About Pacifica Graduate Institute's Graduate Program
Pacifica Graduate Institute is located in Carpinteria, California. The program runs 2.5 years (10 quarters) in length and holds WSCUC accreditation.
- Pacifica is built entirely around depth psychology, weaving Jungian, archetypal, psychoanalytic, and somatic traditions through six sequential Depth Psychology Theory and Practice courses unavailable at conventional clinical programs
- Coursework reaches beyond clinical technique into interdisciplinary study of literature, mythology, religion, and culture, training therapists to work with the symbolic and unconscious dimensions of the psyche
- The degree runs on a low-residency cohort model — multi-day on-campus sessions clustered across each quarter plus a week-long summer intensive — designed for working adults commuting to the Carpinteria campus
Programs offered (leading to California BBS licensure)
- MA in Counseling Psychology (Depth Psychology emphasis) (MA) — leads to LMFT or LPCC licensure
What Changes After You Graduate from Pacifica
Graduation is the structural pivot in every California clinician's pre-license journey. During your degree at Pacifica, your program handled the tracking side of things — faculty field liaisons approved placements, your school picked the platform, and everything was shaped by the academic calendar. Once your degree is conferred and you register as an associate, that changes. The rules, the categories, the forms, and the timeline are now set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
From the day your BBS associate registration is issued, you are now:
- Accumulating hours under BBS Column A (direct), B (non-clinical), and C (weekly total) rules.
- Subject to the 40-hour weekly cap across every site combined.
- Counting supervised weeks toward a 104-week minimum (52 individual).
- Responsible for generating BBS Form 37A-525 and 37A-301 at application time.
- Free to pick your own supervisor and sites, subject to BBS qualification rules.
Before your final weeks as a student: make sure you have your own copy of your signed program timesheets saved somewhere you control (local drive plus cloud). Your pre-degree hours can count toward the BBS 3,000 — but only if you can document them. Our Tevera export guide walks through the export step-by-step for programs that use Tevera.
Your BBS Licensure Path: LMFT and LPCC
Pacifica graduates in Carpinteria and across California typically pursue LMFT or LPCC licensure. For a Pacifica grad, the core BBS structure is the same across pathways — 3,000 supervised hours, A/B/C categorization, the 40-hour weekly cap, 104 supervised weeks, and BBS-specific forms — while sub-requirements (like the LMFT's 500-hour A1 couples, families, and children minimum) differ by license.
For a full walkthrough of your specific pathway, see How to Track LMFT Supervised Hours in California or, if you're pursuing the other track, see How to Track LPCC Hours in California.
HourJourney for Pacifica Graduates
HourJourney is built for the California associate phase — the exact phase Pacifica graduates enter after commencement. Every BBS requirement is baked in: A/B/C categorization with auto-calculated Column C, the 40-hour weekly cap across every site, pre-degree / post-degree classification based on your degree awarded date, 104-week and 52-week supervision tracking, and one-click BBS PDF form generation.
$4.95/month (or $49/year — save 17%) for pre-degree trainees, $7.95/month (or $79/year) once you register as an associate. 30-day free trial.
Built for the Pacifica-to-licensure journey
Track every BBS-countable hour from your first associate week through your licensure application.
Start Your Free 30-Day TrialFAQ: Pacifica Graduates & BBS Licensure
What is the California BBS licensure pathway for Pacifica graduates?+
Pacifica graduates typically pursue LMFT or LPCC licensure through the California BBS. That starts with associate registration (AMFT, APCC) and accumulating 3,000 supervised hours in BBS A/B/C format, enforcing a 40-hour weekly cap, and reaching at least 104 supervised weeks.
How long does the post-graduation licensure phase take for a Pacifica grad?+
For Pacifica graduates it typically runs 3 to 6 years. Full-time associates working 40-hour weeks reach 3,000 hours in roughly 3 years; part-time paths take longer. The 104-week supervision minimum (52 individual) often becomes the pacing constraint rather than the hours themselves.
Do my Pacifica practicum hours count toward my BBS license?+
Yes, within limits — and it's an advantage worth protecting. Up to 1,300 pre-degree hours (up to 750 direct) from your Pacifica practicum can count toward the BBS 3,000-hour requirement. Those hours must be documented on BBS Form 37A-525 and signed by a BBS-qualified supervisor, so keep your signed Pacifica timesheets as supporting evidence.
What tool should I use to track hours as a Pacifica associate?+
A BBS-compliant tracker that enforces A/B/C categorization, the 40-hour weekly cap across every site, pre-degree / post-degree classification, and generates BBS Forms 37A-525 and 37A-301. HourJourney is purpose-built for the Pacifica-to-licensure phase; Track Your Hours and spreadsheets are the alternatives.
When should I register as an associate after Pacifica?+
Immediately after your Pacifica degree is conferred. You cannot accrue BBS-countable post-degree hours until your AMFT, APCC number is issued, so apply through the California BBS at bbs.ca.gov as soon as you graduate.
Related guides
Hours Tracking After Graduation (California)
The cornerstone post-grad guide covering BBS forms, hour categories, and setting up your system.
Hours Tracking for California Associates
The BBS-compliant tracker built for the California associate phase.
How to Track LMFT Supervised Hours in California
Walk through the specific LMFT pathway step by step.
Pacifica Graduate Institute is referenced here for informational purposes. HourJourney is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Pacifica Graduate Institute. Tevera is a registered trademark of its respective owner; HourJourney is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tevera. BBS requirements reflect guidance current as of 2025–2026. Always verify at bbs.ca.gov. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Last verified: 2026-06-03.