citation: BPC § 4945

text:
(a) The board shall establish standards for continuing education for acupuncturists.

(b) The board shall require each acupuncturist to complete 50 hours of continuing education every two years as a condition for renewal of his or her license. No more than five hours of continuing education in each two-year period may be spent on issues unrelated to clinical matters or the actual provision of health care to patients. A provider of continuing education shall apply to the board for approval to offer continuing education courses for credit toward this requirement on a form developed by the board, shall pay a fee covering the cost of approval and for the monitoring of the provider by the board and shall set forth the following information on the application:

(1) Course content.

(2) Test criteria.

(3) Hours of continuing education credit requested for the course.

(4) Experience and training of instructors.

(5) Other information as required by the board.

(6) That interpreters or bilingual instruction will be made available, when necessary.

(c) Licensees residing out of state or out of the country shall comply with the continuing education requirements.

(d) Providers of continuing education shall be monitored by the board as determined by the board.

(e) If the board determines that any acupuncturist has not obtained the required number of hours of continuing education, it may renew the acupuncturist’s license and require that the deficient hours of continuing education be made up during the following renewal period in addition to the current continuing education required for that period. If any acupuncturist fails to make up the deficient hours and complete the current requirement of hours of continuing education during the subsequent renewal period, then his or her license to practice acupuncture shall not be renewed until all the required hours are completed and documented to the board.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 568) by Stats. 2005, Ch. 648, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)

article: 2. Certification Requirements


kind: section

code: BPC

citation: BPC § 4947

text:
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the practice of acupuncture by a person licensed as a dentist or a podiatrist, within the scope of their respective licenses, if the licensee has received a course of instruction in acupuncture. This course material shall be approved by the licensing board having jurisdiction over the licensee. The board shall assist the licensing boards in providing information as requested by the individual licensing boards.

(b) The course requirement set forth in subdivision (a) shall not apply to a podiatrist or dentist who has completed a course in acupuncture, including a continuing education course, and has utilized acupuncture prior to July 1, 1982.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 68. Effective January 1, 2000.)

division: 2. HEALING ARTS

chapter: 12. Acupuncture

article: 2. Certification Requirements

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 12. Acupuncture > 2. Certification Requirements


citation: BPC § 4948

text: The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to make unlawful the activities of persons involved in research pursuant to Section 2075.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 11.5. Section operative July 1, 1982, pursuant to former Section 4974.5.)

article: 2. Certification Requirements


citation: BPC § 4949

text: The provisions of this chapter shall not prohibit an acupuncturist from another state or country, who is not a licensed acupuncturist in this state, who is the invited guest of a professional acupuncture association or scientific acupuncture foundation, an approved educational and training program, or a continuing education provider that is approved under Section 4945, solely from engaging in professional education through lectures, clinics, or demonstrations. The guest acupuncturist may engage in the practice of acupuncture in conjunction with these lectures, clinics, or demonstrations for a maximum of six months, but may not open an office or appoint a place to meet patients or receive calls from patients or otherwise engage in the practice of acupuncture.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 397, Sec. 11. (SB 1246) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 2. Certification Requirements


citation: BPC § 4955

text:
The board may deny, suspend, or revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon, the license of any acupuncturist who is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

Unprofessional conduct shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Using or possessing any controlled substance, as defined in Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code, dangerous drug, or alcoholic beverage to an extent or in a manner dangerous to the acupuncturist, or to any other person, or to the public, and to an extent that the use impairs the acupuncturist’s ability to engage in the practice of acupuncture with safety to the public.

(b) Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist, the record of conviction being conclusive evidence thereof.

(c) False or misleading advertising.

(d) Aiding or abetting in, or violating or conspiring in, directly or indirectly, the violation of the terms of this chapter or any regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter.

(e) Except for good cause, the knowing failure to protect patients by failing to follow infection control guidelines of the board, thereby risking transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases from licensee to patient, from patient to patient, and from patient to licensee. In administering this subdivision, the board shall consider referencing the standards, regulations, and guidelines of the State Department of Public Health developed pursuant to Section 1250.11 of the Health and Safety Code and the standards, regulations, and guidelines pursuant to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (Part 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Division 5 of the Labor Code) for preventing the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and other blood-borne pathogens in health care settings. As necessary, the board shall consult with healing arts boards within this division, including, but not limited to, the Medical Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the Dental Board of California, the Board of Registered Nursing, and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, to encourage appropriate consistency in the implementation of this subdivision.

The board shall seek to ensure that licensees are informed of the responsibility of licensees and others to follow infection control guidelines, and of the most recent scientifically recognized safeguards for minimizing the risk of transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases.

(f) The use of threats or harassment against any patient or licensee for providing evidence in a disciplinary action, other legal action, or in an investigation contemplating a disciplinary action or other legal action.

(g) Discharging an employee primarily for attempting to comply with the terms of this chapter.

(h) Disciplinary action taken by any public agency for any act substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist or any professional health care licensee.

(i) Any action or conduct that would have warranted the denial of the acupuncture license.

(j) The violation of any law or local ordinance on an acupuncturist’s business premises by an acupuncturist’s employee or a person who is working under the acupuncturist’s professional license or business permit, that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist. These violations shall subject the acupuncturist who employed the individuals, or under whose acupuncturist license the employee is working, to disciplinary action.

(k) The abandonment of a patient by the licensee without written notice to the patient that treatment is to be discontinued and before the patient has had a reasonable opportunity to secure the services of another practitioner.

(l) The failure to notify the board of the use of any false, assumed, or fictitious name other than the name under which the licensee is licensed as an individual to practice acupuncture.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 596, Sec. 6. (AB 3142) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 4. Enforcement

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 12. Acupuncture > 4. Enforcement


text:
The board may deny, suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon the license of any acupuncturist if he or she is guilty of committing a fraudulent act including, but not be limited to, any of the following:

(a) Securing a license by fraud or deceit.

(b) Committing a fraudulent or dishonest act as an acupuncturist.

(c) Committing any act involving dishonesty or corruption with respect to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist.

(d) Altering or modifying the medical record of any person, with fraudulent intent, or creating any false medical record.

(e) Failing to maintain adequate and accurate records relating to the provision of services to their patients.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 714, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 4. Enforcement


text:
The board may deny, suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon the license of any acupuncturist if he or she is guilty of committing any one of the following:

(a) Gross negligence.

(b) Repeated negligent acts.

(c) Incompetence.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 714, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4956

text:
A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge which is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this chapter.

The board may order a license suspended or revoked, or may deny a license, or may impose probationary conditions upon a license, when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw his or her pleas of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, complaint, information, or indictment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 70. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4959

text:
(a) The board may request the administrative law judge, under his or her proposed decision in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before the board, to direct any licensee found guilty of unprofessional conduct to pay to the board a sum not to exceed actual and reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.

(b) The costs to be assessed shall be fixed by the administrative law judge and shall not in any event be increased by the board. When the board does not adopt a proposed decision and remands the case to an administrative law judge, the administrative law judge shall not increase the amount of any costs assessed in the proposed decision.

(c) When the payment directed in the board’s order for payment of costs is not made by the licensee, the board may enforce the order for payment in the superior court in the county where the administrative hearing was held. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the board may have as to any licensee directed to pay costs.

(d) In any judicial action for the recovery of costs, proof of the board’s decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms for payment.

