BBS Supervision Requirements for California AMFTs, APCCs & ASWs

Universal supervision rules (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW)

Regardless of which license you are pursuing, the BBS applies the same core supervision structure. These rules govern how many weeks of supervision you need, how supervision units are counted, and what caps apply.

• 104 supervised weeks minimum — a "supervised week" is any week where you meet with your supervisor for at least 1 unit of supervision
• 52 weeks with individual or triadic supervision — at least half your supervised weeks must include 1-on-1 or triadic (supervisor + 2 supervisees) sessions
• 1 unit of supervision per week per work setting — 1 hour individual/triadic or 2 hours group
• Additional unit required if you log more than 10 hours of direct clinical work in a week at any setting
• 6 hours of supervision credit per week maximum — any supervision beyond 6 hours in a week does not count
• Videoconference supervision is allowed — same rules apply as in-person
• Prohibited supervisors: spouses, relatives, and former therapists cannot serve as your supervisor

Cross-license comparison

Most supervision rules are identical across all three license types. The key difference is the LCSW-specific supervisor requirement.

The supervision ratio rule explained

The BBS supervision ratio is the most commonly misunderstood rule. Here is exactly how it works:

• For every work setting where you log clinical hours, you need at least 1 unit of supervision per week
• If you log more than 10 direct clinical hours in a single week at any setting, you need 1 additional unit at that setting
• 1 unit = 1 hour of individual/triadic supervision OR 2 hours of group supervision

If you work at multiple settings, the ratio applies independently at each setting. For example, if you work at two clinics and exceed 10 direct hours at both, you would need 2 units at each setting (4 units total that week).

Supervisor qualifications

Not just anyone can supervise your clinical hours. The BBS has strict requirements for who qualifies as a supervisor:

• Must hold an active California license as an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist
• Must have a current BBS supervision certification — supervisors complete a training course and renew it regularly
• Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) supervision is allowed but capped at 1,200 hours across all license types
• Cannot be your spouse, relative, or former therapist

You can verify a supervisor's license status on the BBS License Verification portal. Always confirm their supervision certification is current before beginning the relationship.

Group vs individual supervision

The BBS counts group and individual supervision differently, and each has its own constraints:

The critical distinction: group supervision counts toward your 104 supervised weeks, but it cannot substitute for the 52 weeks of individual or triadic supervision. You must have at least 52 weeks where you received individual or triadic supervision regardless of how much group supervision you complete.

LCSW-specific supervision requirement

ASWs pursuing LCSW licensure have one additional requirement that does not apply to AMFT or APCC candidates:

• 1,700 of your 3,000 hours must be accrued under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• 13 of your 52 individual/triadic supervision weeks must be with an LCSW supervisor
• The remaining hours and weeks can be supervised by other BBS-qualified professionals

If your primary supervisor is an LMFT or LPCC, plan early to arrange at least 1,700 hours under LCSW oversight. Falling short of this requirement is one of the most common reasons ASW applications are delayed.

Supervision agreement

For all supervision relationships beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the BBS requires a written supervision agreement signed by both parties before supervision begins. This applies to all three license types.

• Must be signed before the first supervision session
• Should outline the supervision plan, frequency, and expectations
• Both supervisor and supervisee retain a copy
• The BBS may request it during an audit

Source: BBS AMFT, APCC, and ASW FAQs revised January 2026; California Business and Professions Code Sections 4980.43, 4999.46, 4996.23