CaliforniaSB 7752025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Sponsored By: Angelique Ashby (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

28 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 9 costs, 13 mixed.

Faster California license for out‑of‑state MFTs

If you hold an out‑of‑state MFT license, you can get a California license by endorsement. Your out‑of‑state license must have been active and unrestricted for at least two years. You must disclose past discipline, have an approved graduate degree, complete fingerprinting, finish required California coursework (including 12 hours of law and ethics), and pass the California law and ethics exam. The Board accepts out‑of‑state education and experience that is substantially equivalent. If you are short of 3,000 supervised hours, the Board credits 100 hours per month you held an active good‑standing license, up to 1,200 hours. If you passed an accepted clinical exam and hold an active good‑standing license, you may not need the California clinical exam.

Requirements for educational psychologists

To be licensed as an educational psychologist, you must be at least 18, have at least a master’s degree in an approved field, and complete 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units in pupil personnel services. You must finish two full school terms of supervised experience, usually within the six years before you apply. You must pass a written exam; a passing score is valid for seven years. You must not be subject to denial for certain offenses.

Stronger discipline and enforcement for therapists

The law expands grounds for discipline, including crimes related to practice, sexual misconduct with clients, gross negligence, and more. A felony conviction that leads to incarceration automatically suspends your license during custody. California may also discipline you based on substantially related actions taken by another state, and the board can act after formal hearings. When a license is revoked, the board reports it to the National Practitioner Data Bank. The board can ask the court to stop unlicensed practice to protect the public.

Licensing coursework for psychologists and psychoanalysts

The law requires key training before you get licensed. Psychologist applicants must complete human sexuality training (the board sets content, up to 50 hours), at least 7 hours on child abuse assessment and reporting, and 6 contact hours on aging and long-term care, including elder abuse. Research psychoanalyst applicants must complete human sexuality and the same child abuse training. Beginning January 1, 2026, research psychoanalyst applicants must also complete 6 contact hours on aging and long-term care. You must provide a transcript or board‑approved certificates, signed under penalty of perjury.

No contracting; strict supervision for trainees

Trainees, associates, and applicants must be employees or volunteers, not independent contractors. Employed associates must provide W‑2s or pay stubs; volunteers need an employer letter. Trainees cannot work in private practice (or a professional corporation) until registered; no one may take payment directly from clients. Weekly supervision is required in each setting where you count hours, with extra hours when you provide more service; supervision must occur the same week. Video supervision is allowed if the supervisor checks and documents suitability within 60 days. Some supervision does not count (for example, by a spouse or conflicted supervisor). For ASWs, at least 52 of 104 weeks are individual/triadic and at least 13 weeks are with an LCSW; for counselor trainees, plan on one hour of supervision for every five hours of direct counseling, plus another hour if you do more than 10 hours in a week.

Ongoing training for research psychoanalysts

To renew a research psychoanalyst registration, you must complete 36 hours of approved continuing professional development every two years and certify it under penalty of perjury. Beginning January 1, 2026, applicants must also complete at least six hours of suicide risk assessment and intervention; registrants had a one‑time six‑hour suicide training before their first renewal after January 1, 2020. Applicants must show coursework or training in chemical dependency and in spousal or partner abuse assessment and intervention. The board may also add continuing education on recognizing chemical dependency in future rules.

Psychology license and registration fees

The Board sets these psychology fees. Application is $236, law-and-ethics exam application $127, and initial license $231. Psychologist renewal is $795 every two years (the Board may set it up to $1,100). Registered psychological associate application is $424; annual renewal is $224 (the Board may set it up to $400). Testing technician registration and annual renewal are $75. A separate registration under this article costs $150 and renews every two years for up to $75. Fingerprint hard-card processing for out‑of‑state applicants is $184 plus actual costs. Other small fees apply (duplicate license $5, endorsement $5, file transfer $10). A delinquency fee equals 50% of the renewal fee, up to $397.50. The Board may reduce fees when appropriate.

Tougher probation, renewal, and reinstatement rules

If the board puts you on probation, it can make you pay probation costs and require extra continuing education or an exam. A suspended license still expires and must be renewed, but renewal does not let you practice; revoked or surrendered licenses cannot be renewed. You may petition for reinstatement or to change probation terms after set wait times, but you must prove you deserve relief. If you let a psychology license go more than three years past expiration, it becomes void and cannot be restored; you must qualify and pay for a new license.