(e) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the Acupuncture Fund.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 71. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4960

text: Disciplinary proceedings under this article shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

article: 4. Enforcement


text: The board in all cases of revocation shall certify the fact of the revocation, under the seal of the board, to the business licensing entity of the cities or counties in which the license of the acupuncturist has been revoked. The record of the revocation made by the county or city clerk shall be sufficient evidence of the revocation, and of the regularity of all proceedings of the board in the matter of the revocation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 714, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 4. Enforcement


text:
(a) A person whose license or registration has been revoked, suspended, or surrendered, or who has been placed on probation, may petition the board for reinstatement or modification of penalty, including modification or termination of probation, after a period of not less than the following minimum periods has elapsed from the effective date of the decision ordering that disciplinary action:

(1) At least three years for reinstatement of a license revoked or surrendered.

(2) At least two years for early termination of probation of three years or more.

(3) At least two years for modification of a condition of probation.

(4) At least one year for early termination of probation of less than three years.

(b) The board may require an examination for that reinstatement.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 489, a person whose application for a license or registration has been denied by the board, for violations of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) of this chapter, may reapply to the board for a license or registration only after a period of three years has elapsed from the date of the denial.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 72. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4961

text:
(a) (1)   Every person who is licensed to practice acupuncture in this state shall register, on forms prescribed by the board that may include an application for an initial license or for renewal of a license, each place of practice and apply to the board to obtain a wall license for each place of practice.

(2) A wall license shall be renewed biennially, coinciding with the license renewal date. A licensee with a wall license issued before January 1, 2021, shall not be required to apply for a new wall license until the licensee’s next license renewal date.

(3) If the licensee has no place of practice, the licensee shall notify the board of that fact on a form prescribed by the board. A wall license is not required to be posted when a licensee performs acupuncture treatments outside of the licensee’s place of practice. However, the licensee shall carry a pocket license during treatments outside of the licensee’s place of practice and make the pocket license available upon request.

(4) A licensee shall register each place of practice within 30 days after the date of the licensee being licensed by the board or the establishment of a new place of practice, whichever occurs first.

(b) (1) An acupuncturist licensee shall post a wall license issued by the board to the licensee in a conspicuous location in each place of practice at all times.

(2) If an acupuncturist licensee has more than one place of practice, the licensee shall obtain from the board a separate wall license for each additional location and post the assigned wall license at each location.

(c) A licensed acupuncturist shall not display any acupuncture wall license that is not currently active and valid.

(d) (1) If a licensee changes the location of a place of practice, the licensee shall apply for the change of location within 30 days of changing the licensee’s place of practice on forms prescribed by the board.

(2) If a licensee fails to apply for a new wall license with the board due to a change of location within the time prescribed by this subdivision, the board may deny renewal of the license.

(e) (1) A wall license is nontransferable.

(2) Any change to the registered location in connection with the wall license, such as moving, requires a new wall license, and the former wall license shall be returned to the board with a request for cancellation.

(3) The licensee shall apply to the board to obtain a new wall license using the forms prescribed by the board for the new wall license or change of location.

(f) (1) An acupuncturist shall be responsible for the acupuncture or any other practice specified under Section 4937 rendered pursuant to the license of the acupuncturist in each place of practice maintained by the acupuncturist.

(2) An acupuncturist maintaining more than one place of practice shall ensure that each place of practice is in compliance with the standards of practice requirements of this chapter.

(g) As used in this section:

(1) “Place of practice” means an acupuncture office where any act of acupuncture is practiced and includes a place of practice in which the applicant holds a proprietary interest of any nature whatsoever or in which the licensee holds any right to participate in the management or control thereof.

(2) “Wall license” means an official document that is issued by the board upon application for a place of practice and has a unique identification number that is specific to the location provided by the licensee in the application.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 682, Sec. 8. (AB 1264) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 4. Enforcement


text:
(a) The board, or its designee, may, upon complaint, inspect any of the following:

(1) Any premise in which acupuncture services, as defined in Section 4937, are provided or reasonably suspected of being provided.

(2) Any place of practice registered with the board for which a wall license has been issued pursuant to Section 4961.

(3) Any clinic owned and operated by a school with an approved educational and training program, as defined in Section 4927.5.

(4) Any premise in which acupuncture services, as defined in Section 4937, are provided under a tutorial program, as defined in Section 4940.

(b) All records required by law to be kept by an acupuncturist subject to this chapter, including, but not limited to, records pertaining to the provision of services to patients, shall be open to inspection by the board, or its designee, during an investigation initiated in response to a complaint that a licensee has violated any law or regulation that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action or issuance of a citation and fine by the board. A copy of all those records shall be provided to the board immediately upon request.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the board jurisdiction over the practice of medicine.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 682, Sec. 9. (AB 1264) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4962

text:
(a) On and after July 1, 2019, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), the board shall require a licensee to provide a separate disclosure that includes the licensee’s probation status, the length of the probation, the probation end date, all practice restrictions placed on the licensee by the board, the board’s telephone number, and an explanation of how the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information Internet Web site, to a patient or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate before the patient’s first visit following the probationary order while the licensee is on probation pursuant to a probationary order made on and after July 1, 2019.

(b) A licensee required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) shall obtain from the patient, or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate, a separate, signed copy of that disclosure.

(c) A licensee shall not be required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) if any of the following applies:

(1) The patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy of the disclosure pursuant to subdivision (b) and a guardian or health care surrogate is unavailable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy.

(2) The visit occurs in an emergency room or an urgent care facility or the visit is unscheduled, including consultations in inpatient facilities.

(3) The licensee who will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.

(4) The licensee does not have a direct treatment relationship with the patient.

(d) On and after July 1, 2019, the board shall provide the following information, with respect to licensees on probation and licensees practicing under probationary licenses, in plain view on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information Internet Web site.

(1) For probation imposed pursuant to a stipulated settlement, the causes alleged in the operative accusation along with a designation identifying those causes by which the licensee has expressly admitted guilt and a statement that acceptance of the settlement is not an admission of guilt.

(2) For probation imposed by an adjudicated decision of the board, the causes for probation stated in the final probationary order.

(3) For a licensee granted a probationary license, the causes by which the probationary license was imposed.

(4) The length of the probation and end date.

(5) All practice restrictions placed on the license by the board.

(e) A violation of this section shall not be punishable as a crime.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 570, Sec. 7. (SB 1448) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4963

text: Whenever any person has engaged in an act or practice which constitutes an offense against this chapter, a superior court of a county on application of the board may issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining that conduct. Proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The board may commence action in such superior court under the provisions of this section on its own motion and no undertaking shall be required in any action commenced by the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 74. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4964

text: The provisions of this article insofar as they are substantially the same as provisions relating to the same subject matter of any previous acupuncture licensure law shall be construed as a restatement and continuation thereof, and not as a new enactment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 75. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 4. Enforcement


citation: BPC § 4965

text:
(a) Licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire on the last day of the birth month of the licensee during the second year of a two-year term, if not renewed.

(b) The board shall establish and administer a birth date renewal program.

(c) To renew an unexpired license, the holder shall apply for renewal on a form provided by the board and pay the renewal fee fixed by the board.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 983, Sec. 19) by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 77. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 5. Renewal

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 12. Acupuncture > 5. Renewal


citation: BPC § 4966

text: Except as provided in Section 4969, a license that has expired may be renewed at any time within three years after its expiration by filing of an application for renewal on a form provided by the board, paying all accrued and unpaid renewal fees, and providing proof of completing continuing education requirements. If the license is not renewed prior to its expiration, the acupuncturist, as a condition precedent to renewal, shall also pay the prescribed delinquency fee. Renewal under this section shall be effective on the date on which the application is filed, on the date on which the renewal fee is paid, or on the date the delinquency fee is paid, whichever occurs last. If so renewed, the license shall continue in effect through the expiration date provided in Section 4965, after the effective date of the renewal, when it shall expire and become invalid if it is not again renewed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 78. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 5. Renewal


citation: BPC § 4967

text:
A person who fails to renew his or her license within three years after its expiration may not renew it, and it may not be restored, reissued, or reinstated thereafter, but that person may apply for and obtain a new license if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

(b) Takes and passes the examination, if any, which would be required of him or her if an initial application for licensure was being made, or otherwise establishes to the satisfaction of the board that, with due regard for the public interest, he or she is qualified to practice as an acupuncturist.

