervision, address temporary substitute supervisors, modify supervisor training requirements, address supervised experience gained while in a placement by a temporary staffing agency, allow licensees who hold an approved supervisor certification to be exempt from certain supervisor requirements, clarify supervision requirements for experience gained outside of California, and clarify who can supervise the experience required with couples, families or children that is necessary for an LPCC to obtain the “couples and families” specialty designation.
The proposed language contains code sections that pertain to each profession:
Supervisors of APCCs: Sections 1815.8, 1820, 1820.3, 1820.5, 1821, 1821.1, 1821.2, 1821.3 and 1822
Supervisors of AMFTs: Sections 1815.8, 1833, 1833.05, 1833.1, 1833.1.5, 1833.2 and 1834
Supervisors of ASWs: Sections 1815.8, 1869, 1869.3, 1870, 1870.1, 1870.3, 1870.5 and 1871
- Approved Regulations
Year Topic Documents Effective Date 2020 Substantial Relationship and Rehabilitation Criteria (Regulations to Implement AB 2138) December 14, 2020 2020 Application Abandonment, Examination Rescoring and Subsequent APCC Registration Fee July 1, 2020 2018 Application Processing and Registrant Advertising March 14, 2018 2017 English as a Second Language:
Additional Examination Time- Regulation Notice
- Initial Statement of Reason
- Proposed Language
- 15-Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations – March 9-24, 2017
- Modification of Proposed Regulation Text
- Supplement to the Initial Statement of Reasons
- Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action
- Form 400
- Final Statement of Reasons
- Adopted Text
October 1, 2017 2016 Examination Restructure January 1, 2016 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Treatment of Couples and FamiliesJanuary 1, 2016 Standards of Practice for Telehealth July 1, 2016 2015 Uniform Standards Related to
Substance Abuse and Disciplinary GuidelinesOctober 1, 2015 2014 Continuing Education - Regulation Notice
- Initial Statement of Reasons
- Proposed Language
- 15-Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations – July 3-18, 2014
- Modification of Proposed Regulation Text plus 3 attachments
- Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action
- Form 400
- Final Statement of Reasons
- Adopted Text and Forms
January 1, 2015 2013 Advertising, Supervision,
and Continuing EducationApril 1, 2013 Disciplinary Guidelines July 1, 2013 Enforcement Regulations - Regulation Notice
- Initial Statement of Reason
- Proposed Language
- 15 Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations
- Modification of Proposed Regulation
- Second 15-Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations – November 15-30, 2012
- Second Modification of Proposed Regulations – November 15-30, 2012
- Form 400
- Final Statement of Reasons
- Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action
- Adopted Text
Marriage and Family Therapist
Intern Experience- Regulation Notice
- Initial Statement of Reason
- Proposed Language
- 15-Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulations
- Modification of Proposed Regulation Text
- Proposed Form 37A-524 (Rev 1/11)
- Proposed Form 37A-524a (Rev 1/11)
- Form 400
- Final Statement of Reasons
- Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action
- Adopted Text
October 1, 2013 2012 No Approved Regulation 2011 Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors and
Licensed Educational Psychologist
Continuing Education Requirements- Regulation Notice
- Initial Statement of Reason
- Proposed Language
- Proposed Form Changes
- Proposed Changes to the Disciplinary Guidelines
- 15 Day Notice of Modification to Text of Proposed Regulation
- Modification of Proposed Regulation
- Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action
- Final Approved Language
- Explanation of Changes
May 24, 2011 2010 No Approved Regulation 2009 Disciplinary Guidelines Revision July 3, 2009 Fingerprint Submission June 19, 2009 Interim Recognition of Degrees
from Institutions Approved by the Bureau
for Private Postsecondary and Vocational EducationFebruary 27, 2009 2008 Continuing Education Requirements March 20, 2008 Requirements for Supervisors - Regulation Notice
- Proposed Language
- Initial Statement of Reasons
- Notice of Modified Text
- Modified Language
- Notice of Revised Modified Text
- Revised Modified Language
- Notice of Documents Added
- Responsibility Statement for Supervisors of an Associate Clinical Social Worker Form
- Responsibility Statement for Supervisors of a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee or Intern Form
- Explanation of Changes
January 26, 2008 Delinquency Fees for
Continuing Education ProvidersJanuary 26, 2008 Delegation of Authority March 20, 2007 Abandonment of Application Files,
Fees, and Technical CleanupDecember 30, 2007 2006 Citations and Fines Changes without Regulatory Effect
(Technical or Editorial Changes)2005 Disciplinary Guidelines August 21, 2005 2004 Alcoholism and Other Chemical
Substance Dependency TrainingAugust 1, 2004 Restructuring LMFT and LCSW
Examination ProcessJanuary 1, 2004 2003 Definitions February 1, 2003 Child Abuse Assessment:
Training RequirementsApril 13, 2003 Unprofessional Conduct June 26, 2003 2002 Continuing Education:
Course RequirementsJanuary 1, 2002 - How to Participate in the Rulemaking Process