Stronger discipline and safety rules

The Board expands what counts as unprofessional conduct, including crimes tied to practice, fraud, client harm, telehealth rule violations, and sexual relations with a client within two years of ending care. The Board cannot license anyone required to register as a sex offender. Sexual contact by certain health and behavioral providers with current or recently terminated patients is a crime. A single act can bring up to 6 months in county jail and a fine up to $1,000; multiple victims or prior convictions can lead to state prison and fines up to $10,000.

MFT exams, coursework, and timing rules

MFT applicants must be at least 18, meet education rules, complete at least two years of supervised experience, and pass two exams. After registration, you must take the California law and ethics exam within your first year; you may take the clinical exam only after finishing education and required hours. Required coursework includes a California law and ethics course; child abuse (≥7 hours); human sexuality (≥10 hours); alcohol/chemical dependency (for certain start dates); spousal/partner abuse (15 hours for certain start dates); and survey courses in testing and psychopharmacology for later cohorts. The Board gives exams at least twice a year and cannot deny admission to fully eligible applicants only because of a pending complaint (absent disqualifying acts). Passing scores on the clinical exam expire after seven years; the Board can deny a retake while you are under investigation.

Path to a psychologist license

To be licensed as a psychologist, you need an approved doctoral degree, at least two years of supervised experience (including one post‑doctorate year), and passing exam scores. You must complete training in substance dependency and spousal/partner abuse detection. People training toward licensure must register as registered psychological associates; a licensed psychologist may supervise no more than three associates at the same time. Associates cannot practice independently or take payment directly from clients. Testing technicians must register and complete at least 80 hours of training: 20 hours of observation (10 with a psychologist), 40 hours administering and scoring with a psychologist present, and 20 hours of law, ethics, and confidentiality, plus fingerprinting and fees.

Retired license and ad rules for educational psychologists

The board issues retired licenses to educational psychologists in good standing; retired holders cannot practice and must use the title 'retired.' You may restore a retired license one time only if it was issued less than three years ago: 18 hours of CE (including 6 hours of California law and ethics) if retired under one year, or 36 hours (including 6 hours of law and ethics) if retired one to under three years. If retired three or more years, you must apply for a new license. The law also defines what counts as advertising and excludes signs inside religious buildings and bulletins mailed to a congregation.

Short-term practice for out-of-state psychologists

A psychologist licensed at the doctoral level in another U.S. state or Canada can serve clients in California for up to 30 consecutive days each calendar year. The client must be in California and already be an established client. The provider must tell the client they are not licensed in California, give the Board of Psychology website and their license details, and file identifying information and a signed statement with the board before services. This does not apply if the provider’s license is suspended or revoked. This authority ends January 1, 2030.

Registration for psychoanalysis training

Students and graduates of approved psychoanalytic institutes may practice psychoanalysis for teaching, training, or research. They must register with the Board and show proof of student or graduate status. The Board can suspend or revoke this authority for unprofessional conduct.

Retired licenses for LCSWs and LPCCs

Clinical social workers and professional clinical counselors can switch to a retired license if their license is current or recently expired and not under discipline. You cannot practice while retired and must use the title with the word “retired.” You do not need to renew. You can restore a retired license one time if it was issued less than three years ago. Restoration requires an application, fees, fingerprinting, and CE: 18 hours (including 6 California law and ethics) if restored within one year, or 36 hours (including 6) if restored after one year. If retired for three or more years, you must apply for a new license.

Short-term practice for out-of-state therapists

Through January 1, 2030, MFTs and professional clinical counselors licensed at the highest level in another U.S. state may treat an established client located in California for up to 30 consecutive days in a year. The out‑of‑state license must be current, active, and unrestricted. Providers must tell the client about the time limit and non‑California license, give license details and the board website, submit required information to the board before services, and sign a statement accepting board jurisdiction. This does not apply if the person’s California license is suspended or revoked.

Training for therapists, counselors, social workers

If you apply for or renew an MFT, professional clinical counselor, or clinical social worker license, you must complete human sexuality training as set by the board. You must also complete at least seven contact hours on child abuse assessment and reporting from approved sources and provide proof; the board may exempt you if your practice does not need it. Schools must tell students in writing that their programs are designed to meet required coursework and must certify that to the board. The board will consider adding substance‑use recognition training to continuing education before setting any such rule.