(c) Pays all of the fees that would be required if an initial application for licensure was being made. The board may provide for the waiver or refund of all or any part of an examination fee in those cases in which a license is issued without an examination pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 79. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 5. Renewal


citation: BPC § 4969

text:
(a) A suspended license is subject to expiration and shall be renewed as provided in this article, but the renewal does not entitle the acupuncturist, while the license remains suspended, and until it is reinstated, to engage in the practice of acupuncture, or in any other activity or conduct in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was suspended.

(b) A revoked license is subject to expiration as provided in this article, but it may not be renewed. If it is reinstated after its expiration, the former licensee, as a condition to reinstatement, shall pay a reinstatement fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the license was reinstated, plus the delinquency fee, if any, accrued at the time of its expiration.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 26, Sec. 181. Effective March 30, 1994.)

article: 5. Renewal


citation: BPC § 4970

text:
The amount of fees prescribed for licensed acupuncturists shall be those set forth in this section unless a lower fee is fixed by the board in accordance with Section 4972:

(a) The application fee shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and may be increased to not more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350).

(b) The application fee for foreign applicants shall be three hundred fifty dollars ($350) and may be increased to not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(c) The examination and reexamination fees shall be eight hundred dollars ($800).

(d) The initial license fee shall be five hundred dollars ($500), except that if the license will expire less than one year after its issuance, then the initial license fee shall be an amount equal to 50 percent of the initial license fee. The initial license fee shall include one wall license registration if a place of practice is specified in the application.

(e) The renewal fee shall be five hundred dollars ($500) and may be increased to not more than seven hundred seventy-five dollars ($775) and, if a lower fee is fixed by the board, shall be an amount sufficient to support the functions of the board in the administration of this chapter. The board shall assess the renewal fee biennially.

(f) The delinquency fee shall be set in accordance with Section 163.5.

(g) The wall license fee shall be fifty dollars ($50).

(h) The wall license renewal fee shall be fifty dollars ($50).

(i) If a pocket license is lost or destroyed, the pocket license replacement fee is fifty dollars ($50).

(j) The endorsement fee is one hundred dollars ($100).

(k) If a wall license is lost or destroyed, the wall license replacement fee is fifty dollars ($50).

(l) The approval fee for each provider of continuing education shall be five hundred dollars ($500) and may be increased to not more than seven hundred dollars ($700).

(m) The biennial renewal approval fee for each provider of continuing education shall be five hundred dollars ($500) and may be increased to not more than seven hundred dollars ($700).

(n) (1) Fees for continuing education course applications shall be assessed to the continuing education provider at a floor of ten dollars ($10) per hour of continuing education requested to offer, and a cap of twenty dollars ($20) per hour of continuing education requested to offer, allowing up to a maximum of 50 hours to be approved per course application.

(2) Fees for course hours shall be prorated in one-half hour increments.

(3) An approved course may be offered for a period of one year from the date of board course approval.

(o) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2021.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 308, Sec. 4) by Stats. 2020, Ch. 359, Sec. 5. (AB 3330) Effective January 1, 2021.)

article: 6. Revenue

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 12. Acupuncture > 6. Revenue


citation: BPC § 4971

text:
(a) The amount of fees prescribed for acupuncture tutorial programs shall be as follows:

(1) The application and registration fee to supervise an acupuncture trainee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) and may be increased to not more than two hundred dollars ($200).

(2) The annual renewal fee for approval to supervise an acupuncture trainee shall be two hundred ($200) and may be increased to not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(3) The application fee for an acupuncture trainee shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000) and may be increased to not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

(4) The annual renewal fee for an acupuncture trainee shall be five hundred dollars ($500) and may be increased to not more than six hundred dollars ($600).

(5) The delinquency fee for a supervisor shall be set in accordance with Section 163.5.

(6) The delinquency fee for an acupuncture trainee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) and may be increased to not more than two hundred dollars ($200).

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2021.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 6) and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 359, Sec. 7. (AB 3330) Effective January 1, 2021. Section operative January 1, 2021, by it s own provisions.)

article: 6. Revenue


citation: BPC § 4972

text: Fees fixed by the board shall be set forth in regulations duly adopted by the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 80. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 6. Revenue


citation: BPC § 4974

text: The board shall report to the Controller at the beginning of each month for the month preceding the amount and source of all revenue received by it pursuant to this chapter, and shall pay the entire amount thereof to the Treasurer for deposit in the Acupuncture Fund, which fund is created to carry out the provisions of this chapter, upon appropriation by the Legislature.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 667, Sec. 7. (AB 2190) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 6. Revenue


citation: BPC § 4975

text:
An acupuncture corporation is a corporation which is authorized to render professional services, as defined in Section 13401 of the Corporations Code, so long as that corporation and its shareholders, officers, directors, and employees rendering professional services who are acupuncturists are in compliance with the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, this article and all other statutes and regulations now or hereafter enacted or adopted pertaining to that corporation and the conduct of its affairs.

With respect to an acupuncture corporation, the governmental agency referred to in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act is the Acupuncture Board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 82. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 12. Acupuncture > 7. Acupuncture Corporations


citation: BPC § 4976

text: It shall constitute unprofessional conduct and a violation of this chapter for any person licensed under this chapter to violate, attempt to violate, directly or indirectly, or assist in or abet the violation of, or conspire to violate, any provision or term of this article, the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, or any regulations duly adopted under those laws.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1314, Sec. 2.2. Operative July 1, 1982, by Sec. 19 of Ch. 1314.)

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


citation: BPC § 4977

text: An acupuncture corporation shall not do or fail to do any act the doing of which or the failure to do which would constitute unprofessional conduct under Article 4 (commencing with Section 4955). In the conduct of its practice, it shall observe and be bound by statutes and regulations to the same extent as a person holding a license under this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 83. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


text: The income of an acupuncture corporation attributable to professional services rendered while a shareholder is a disqualified person (as defined in Section 13401 of the Corporations Code) shall not in any manner accrue to the benefit of such shareholder or his or her shares in the acupuncture corporation.

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


text: Except as provided in Section 13403 of the Corporations Code, each director, shareholder, and officer of an acupuncture corporation, except an assistant secretary and an assistant treasurer, shall be a licensed person as defined by Section 13401 of the Corporations Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 714, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


citation: BPC § 4978

text: The name of an acupuncture corporation and any name or names under which it may render professional services shall contain words “acupuncture” or “acupuncturist” and wording or abbreviations denoting corporate existence.

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


citation: BPC § 4979

text: The board may adopt and enforce regulations to carry out the purposes and objectives of this article, including, but not limited to, regulations requiring (a) that the bylaws of an acupuncture corporation shall include a provision whereby the capital stock of the corporation owned by a disqualified person (as defined in Section 13401 of the Corporations Code), or a deceased person, shall be sold to the corporation or to the remaining shareholders of the corporation within the time the regulations may provide, and (b) that an acupuncture corporation shall provide adequate security by insurance or otherwise for claims against it by its patients arising out of the rendering of professional services.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 655, Sec. 84. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 7. Acupuncture Corporations


citation: BPC § 4980

text:
(a) (1) Many California families and many individual Californians are experiencing difficulty and distress and are in need of wise, competent, caring, compassionate, and effective counseling in order to enable them to improve and maintain healthy family relationships.

