You Were a Trainee. Now You Are Becoming an Associate.
Graduation is the single biggest structural change in a California clinician's pre-license journey. During your degree, your program handled almost everything. Your field placement was approved by faculty. Your hours were logged in a system your university picked. Your supervisor was someone your program connected you to. The timeline was dictated by the academic calendar.
That is over. You are now an individual accumulating hours for your own license under rules set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). You chose your supervisor. You pick your site. You own your data. You decide how fast, or how slowly, you move toward licensure.
This guide covers what changes when you graduate: what happens to your Tevera account, what the BBS requires, how to preserve your program hours, how the tracking rules differ, what a tracking system should do, and what sets your pace. By the end you'll have a concrete post-graduation plan.
What Changes When You Graduate
These five things shift the moment your degree is conferred:
Program oversight ends
Your faculty field liaison no longer approves your placements. Your program no longer reviews your hours. Everything now runs through your BBS-qualified supervisor.
New categories, new rules
On the MFT weekly log, Column A is direct counseling, B is non-clinical experience, and C is the weekly total (A + B = C). These are not the same as your program's categories.
Your timeline becomes yours
You are not on a semester system anymore. The limits are 40 hours in any seven consecutive days, at least 104 supervised weeks, and your weekly supervision.
The 90-day rule
Post-degree hours before your AMFT, APCC, or ASW number issues count only if the BBS receives your registration application within 90 days of your degree award date (and the other 90-day rule conditions are met). Submit your application promptly.
For the full conceptual comparison, see our Program Hours vs Licensure Hours guide.
HourJourney sorts every week by your degree date
Weeks after your degree award date are logged as post-degree and checked against the associate supervision ratio, so you can see the switch from trainee to associate rules week by week.
What Happens to Your Tevera Account
Tevera is a field-education platform many graduate programs use. It is built around program field placements and faculty approvals. After you graduate, Tevera moves you to an alumni role.
- Alumni keep access. Tevera (now Lumivero's Experiential Learning Cloud) says alumni keep access to their past work, hours and placements at no additional cost, and can keep tracking licensure hours in the same account.
- Student access ends at the transition. Moving to alumni status ends student access and closes placements (you can re-add them). Export everything before the transition.
- Set a standalone password. If you only sign in through your university's portal (SSO), set a standalone password. Tevera prompts you about two weeks before graduation, and you can also set one at any time.
- Check what your program set up. Tevera also offers BBS weekly reports for MFT and PCC associates (reports 508 and 511). Ask your field education office what your program uses.
Do this before you transition to alumni status: Open Tevera, generate a signed timesheet PDF covering your entire degree, and save it locally and in cloud storage. If anything goes wrong with your account later, you still have the underlying record. Our Tevera export guide walks through exactly how.
Not sure what your specific program's policy is? Start with our /for-graduates directory, which covers California programs one by one.
What BBS Requires of Associates
The BBS pathway has five structural rules every associate must know from day one:
- 3,000 total supervised hours. Applies to LMFT, LPCC, and LCSW. LCSW has its own category minimums (see our LCSW hours guide).
- Weekly log columns. On the MFT weekly log (37A-525), Column A is direct counseling with individuals, groups, couples or families (A1 is the couples, families and children subcategory), Column B is non-clinical experience (B1 is individual or triadic supervision, B2 is group supervision), and Column C is the weekly total (A + B = C). APCCs use the APCC Weekly Log (37A-638) and ASWs use the ASW Weekly Log of Experience Hours.
- 40 hours in any seven consecutive days. The BBS credits a maximum of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days, across all settings. Hours above that are not credited.
- Pre-degree hours (LMFT only). On the LMFT track, up to 1,300 hours gained before your degree award date can count, up to 750 of them counseling and direct supervisor contact. LPCC and LCSW allow no pre-degree hours.
- 104 supervised weeks minimum, with at least 52 including individual or triadic supervision. A supervised week is a week with 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision or 2 hours of group supervision.
For the full breakdown, see our BBS supervision requirements explainer and California LMFT hours requirements guide.
Preserving Your Program Hours
Pre-degree hours are not just academic record-keeping. On the LMFT track, up to 1,300 of them (up to 750 of them counseling and direct supervisor contact) can be applied toward your 3,000 hours. If you earned those hours, you want them. Losing access to your program's system without a saved export means reconstructing them from memory.
The tactical checklist is short:
- ✓Generate a signed Tevera timesheet PDF covering your entire degree.
- ✓Save it in at least two places (local + cloud).