Set fees for marriage and family therapists

The law sets marriage and family therapist fees. An associate registration application is $150. Annual associate renewal is $150. An application for licensure is $250. The board may set other exam and license fees up to limits and based on actual costs. Missing a scheduled exam forfeits the exam fee. These fees take effect January 1, 2021.

Clear notice for unlicensed counseling staff

Unlicensed or unregistered staff at a government agency, school, college, university, or nonprofit are exempt only when they work under the entity’s oversight and give clients a written notice. The notice must be at least 12-point type and given before psychotherapy starts, or as soon as possible. They must document that they gave the notice. Clergy, attorneys, and physicians are outside this chapter when counseling within their practice. Associates and licensed persons under this chapter are not exempt. This notice rule applies to services on or after July 1, 2020.

Clearer ad rules for social workers

The law clarifies what counts as advertising for clinical social workers. Public cards, signs, printed matter, and notices can be advertising. Signs inside religious buildings and mailed bulletins from a religious group to its congregation do not count as advertising.

More ethics and public info for psychologists

The board adopts the APA ethics code and must run a consumer education program. Psychologists must post a 'NOTICE TO CONSUMERS' in their main office and include it in consent forms. The board may post wide‑ranging license and discipline records online, including certain citations for five years. Psychological corporations and the licensed professionals who work in them must follow the professional corporation law and all other applicable rules.

Ethics rules and office notice for psychoanalysts

The law creates a consumer and professional ethics education program for psychoanalysis. It adopts the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Code of Ethics as the standard for exams and discipline. Registrants who practice psychoanalysis must post a “NOTICE TO CONSUMERS” in a visible spot in their main office. The notice lists Board of Psychology phone, email, website, and mailing address so patients can ask questions or file complaints.

Stricter conduct rules for educational psychologists

The law expands unprofessional conduct for licensed educational psychologists. It covers crimes tied to practice, fraud to get a license, breaking telehealth rules, sexual contact with clients in set timeframes, failing to report child or elder abuse, false or misleading ads, aiding unlicensed practice, improper referral pay, and confidentiality breaches. Acts with minors under listed Penal Code sections are always unprofessional. The board may review conviction details to see if they relate to the job.

MFT continuing education and retired status

To renew an MFT license, you must complete 36 hours of approved continuing education every two years. To renew a registration, you must complete 3 hours of California law and ethics each year. Keep records for at least two years; the Board can audit and allow good‑cause exceptions. You may shift to a retired license and you cannot practice while retired. You can restore a retired license one time if it was issued less than three years ago: 18 CE hours (including 6 law and ethics) if restored within one year, or 36 CE hours (including 6) if restored after one year. If retired for three or more years, you must apply for a new license.

Board governance changes and sunset reviews

The law sets who serves on the Board of Behavioral Sciences, adds an executive officer role, and outlines terms and pay rules. It sets the Board of Psychology at nine members, with this rule ending January 1, 2030. When these membership sections repeal, both boards are subject to review by legislative policy committees. The law also repeals older sections and includes a conditional rule tied to another bill for online posting; some provisions end on January 1, 2030.

Old code sections repealed

The law removes several older sections from the Business and Professions Code, including Sections 4980.43.2, 4982.05, 2964.5, 2964.6, 2966, 4999.46.2, and Sections 25, 28, and 29. These are statutory clean‑ups. The bill text here does not show direct changes to fees, eligibility, or benefits from these repeals.

Who may use psychology titles

You must hold a California license to practice psychology or call yourself a psychologist. The law defines key terms and ties school approval to recognized accreditors. Other licensed professionals may do psychological work within their own license but cannot use protected psychology titles. Educational psychologists may use that title. A psychologist must meet a state rule before doing peace‑officer fitness‑for‑duty or related evaluations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Angelique Ashby
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 205 • No: 1

Senate vote • 9/13/2025

Item 150 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 9/12/2025

Item 65 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 78 • No: 1

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 11 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/8/2025

Vote in CX33

Yes: 16 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/4/2025

Item 111 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 39 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 6 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/12/2025