(2) Healthy individuals and healthy families and healthy relationships are inherently beneficial and crucial to a healthy society and are our most precious and valuable natural resource. Licensed marriage and family therapists provide a crucial support for the well-being of the people and the State of California.

(b) A person shall not engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined by Section 4980.02, unless the person holds a valid license as a marriage and family therapist pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a person shall not do either of the following without a license obtained pursuant to this chapter.

(1) Advertise that the person performs the services of a marriage, family, child, domestic, or marital consultant.

(2) Use the titles listed in paragraph (1) or any similar titles, including the letters “L.M.F.T.,” “M.F.T.,” or “M.F.C.C.,” or another name, word, initial, or symbol in connection with or following the person’s name to imply that the person performs the services suggested by those titles.

(d) (1) A person licensed under Article 4 (commencing with Section 4996) of Chapter 14 or under Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900) may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy and advertise that the person practices marriage and family therapy.

(2) A person described in paragraph (1) shall not advertise that the person holds the marriage and family therapist’s license, including by using the letters “L.M.F.T.,” “M.F.T.,” or “M.F.C.C.,” or another name, word, initial, or symbol in connection with or following the person’s name to imply licensure as a marriage and family therapist, unless the person is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 640, Sec. 1. (AB 232) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1. Regulation

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 13. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists > 1. Regulation


text:
(a) This chapter shall not be construed to constrict, limit, or withdraw the Medical Practice Act, the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act, the Nursing Practice Act, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, or the Psychology Licensing Law.

(b) This chapter shall not apply to any priest, rabbi, or minister of the gospel of any religious denomination when performing counseling services as part of their pastoral or professional duties, or to any person who is admitted to practice law in the state, or a physician and surgeon who provides counseling services as part of their professional practice.

(c) This chapter shall not apply to an unlicensed or unregistered employee or volunteer working in a governmental entity, a school, a college, a university, or an institution that is both nonprofit and charitable if both of the following apply:

(1) The work of the employee or volunteer is performed under the oversight and direction of the entity.

(2) (A) On and after July 1, 2020, the employee or volunteer provides a client, prior to initiating psychotherapy services or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, a notice written in at least 12-point type that is in substantially the following form:

NOTICE TO CLIENTS

The (name of office or unit) of the (name of agency) receives and responds to complaints regarding the practice of psychotherapy by any unlicensed or unregistered practitioner providing services at (name of agency). To file a complaint, contact (telephone number, email address, internet website, or mailing address of agency).

The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided by individuals licensed and registered by the board. If you have a complaint and are unsure if your practitioner is licensed or registered, please contact the Board of Behavioral Sciences at 916-574-7830 for assistance or utilize the board’s online license verification feature by visiting www.bbs.ca.gov. (B) The delivery of the notice described in subparagraph (A) to the client shall be documented.

(d) A marriage and family therapist licensed under this chapter is a licentiate for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 805, and thus is a health care provider subject to the provisions of Section 2290.5 pursuant to subdivision (b) of that section.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), all persons registered as associates or licensed under this chapter shall not be exempt from this chapter or the jurisdiction of the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 51. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

chapter: 13. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the practice of marriage and family therapy shall mean the application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories, principles, and methods in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, or groups in order to assess, evaluate, and treat relational issues, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness, alcohol and substance use, and to modify intrapersonal and interpersonal behaviors.

(b) The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessment, evaluation, and prognosis.

(2) Treatment, planning, and evaluation.

(3) Individual, relationship, family, or group therapeutic interventions.

(4) Relational therapy.

(5) Psychotherapy.

(6) Client education.

(7) Clinical case management.

(8) Consultation.

(9) Supervision.

(10) Use, application, and integration of the coursework and training required by Sections 4980.36, 4980.37, and 4980.41, as applicable.

(c) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of, existing law. It is the intent of the Legislature that these amendments shall not be construed to expand or constrict the existing scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 647, Sec. 22. (SB 801) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) “Board,” as used in this chapter, means the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

(b) “Associate,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who has earned a master’s or doctoral degree qualifying the person for licensure and is registered with the board as an associate.

(c) “Trainee,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program, as specified in Sections 4980.36 and 4980.37, that is designed to qualify the person for licensure under this chapter, and who has completed no less than 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of coursework in any qualifying degree program.

(d) “Applicant for licensure,” as used in this chapter, means an unlicensed person who has completed the required education and required hours of supervised experience for licensure.

(e) “Advertising,” as used in this chapter, includes, but is not limited to, any public communication, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 651, the issuance of any card, sign, or device to any person, or the causing, permitting, or allowing of any sign or marking on, or in, any building or structure, or in any newspaper, magazine, directory, or any printed matter whatsoever, with or without any limiting qualification. Signs within religious buildings or notices in bulletins from a religious organization mailed to a congregation are not advertising within the meaning of this chapter.

(f) “Experience,” as used in this chapter, means experience in interpersonal relationships, psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, direct clinical counseling, and nonclinical practice that satisfies the requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

(g) “Supervisor,” as used in this chapter, means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has held an active license for at least two years within the five-year period immediately preceding any supervision as any of the following:

(A) A licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900), licensed clinical social worker, licensed educational psychologist, or equivalent out-of-state license. A licensed educational psychologist may only supervise the provision of educationally related mental health services that are consistent with the scope of practice of an educational psychologist, as specified in Section 4989.14.

(B) A physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or an out-of-state licensed physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

(2) For at least two years within the five-year period immediately preceding any supervision, has practiced psychotherapy, provided psychological counseling pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 4989.14, or provided direct clinical supervision of psychotherapy performed by marriage and family therapist trainees, associate marriage and family therapists, associate professional clinical counselors, or associate clinical social workers. Supervision of psychotherapy performed by a social work intern or a professional clinical counselor trainee shall be accepted if the supervision provided is substantially equivalent to the supervision required for registrants.

(3) Has received training in supervision as specified in this chapter and by regulation.

(4) Has not provided therapeutic services to the supervisee.

(5) Has and maintains a current and active license that is not under suspension or probation as one of the following:

(A) A marriage and family therapist, professional clinical counselor, clinical social worker, or licensed educational psychologist, issued by the board.

(B) A psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900).

(C) A physician and surgeon who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

(6) Is not a spouse, domestic partner, or relative of the supervisee.

(7) Does not currently have or previously had a personal, professional, or business relationship with the supervisee that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the supervision.

(h) “Client centered advocacy,” as used in this chapter, includes, but is not limited to, researching, identifying, and accessing resources, or other activities, related to obtaining or providing services and supports for clients or groups of clients receiving psychotherapy or counseling services.

(i) “Accredited,” as used in this chapter, means a school, college, or university accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(j) “Approved,” as used in this chapter, means a school, college, or university that possessed unconditional approval by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at the time of the applicant’s graduation from the school, college, or university.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 52. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. Regulation


text: This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 799, Sec. 24. (SB 1575) Effective January 1, 2013.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
The settings described in Section 4980.01 are exempt settings and do not fall under the jurisdiction of this chapter or the board except as specified in Section 4980.01, and with the following exceptions:

(a) Any individual working or volunteering in an exempt setting who is licensed or registered under this chapter shall fall under the jurisdiction of the board and is not exempt from this chapter.