- ✓Save supervisor names, license numbers, and dates-first-licensed for every supervisor you had during your program.
- ✓Save site names and addresses.
- ✓Note which Tevera activity categories match the columns on your BBS weekly log.
Our Tevera export guide walks through the full procedure and includes a Tevera-to-BBS category mapping table. If you would rather understand the pre-degree rules themselves, see our Pre-Degree Hours BBS Rules guide.
Setting Up Your Post-Graduation System
A tracking system for the associate phase should cover four things:
- Hours by week, supervisor and site, in the columns of your BBS weekly log.
- Pre-degree / post-degree sorting by your degree award date.
- A weekly supervision check against the BBS supervision units.
- Your BBS weekly log and experience verification as PDFs.
A spreadsheet can do this with effort. For a head-to-head on spreadsheets vs apps, see our Spreadsheet vs App comparison.
Setting up: Create your HourJourney account, add your supervisor and site, then enter your hours by week (on the LMFT track, your pre-degree hours too). 30-day free trial, no card required.
Your First 30 Days as an Associate
The first month after AMFT, APCC, or ASW registration sets the rhythm for everything that follows. Here's a week-by-week checklist mapped to BBS rules:
- Week 1Submit your BBS associate registration application so the BBS receives it within 90 days of your degree award date. After that deadline, hours count only from the date your number is issued.
- Week 2The BBS does not publish an average time to issue your number. 16 CCR 1805.1 sets a maximum of 30 business days, from the date the Board receives your application, to notify you that it is complete or deficient. Log from your degree award date if the 90-day rule applies to you, otherwise from the day your number issues. Record both dates in your tracker.
- Week 3Meet your supervisor in every week you gain experience (see our supervision requirements guide for who can supervise your license). Start your weekly log: 37A-525 for MFT, 37A-638 for APCC, the ASW Weekly Log of Experience Hours for ASW.
- Week 4Check that no seven consecutive days add up to more than 40 hours across every site you worked. Have your supervisor sign each weekly log weekly.
The bigger the gap between hours worked and hours logged, the more likely something gets miscategorized or dropped. Lock the weekly cadence in during these first four weeks, and the rest of your hours follow the same routine.
Common First-Year Tracking Mistakes
Common tracking mistakes to avoid:
- Lapsed associate registration. Hours earned while your registration has lapsed do not count (BBS FAQ). Calendar your renewal date and renew early.
- Going over 40 hours across multiple sites. The BBS credits a maximum of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days, across all settings. If you work at more than one site, add up the week before you log; hours above the limit are not credited.
- Missing weekly signatures. Have your supervisor sign each weekly log weekly. The BBS says applicants can lose experience hours if forms are not signed as required. If a supervisor goes on vacation, get the prior week signed before they leave.
- Logging testing hours as Column A. Psychological testing (administering and evaluating tests) is non-clinical experience, Column B, not Column A. Check the 37A-525 footnotes for the BBS list.
- Confusing group supervision math. Group supervision (B2) counts at half toward the weekly supervision units: two hours of group supervision equal one unit, not two. Plan your weekly supervision mix accordingly.
For a deeper dive into the supervision math, see our BBS supervision requirements explainer.
The Associate Timeline: What Sets Your Pace
Your pace depends on your weekly hours, how consistently you get supervision, and any gaps in work or registration:
- Weekly hours. The limit is 40 hours in any seven consecutive days. Fewer hours a week means more weeks.
- Supervision. You need at least 104 supervised weeks, with 52 of them including individual or triadic supervision.
- Gaps. Hours earned while your registration has lapsed do not count, and hours gained more than six years before the BBS receives your license application do not count (LMFT allows up to 500 practicum hours as an exception).
For concrete pacing math, see our How long does it take to become an MFT in California guide. If you're considering alternative paths, compare LMFT vs LCSW and LMFT vs LPCC.
Track your hours toward your BBS license
HourJourney logs your hours by week, supervisor and site, sorts each week pre- or post-degree by your degree date, checks your weekly supervision, and generates BBS weekly logs and experience verification PDFs (signatures left blank). 30-day free trial, no card required.
Start Your Free 30-Day TrialFAQ: Hours Tracking After Graduation
What happens to my hours tracking after I graduate?+
Your program's tracking system was built for your degree. After graduation, your hours live in whatever your program exports (for Tevera, a signed PDF timesheet or report). You then track hours for the BBS, which uses its own weekly log columns, a limit of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days, and its own forms.
