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BBS Supervision Ratio Calculator

See whether your week meets the California BBS supervision ratio. Enter your direct clinical hours and your individual/triadic and group supervision to find out if you're compliant — and how many of your direct hours qualify.

1 unit minimum

Every week you gain hours needs at least 1 unit of supervision.

2nd unit at 11+ hrs

More than 10 direct hours in a week at one setting requires a 2nd unit there.

6-hour cap

The BBS credits a maximum of 6 hours of supervision per week.

hrs

Face-to-face counseling at one setting.

hrs

Each hour counts as 1 full unit.

hrs

Two hours of group equals 1 unit.

Enter your hours to check

0

Effective supervision (units)

0

Required units

0

Qualified direct hours

Effective supervision = individual/triadic + (group ÷ 2) = 0 + (0 ÷ 2) = 0

Enter your direct clinical hours above to see whether your supervision meets the BBS ratio for the week.

This is an informational estimate, checked per week and per setting. The BBS evaluates the supervision ratio separately for each setting where you gain hours. Learn more in our BBS supervision requirements guide and supervision hours per week guide.

How the ratio works

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) ties your supervision to the direct clinical hours you gain each week at each setting. One unit of supervision is 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision, or 2 hours of group supervision — which is why this calculator counts group supervision as half a unit.

In every week you gain experience hours, you need at least 1 unit of supervision. When you gain more than 10 direct clinical hours in a single week at one setting, a second unit is required at that setting that week. So a week with 11 or more direct hours at one clinic needs 2 units there, not 1. Because the trigger is evaluated per setting, a busy week split across two sites is checked independently for each one.

There is also an upper limit: the BBS credits a maximum of 6 hours of supervision per week across all settings and formats combined. Anything beyond 6 hours simply doesn't add to your totals.

When your supervision meets the required ratio, all of your direct hours for the week qualify. When it falls short, each whole effective unit of supervision covers up to 10 direct hours — so a short week limits how many of your hours count.

Frequently asked questions

What is the BBS supervision ratio?

The BBS supervision ratio is the amount of supervision a California associate (AMFT, ASW, or APCC) must receive relative to the direct clinical hours they gain in a week at a single setting. At minimum, you need 1 unit of supervision in every week you gain hours. A second unit is required when you gain more than 10 direct clinical hours in a week at one setting. One unit equals 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision, or 2 hours of group supervision.

When do I need a second hour of supervision?

A second unit of supervision is triggered when you gain more than 10 direct clinical hours in a single week at a single setting — so a week with 11 or more direct hours at one site requires 2 units there instead of 1. The trigger is evaluated per setting, so a busy week split across two settings is checked independently for each one.

Does group supervision count for half?

Yes. Two hours of group supervision equal 1 unit of supervision, while 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision equals a full unit. So in this calculator your effective supervision is your individual/triadic hours plus half your group hours. Note that group supervision does not count toward the BBS requirement that at least 52 of your weeks include individual or triadic supervision.

What are qualified direct hours?

Qualified direct hours are the direct clinical hours that count toward licensure for a given week. When your supervision meets the required ratio, all of your direct hours for that week qualify. When it falls short, the hours that count are limited — each whole effective unit of supervision covers up to 10 direct hours.

Is this calculator official?

No. This tool is for informational purposes only and reflects the BBS supervision ratio rules as published by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BBS. Always verify current requirements at bbs.ca.gov and confirm details with your supervisor.

Related Guides

BBS Supervision RequirementsSupervision Hours Per Week

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