(b) An entity that is licensed or certified by a government regulatory agency to provide health care services shall not be considered an exempt setting unless it directly meets the criteria described in Section 4980.01.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 747, Sec. 2. (AB 690) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Nonexempt setting” means any type of setting that does not qualify as an exempt setting, as specified in Section 4980.01.

(2) “Private practice” means a type of nonexempt setting that meets all of the following:

(A) The practice is owned by a health professional who is licensed under this division either independently or jointly with one or more other health professionals who are licensed under this division.

(B) The practice provides clinical mental health services, including psychotherapy, to clients.

(C) One or more licensed health professionals are responsible for the practice and for the services provided and set conditions of client payment or reimbursement for the provision of services.

(3) “Professional corporation” means a type of nonexempt setting and private practice that has been formed pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 13400) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.

(b) An active license or registration number shall be required to engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy, as defined in Section 4980.02, in nonexempt settings at all times with the following exceptions:

(1) A trainee may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy in a nonexempt setting that is not a private practice or a professional corporation while they are gaining supervised experience that meets the requirements of this chapter under the jurisdiction and supervision of their school as specified in Section 4980.42.

(2) An applicant for registration as an associate may engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy in a nonexempt setting that is not a private practice or a professional corporation before the registration number is issued if they are in compliance with subdivision (b) of Section 4980.43 and are gaining supervised experience that meets the requirements of this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 747, Sec. 3. (AB 690) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) The title “licensed marriage, family and child counselor” or “marriage, family and child counselor” is hereby renamed “licensed marriage and family therapist” or “marriage and family therapist,” respectively. Any reference in any statute or regulation to a “licensed marriage, family and child counselor” or “marriage, family and child counselor” shall be deemed a reference to a “licensed marriage and family therapist” or “marriage and family therapist.”

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(c) This section shall become operative July 1, 1999.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 108, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999. Section operative July 1, 1999, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) (1) The title “marriage and family therapist intern” or “marriage and family therapist registered intern” is hereby renamed “associate marriage and family therapist” or “registered associate marriage and family therapist,” respectively. Any reference in statute or regulation to a “marriage and family therapist intern” or “marriage and family therapist registered intern” shall be deemed a reference to an “associate marriage and family therapist” or “registered associate marriage and family therapist.”

(2) Any reference in this chapter to the term “intern” means “associate.” Any reference in statute or regulation to the abbreviation “MFTI” means an “AMFT.”

(b) This section shall not be construed to expand or constrict the scope of practice of a person licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 573, Sec. 4. (SB 800) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. Regulation


text: A person engages in the practice of marriage and family therapy when he or she performs or offers to perform or holds himself or herself out as able to perform this service for remuneration in any form, including donations.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 148, Sec. 1. (SB 274) Effective August 1, 2011.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 4980, a person who holds a license in another jurisdiction of the United States as a marriage and family therapist may provide marriage and family therapy services in this state for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days in any calendar year, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The license from another jurisdiction is at the highest level for independent clinical practice in the jurisdiction in which the license was granted.

(2) The license from another jurisdiction is current, active, and unrestricted.

(3) The client is located in California during the time the person seeks to provide care in California.

(4) The client is a current client of the person and has an established, ongoing client-provider relationship with the person at the time the client became located in California.

(5) The person informs the client of the limited timeframe of the services and that the person is not licensed in California.

(6) The person provides the client with the Board of Behavioral Sciences’ internet website address.

(7) The person informs the client of the jurisdiction in which the person is licensed and the type of license held and provides the client with the person’s license number.

(b) A person who intends to provide marriage and family therapy services pursuant to this section shall provide the board with all of the following information before providing services:

(1) The name under which the person is licensed in another jurisdiction, the person’s mailing address, the person’s phone number, the person’s social security number or individual taxpayer identification number, and the person’s electronic mailing address, if the person has an electronic mailing address.

(2) The jurisdiction in which the person is licensed, the type of license held, and the license number.

(3) The date on which the person will begin providing marriage and family therapy services to the person’s client in California.

(c) A person who provides services pursuant to this section shall submit a signed statement, under penalty of perjury, acknowledging that they are subject to the jurisdiction of the board and agreeing to be bound by the laws of this state.

(d) This section does not apply to any person licensed by the board whose license has been suspended or revoked.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 53. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. Regulation


text: Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a person shall not practice, or advertise the performance of, marriage and family therapy services unless the person has applied to the board for a license, paid the license fee required by this chapter, and obtained a license from the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 640, Sec. 3. (AB 232) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1. Regulation


text: A licensee shall display their license in a conspicuous place in the licensee’s primary place of practice when rendering professional clinical services in person.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 160, Sec. 1. (SB 1024) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) A licensee or registrant shall provide a client with a notice written in at least 12-point type prior to initiating psychotherapy services, or as soon as practicably possible thereafter, that reads as follows:

NOTICE TO CLIENTS

The Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by calling (916) 574-7830.

(b) On and after July 1, 2025, upon initiation of psychotherapy services with a client, the notice described in subdivision (a) shall also include the licensee’s or registrant’s full name as filed with the board, the license or registration number, the type of license or registration, and the license or registration expiration date.

(c) Delivery of the notice required by this section to the client shall be documented.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 160, Sec. 2. (SB 1024) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the board employ its resources for each and all of the following functions:

(a) The licensing of marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, and educational psychologists.

(b) The development and administration of licensing examinations and examination procedures, as specified, consistent with prevailing standards for the validation and use of licensing and certification tests. Examinations shall measure knowledge and abilities demonstrably important to the safe, effective practice of the profession.

(c) Enforcement of laws designed to protect the public from incompetent, unethical, or unprofessional practitioners.

(d) Consumer education.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 799, Sec. 25. (SB 1575) Effective January 1, 2013.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) The Legislature acknowledges that the basic obligation to provide a complete and accurate application for a marriage and family therapist license lies with the applicant. At the same time, the Legislature recognizes that an effort should be made by the board to ensure that persons who enter degree programs and supervisorial training settings that meet the requirements of this chapter are enabled to discern the requirements for licensing and to take the examination when they have completed their educational and experience requirements.

(b) In order that the board, the educational institutions, and the supervisors who monitor the education and experience of applicants may develop greater cooperation, the board shall do all of the following:

(1) Apply a portion of its limited resources specifically to the task of communicating information about its activities, the requirements and qualifications for licensure, and the practice of marriage and family therapy to the relevant educational institutions, supervisors, professional associations, applicants, trainees, associates, and the consuming public.

(2) Develop policies and procedures to assist educational institutions in meeting the curricula requirements of Sections 4980.36 and 4980.37 and any regulations adopted pursuant to those sections, so that those educational institutions may better provide assurance to their students that the curriculum offered to fulfill the educational requirements for licensure will meet those requirements at the time of the student’s application for licensure.

(3) Notify applicants in the application procedure when applications are incomplete, inaccurate, or deficient, and inform applicants of any remediation, reconsideration, or appeal procedures that may be applicable.

(4) Undertake, or cause to be undertaken, further comprehensive review, in consultation with educational institutions, professional associations, supervisors, associates, and trainees, of the supervision of associates and trainees, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following, and shall propose regulations regarding the supervision of associates and trainees that may include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Supervisor qualifications.

(B) Continuing education requirements of supervisors.

(C) Registration or licensing of supervisors, or both.

(D) Responsibilities of supervisors in general.

(E) The board’s authority in cases of noncompliance or negligence by supervisors.

(F) The associate’s and trainee’s need for guidance in selecting well-balanced and high-quality professional training opportunities within his or her community.