Can I still use Tevera after I graduate?+
Tevera (now Lumivero's Experiential Learning Cloud) moves you to an alumni role when you transition. Tevera says alumni keep access to their past hours and reports and can keep tracking licensure hours in the same account. Check with your field education office for how your program set it up.
Do my program hours count toward my BBS license?+
On the LMFT track, yes, within limits: up to 1,300 pre-degree hours, up to 750 of them counseling and direct supervisor contact, can count toward your 3,000 hours. LPCC and LCSW allow no pre-degree hours. Trainee hours go on the MFT weekly log (37A-525), signed by your supervisor. Save your program's signed timesheets as proof.
When should I start tracking hours as an associate?+
Start tracking the day your degree is awarded. Post-degree hours can count before your registration number issues if the BBS receives your application within 90 days of your degree award date, the workplace required completed Live Scan fingerprinting before you gained the hours (graduates on or after January 1, 2020), and the BBS then grants the registration.
How long does it take to reach 3,000 hours?+
The minimum is 3,000 hours over at least 104 supervised weeks, including at least 52 weeks with individual or triadic supervision. Even at the maximum of 40 hours in every seven consecutive days, 3,000 hours takes 75 weeks, so the 104-week minimum is the floor. How long it takes depends on your hours per week and your supervision.
What is BBS Form 37A-525?+
Form 37A-525 is the weekly log for MFT trainees and associates. Column A is direct counseling, Column B is non-clinical experience, and Column C is the weekly total (A + B = C). APCCs use the APCC Weekly Log (37A-638) and ASWs use the ASW Weekly Log of Experience Hours. A supervisor signs each weekly log. You keep the original logs and send them to the BBS only if it asks; the Experience Verification forms go in with your application.
Do I need to export my Tevera hours before I lose access?+
Yes. Pull a signed PDF timesheet covering your entire degree and save it locally and in cloud storage before you transition to alumni status. It is your record of your pre-degree hours.
Is Tevera the same as HourJourney?+
No. Tevera is a field-education platform programs use during degree programs. HourJourney is an independent tool for tracking your BBS hours as a California associate. HourJourney is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tevera.
What is the 40-hour limit?+
The BBS credits a maximum of 40 hours in any seven consecutive days, across all settings combined. Hours above that are not credited. The limit applies to trainee hours too.
Where do I register as an associate (AMFT/APCC/ASW)?+
Through the BBS at bbs.ca.gov. Apply for AMFT, APCC, or ASW registration as the BBS application instructions direct. Post-degree hours before your number issues count only if the BBS receives your application within 90 days of your degree award date, the workplace required completed Live Scan fingerprinting before you gained the hours (graduates on or after January 1, 2020), and the BBS then grants the registration, so submit promptly.
How long does BBS associate registration take to process?+
The BBS does not publish an average time to issue your number. 16 CCR 1805.1 sets a maximum of 30 business days, from the date the Board receives your application, to notify you that it is complete or deficient. Submit your application promptly: what matters for the 90-day rule is that the BBS receives it within 90 days of your degree award date.
Do I need to be fingerprinted before registering as an associate?+
Yes. Fingerprinting is a required step before registration. The BBS recommends completing Live Scan no more than 30 days before you submit your application.
What if my associate number arrives mid-week?+
If your degree was awarded before your number issued, post-degree hours from before the issue date can still count under the 90-day rule (the BBS must have received your application within 90 days of your degree award date). Otherwise hours count from the issue date. Record the exact degree award date and issue date, and split the week on your log if needed.
Can hours count if my supervisor's license expired mid-week?+
Your supervisor must hold a current and active license that is not under suspension or probation. Check their status on the Department of Consumer Affairs License Search, and ask your supervisor before the license date matters.
Related guides
Preserving Your Program Hours for BBS Licensure
Step-by-step Tevera export and a table mapping Tevera categories to the BBS weekly log columns.
Hours Tracking for California Associates
HourJourney for AMFTs, APCCs, and ASWs: hours by week, supervisor and site.
Program Hours vs Licensure Hours: Two Phases, Two Tools
The conceptual comparison: why a different tool makes sense after graduation.
Graduates by University
Post-graduation guides for California MFT, counseling, and social work programs.
Pre-Degree Hours: BBS Rules for California
The 1,300-hour cap, the 750-hour counseling and supervisor-contact cap, and how pre/post classification works.
BBS Supervision Requirements (California)
Weekly units per work setting, the 104-week minimum, and the 52 weeks of individual or triadic supervision.
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 and 2026. Always verify at bbs.ca.gov. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.