(G) The role of the supervisor in advising and encouraging his or her associate or trainee regarding the necessity or value and appropriateness of the associate or trainee engaging in personal psychotherapy, so as to enable the associate or trainee to become a more competent marriage and family therapist.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 743, Sec. 5. (AB 93) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) This section shall apply to the following:

(1) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and do not complete that study on or before December 31, 2018.

(2) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study before August 1, 2012, and who graduate from a degree program that meets the requirements of this section.

(3) Applicants for licensure or registration who begin graduate study on or after August 1, 2012.

(b) To qualify for a license or registration, applicants shall possess a doctoral or master’s degree meeting the requirements of this section in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or either counseling or clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in either marriage, family, and child counseling or marriage and family therapy. The degree shall be obtained from a school, college, or university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, or accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. The board has the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of accreditation or approval.

(c) A doctoral or master’s degree program that qualifies for licensure or registration shall be a single, integrated program that does the following:

(1) Integrate all of the following throughout its curriculum:

(A) Marriage and family therapy principles.

(B) The principles of mental health recovery-oriented care and methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice environments, among others.

(C) An understanding of various cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position, and an understanding of how poverty and social stress impact an individual’s mental health and recovery.

(2) Allow for innovation and individuality in the education of marriage and family therapists.

(3) Encourage students to develop the personal qualities that are intimately related to effective practice, including, but not limited to, integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion, and personal presence.

(4) Permit an emphasis or specialization that may address any one or more of the unique and complex array of human problems, symptoms, and needs of Californians served by marriage and family therapists.

(5) Provide students with the opportunity to meet with various consumers and family members of consumers of mental health services to enhance understanding of their experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery.

(d) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall contain no less than 60 semester or 90 quarter units of instruction that includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

(1) Both of the following:

(A) No less than 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework in theories, principles, and methods of a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations directly related to marriage and family therapy and marital and family systems approaches to treatment and how these theories can be applied therapeutically with individuals, couples, families, adults, including elder adults, children, adolescents, and groups to improve, restore, or maintain healthy relationships.

(B) Practicum that involves direct client contact, as follows:

(i) A minimum of six semester or nine quarter units of practicum in a supervised clinical placement that provides supervised fieldwork experience.

(ii) A minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(iii) A student must be enrolled in a practicum course while counseling clients, except as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 4980.42.

(iv) The practicum shall provide training in all of the following areas:

(I) Applied use of theory and psychotherapeutic techniques.

(II) Assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.

(III) Treatment of individuals and premarital, couple, family, and child relationships, including trauma and abuse, dysfunctions, healthy functioning, health promotion, illness prevention, and working with families.

(IV) Professional writing, including documentation of services, treatment plans, and progress notes.

(V) How to connect people with resources that deliver the quality of services and support needed in the community.

(v) Educational institutions are encouraged to design the practicum required by this subparagraph to include marriage and family therapy experience in low income and multicultural mental health settings.

(vi) In addition to the 150 hours required in clause (ii), 75 hours of either of the following, or a combination thereof:

(I) Client centered advocacy, as defined in Section 4980.03.

(II) Face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(2) Instruction in all of the following:

(A) Diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of mental disorders, including severe mental disorders, evidence-based practices, psychological testing, psychopharmacology, and promising mental health practices that are evaluated in peer-reviewed literature.

(B) Developmental issues from infancy to old age, including instruction in all of the following areas:

(i) The effects of developmental issues on individuals, couples, and family relationships.

(ii) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health implications of developmental issues and their effects.

(iii) Aging and its biological, social, cognitive, and psychological aspects. This coursework shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(iv) A variety of cultural understandings of human development.

(v) The understanding of human behavior within the social context of socioeconomic status and other contextual issues affecting social position.

(vi) The understanding of human behavior within the social context of a representative variety of the cultures found within California.

(vii) The understanding of the impact that personal and social insecurity, social stress, low educational levels, inadequate housing, and malnutrition have on human development.

(C) The broad range of matters and life events that may arise within marriage and family relationships and within a variety of California cultures, including instruction in all of the following:

(i) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(ii) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, intervention strategies, and same gender abuse dynamics.

(iii) Cultural factors relevant to abuse of partners and family members.

(iv) Childbirth, child rearing, parenting, and stepparenting.

(v) Marriage, divorce, and blended families.

(vi) Long-term care.

(vii) End-of-life and grief.

(viii) Poverty and deprivation.

(ix) Financial and social stress.

(x) Effects of trauma.

(xi) The psychological, psychotherapeutic, community, and health implications of the matters and life events described in clauses (i) to (x), inclusive.

(D) Cultural competency and sensitivity, including a familiarity with the racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds of persons living in California.

(E) Multicultural development and cross-cultural interaction, including experiences of race, ethnicity, class, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and disability, and their incorporation into the psychotherapeutic process.

(F) The effects of socioeconomic status on treatment and available resources.

(G) Resilience, including the personal and community qualities that enable persons to cope with adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or other stresses.

(H) Human sexuality, including the study of physiological, psychological, and social cultural variables associated with sexual behavior and gender identity, and the assessment and treatment of psychosexual dysfunction.

(I) Substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, including, but not limited to, instruction in all of the following:

(i) The definition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction. For purposes of this subparagraph, “co-occurring disorders” means a mental illness and substance abuse diagnosis occurring simultaneously in an individual.

(ii) Medical aspects of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(iii) The effects of psychoactive drug use.

(iv) Current theories of the etiology of substance abuse and addiction.

(v) The role of persons and systems that support or compound substance abuse and addiction.

(vi) Major approaches to identification, evaluation, and treatment of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, including, but not limited to, best practices.

(vii) Legal aspects of substance abuse.

(viii) Populations at risk with regard to substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

(ix) Community resources offering screening, assessment, treatment, and follow up for the affected person and family.

(x) Recognition of substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and addiction, and appropriate referral.

(xi) The prevention of substance use disorders and addiction.

(J) California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists, including instruction in all of the following areas of study:

(i) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory, and decisional laws that delineate the scope of practice of marriage and family therapy.

(ii) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy, including, but not limited to, family law.

(iii) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health professions.

(iv) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors with and without parental consent.

(v) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and the practitioner’s professional behavior and ethics.

(vi) The application of legal and ethical standards in different types of work settings.

(vii) Licensing law and licensing process.

(e) The degree described in subdivision (b) shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of subdivision (d), include instruction in case management, systems of care for the severely mentally ill, public and private services and supports available for the severely mentally ill, community resources for persons with mental illness and for victims of abuse, disaster and trauma response, advocacy for the severely mentally ill, and collaborative treatment. This instruction may be provided either in credit level coursework or through extension programs offered by the degree-granting institution.

(f) The changes made to law by this section are intended to improve the educational qualifications for licensure in order to better prepare future licentiates for practice, and are not intended to expand or restrict the scope of practice for marriage and family therapists.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 647, Sec. 24. (SB 801) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) This section shall apply to applicants for licensure or registration who began graduate study before August 1, 2012, and completed that study on or before December 31, 2018. Those applicants may alternatively qualify under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4980.36.

(b) To qualify for a license or registration, applicants shall possess a doctoral or master’s degree in marriage, family, and child counseling, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or either counseling or clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in either marriage, family, and child counseling or marriage and family therapy. The degree shall be obtained from a school, college, or university accredited by a regional or national institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. The board has the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of accreditation or approval. In order to qualify for licensure pursuant to this section, a doctoral or master’s degree program shall be a single, integrated program primarily designed to train marriage and family therapists and shall contain no less than 48 semester units or 72 quarter units of instruction. This instruction shall include no less than 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of coursework in the areas of marriage, family, and child counseling, and marital and family systems approaches to treatment. The coursework shall include all of the following areas:

(1) The salient theories of a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations directly related to marriage and family therapy, and marital and family systems approaches to treatment.

(2) Theories of marriage and family therapy and how they can be utilized in order to intervene therapeutically with couples, families, adults, children, and groups.

(3) Developmental issues and life events from infancy to old age and their effect on individuals, couples, and family relationships. This may include coursework that focuses on specific family life events and the psychological, psychotherapeutic, and health implications that arise within couples and families, including, but not limited to, childbirth, child rearing, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, marriage, divorce, blended families, stepparenting, abuse and neglect of older and dependent adults, and geropsychology.

(4) A variety of approaches to the treatment of children.

The board shall, by regulation, set forth the subjects of instruction required in this subdivision.

(c) (1) In addition to the 12 semester or 18 quarter units of coursework specified in subdivision (b), the doctoral or master’s degree program shall contain not less than six semester units or nine quarter units of supervised practicum in applied psychotherapeutic technique, assessments, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of premarital, couple, family, and child relationships, including dysfunctions, healthy functioning, health promotion, and illness prevention, in a supervised clinical placement that provides supervised fieldwork experience within the scope of practice of a marriage and family therapist.

(2) For applicants who enrolled in a degree program on or after January 1, 1995, the practicum shall include a minimum of 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(3) The practicum hours shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement.

(d) As an alternative to meeting the qualifications specified in subdivision (b), the board shall accept as equivalent degrees those master’s or doctoral degrees granted by educational institutions whose degree program is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

(e) In order to provide an integrated course of study and appropriate professional training, while allowing for innovation and individuality in the education of marriage and family therapists, a degree program that meets the educational qualifications for licensure or registration under this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide an integrated course of study that trains students generally in the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment planning, and treatment of mental disorders.

(2) Prepare students to be familiar with the broad range of matters that may arise within marriage and family relationships.

(3) Train students specifically in the application of marriage and family relationship counseling principles and methods.

(4) Encourage students to develop those personal qualities that are intimately related to the counseling situation such as integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion, and personal presence.

(5) Teach students a variety of effective psychotherapeutic techniques and modalities that may be utilized to improve, restore, or maintain healthy individual, couple, and family relationships.

(6) Permit an emphasis or specialization that may address any one or more of the unique and complex array of human problems, symptoms, and needs of Californians served by marriage and family therapists.

(7) Prepare students to be familiar with cross-cultural mores and values, including a familiarity with the wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds common among California’s population, including, but not limited to, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans.

(f) Educational institutions are encouraged to design the practicum required by this section to include marriage and family therapy experience in low income and multicultural mental health settings.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 647, Sec. 25. (SB 801) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) Each educational institution preparing applicants to qualify for registration or licensure shall notify each of its students by means of its public documents or otherwise in writing that its degree program is designed to meet the requirements of Section 4980.36 or 4980.37, and shall certify to the board that it has so notified its students.

(b) An applicant for registration or licensure shall submit to the board a certification by the applicant’s educational institution that the institution’s required curriculum for graduation and any associated coursework completed by the applicant does one of the following:

(1) Meets all of the requirements set forth in Section 4980.36.

(2) Meets all of the requirements set forth in Section 4980.37.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 54. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) An applicant for licensure whose education qualifies him or her under Section 4980.37 shall complete, as a condition of licensure, a minimum of 10 contact hours of coursework in aging and long-term care, which may include, but is not limited to, the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging. On and after January 1, 2012, this coursework shall include instruction on the assessment and reporting of, as well as treatment related to, elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect.

(b) Coursework taken in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure pursuant to this chapter, or in a separate course of study, may, at the discretion of the board, fulfill the requirements of this section.

(c) In order to satisfy the coursework requirement of this section, the applicant shall submit to the board a certification from the chief academic officer of the educational institution from which the applicant graduated stating that the coursework required by this section is included within the institution’s required curriculum for graduation, or within the coursework, that was completed by the applicant.

(d) The board shall not issue a license to the applicant until the applicant has met the requirements of this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 703, Sec. 30. (SB 1491) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
An applicant for licensure shall satisfy all of the following qualifications:

(a) Meet the educational requirements of Section 4980.36 or both Sections 4980.37 and 4980.41, as applicable.

(b) Be at least 18 years of age.

(c) Have at least two years of supervised experience as specified in this chapter and its corresponding regulations.

(d) Successfully pass a California law and ethics examination and a clinical examination, as specified in Section 4980.397. An applicant who has successfully passed a previously administered written examination may be subsequently required to take and pass another written examination.

(e) Not be subject to denial of licensure under Section 480. The board shall not issue a registration or license to any person who has been convicted of a crime in this or another state or in a territory of the United States that involves sexual abuse of children or who is required to register pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code or the equivalent in another state or territory, in accordance with Section 480.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 56. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) An applicant for licensure whose education qualifies them under Section 4980.37 shall complete the following coursework or training in order to be eligible to sit for the licensing examinations as specified in Section 4980.397:

(1) A two semester or three quarter unit course in California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of study:

(A) Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory, and decisional laws that delineate the profession’s scope of practice.

(B) The therapeutic, clinical, and practical considerations involved in the legal and ethical practice of marriage and family therapy, including family law.

(C) The current legal patterns and trends in the mental health profession.

(D) The psychotherapist-patient privilege, confidentiality, the patient dangerous to self or others, and the treatment of minors with and without parental consent.

(E) A recognition and exploration of the relationship between a practitioner’s sense of self and human values and their professional behavior and ethics.

This course may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirements contained in Section 4980.37.

(2) A minimum of seven contact hours of training or coursework in child abuse assessment and reporting as specified in Section 28 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3) A minimum of 10 contact hours of training or coursework in human sexuality as specified in Section 25, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement contained in Section 4980.37.

(4) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 1986, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include specific instruction in alcoholism and other chemical substance dependency as specified by regulation. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it shall be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement contained in Section 4980.37. Coursework required under this paragraph may be satisfactory if taken either in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or in a separate course. The applicant may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing this coursework from a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited or approved institution, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 4980.37, or from a board-accepted provider of continuing education, as described in Section 4980.54.

(5) For persons who began graduate study during the period commencing on January 1, 1995, and ending on December 31, 2003, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention. For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2004, a master’s or doctor’s degree qualifying for licensure shall include a minimum of 15 contact hours of coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies, including knowledge of community resources, cultural factors, and same gender abuse dynamics. Coursework required under this paragraph may be satisfactory if taken either in fulfillment of other educational requirements for licensure or in a separate course. The applicant may satisfy this requirement by successfully completing this coursework from a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited or approved institution, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 4980.37, or from a board-accepted provider of continuing education, as described in Section 4980.54.

(6) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2001, an applicant shall complete a minimum of a two semester or three quarter unit survey course in psychological testing. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement of Section 4980.37.

(7) For persons who began graduate study on or after January 1, 2001, an applicant shall complete a minimum of a two semester or three quarter unit survey course in psychopharmacology. When coursework in a master’s or doctor’s degree program is acquired to satisfy this requirement, it may be considered as part of the 48 semester or 72 quarter unit requirement of Section 4980.37.

(b) The requirements added by paragraphs (6) and (7) of subdivision (a) are intended to improve the educational qualifications for licensure in order to better prepare future licentiates for practice and are not intended in any way to expand or restrict the scope of practice for licensed marriage and family therapists.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 57. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) Trainees performing services in any work setting specified in Section 4980.43.3 may perform those activities and services as a trainee, provided that the activities and services constitute part of the trainee’s supervised course of study and that the person is designated by the title “trainee.”

(b) Trainees subject to Section 4980.37 may gain hours of experience and counsel clients outside of the required practicum. This subdivision shall apply to hours of experience gained and client counseling provided on and after January 1, 2012.

(c) Trainees subject to Section 4980.36 may gain hours of experience outside of the required practicum but must be enrolled in a practicum course to counsel clients. Trainees subject to Section 4980.36 may counsel clients while not enrolled in a practicum course if the period of lapsed enrollment is less than 90 calendar days, and if that period is immediately preceded by enrollment in a practicum course and immediately followed by enrollment in a practicum course or completion of the degree program.

(d) All hours of experience gained pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be subject to the other requirements of this chapter.

(e) All hours of experience gained as a trainee shall be coordinated between the school and the site where the hours are being accrued. The school shall approve each site and shall have a written agreement with each site that details each party’s responsibilities, including the methods by which supervision shall be provided. The agreement shall provide for regular progress reports and evaluations of the student’s performance at the site. If an applicant has gained hours of experience while enrolled in an institution other than the one that confers the qualifying degree, it shall be the applicant’s responsibility to provide to the board satisfactory evidence that those hours of trainee experience were gained in compliance with this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 743, Sec. 9. (AB 93) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), all applicants shall have an active associate registration with the board in order to gain postdegree hours of supervised experience.

(b) (1) Postdegree hours of experience gained before the issuance of an associate registration shall be credited toward licensure if all of the following apply:

(A) The registration applicant applies for the associate registration and the board receives the application within 90 days of the granting of the qualifying master’s degree or doctoral degree.

(B) For applicants completing graduate study on or after January 1, 2020, the experience is obtained at a workplace that, prior to the registration applicant gaining supervised experience hours, requires completed Live Scan fingerprinting. The applicant shall provide the board with a copy of that completed State of California “Request for Live Scan Service” form with the application for licensure.

(C) The board subsequently grants the associate registration.

(2) The applicant shall not be employed or volunteer in a private practice or a professional corporation until the applicant has been issued an associate registration by the board.

(c) Supervised experience that is obtained for purposes of qualifying for licensure shall be related to the practice of marriage and family therapy and comply with the following:

(1) A minimum of 3,000 hours completed during a period of at least 104 weeks.

(2) A maximum of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days.

(3) A minimum of 1,700 hours obtained after the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree was awarded.

(4) A maximum of 1,300 hours obtained prior to the award date of the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree.

(5) A maximum of 750 hours of counseling and direct supervisor contact prior to the award date of the qualifying master’s or doctoral degree.

(6) Hours of experience shall not be gained prior to completing either 12 semester units or 18 quarter units of graduate instruction.

(7) Hours of experience shall not have been gained more than six years prior to the date the application for licensure was received by the board, except that up to 500 hours of clinical experience gained in the supervised practicum required by subdivision (c) of Section 4980.37 and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 4980.36 shall be exempt from this six-year requirement.

(8) A minimum of 1,750 hours of direct clinical counseling with individuals, groups, couples, or families, that includes not less than 500 total hours of experience in diagnosing and treating couples, families, and children.

(9) A maximum of 1,200 hours gained under the supervision of a licensed educational psychologist providing educationally related mental health services that are consistent with the scope of practice of an educational psychologist, as specified in Section 4989.14.

(10) A maximum of 1,250 hours of nonclinical practice, consisting of direct supervisor contact, administering and evaluating psychological tests, writing clinical reports, writing progress or process notes, client-centered advocacy, and workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences directly related to marriage and family therapy that have been approved by the applicant’s supervisor.

(11) It is anticipated and encouraged that hours of experience will include working with elders and dependent adults who have physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out normal activities or protect their rights.

This subdivision shall only apply to hours gained on and after January 1, 2010.

(d) An individual who submits an application for licensure between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, may alternatively qualify under the experience requirements of this section that were in place on January 1, 2015.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 747, Sec. 4. (AB 690) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) All trainees, associates, and applicants for licensure shall be under the supervision of a supervisor at all times.

(b) As used in this chapter, the term “supervision” means responsibility for, and control of, the quality of mental health and related services provided by the supervisee. Consultation or peer discussion shall not be considered supervision and shall not qualify as supervised experience. Supervision includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Ensuring the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is consistent with the education, training, and experience of the supervisee.

(2) Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions and providing regular feedback.

(3) Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s ability to provide services at the site or sites where he or she is practicing and to the particular clientele being served.

(4) Monitoring and addressing clinical dynamics, including, but not limited to, countertransference-, intrapsychic-, interpersonal-, or trauma-related issues that may affect the supervisory or practitioner-patient relationship.

(5) Ensuring the supervisee’s compliance with laws and regulations governing the practice of marriage and family therapy.

(6) Reviewing the supervisee’s progress notes, process notes, and other patient treatment records, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.

(7) With the client’s written consent, providing direct observation or review of audio or video recordings of the supervisee’s counseling or therapy, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 743, Sec. 11. (AB 93) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 1. Regulation


text:
(a) Except for experience gained by attending workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences, as described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, direct supervisor contact shall occur as follows:

(1) Supervision shall include at least one hour of direct supervisor contact in each week for which experience is credited in each work setting.

(2) A trainee shall receive an average of at least one hour of direct supervisor contact for every five hours of direct clinical counseling performed each week in each setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(3) An associate gaining experience who performs more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting shall receive at least one additional hour of direct supervisor contact for that setting. For experience gained on or after January 1, 2009, no more than six hours of supervision, whether individual, triadic, or group, shall be credited during any single week.

(4) Of the 104 weeks of required supervision, 52 weeks shall be individual supervision, triadic supervision, or a combination of both.

(b) (1) For purposes of this chapter, “one hour of direct supervisor contact” means any of the following:

(A) Individual supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and one person receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(B) Triadic supervision, which means one hour of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and two persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services.

(C) Group supervision, which means two hours of face-to-face contact between one supervisor and no more than eight persons receiving supervision for providing clinical mental health services. Segments of group supervision may be split into no less than one continuous hour. A supervisor shall ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each person in the group.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “face-to-face contact” means in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these.

(c) The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state laws relating to confidentiality of patient health information.

(d) (1) Within 60 days of the commencement of supervision, a supervisor shall conduct a meeting with the supervisee during which the supervisor shall assess the appropriateness of allowing the supervisee to receive supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing. This assessment of appropriateness shall include, but is not limited to, the abilities of the supervisee, the preferences of both the supervisee and supervisor, and the privacy of the locations of the supervisee and supervisor while supervision is conducted.

(2) The supervisor shall document the results of the assessment made pursuant to paragraph (1), and shall not utilize supervision via two-way, real-time videoconferencing if their assessment finds it is not appropriate.

(e) Direct supervisor contact shall occur within the same week as the hours claimed.

(f) Alternative supervision may be arranged during a supervisor’s vacation or sick leave if the alternative supervision meets the requirements of this chapter.

(g) Notwithstanding any other law, once the required number of experience hours are gained, associates and applicants for licensure shall receive a minimum of one hour of direct supervisor contact per week for each practice setting in which direct clinical counseling is performed. Once the required number of experience hours are gained, further supervision for nonclinical practice, as defined in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 4980.43, shall be at the supervisor’s discretion.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 160, Sec. 3) by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 58. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. Regulation