Why most AMFTs track their hours wrong
Most associates start with a spreadsheet. It works fine at first, until you realize the BBS doesn't just want a total hour count. They want hours broken into specific categories, with weekly caps, pre/post-degree distinctions, and a minimum of 104 supervised weeks. Miss one of these details and hours you've already worked may not count toward licensure.
This guide walks through each rule so you can track with confidence from day one.
The BBS A/B/C hour structure explained
The BBS organizes your hours into two primary buckets: Category A (direct counseling) and Category B (non-clinical experience), which combine into your Category C weekly total. Each category has its own minimums, maximums, and sub-requirements.
Hours spent providing direct therapy to individuals, groups, couples, or families. This is your core clinical work.
- → Minimum 1,750 hours total
- → A1 sub-requirement: At least 500 hours must be diagnosing and treating couples, families, and children
Hours for supervision, psychological testing, writing clinical reports, client-centered advocacy, and approved workshops or trainings.
- → Maximum 1,250 hours total
- → Supervision hours (individual, triadic, group) count here
- → B1 = individual/triadic supervision · B2 = group supervision
Your combined weekly total. The BBS caps this at 40 hours per week. Hours above 40 in any given week do not count, even if they were legitimate clinical hours. Do not count subcategory hours (A1, B1, B2) separately when calculating C.
The 40-hour weekly maximum (and why it matters)
Many associates, especially those working at multiple sites, don't realize they're exceeding the weekly cap until they apply for licensure. The BBS will simply not count hours above 40 in any single week, regardless of how many sites you work at.
Common mistake: If you log 25 hours at Site A and 20 hours at Site B in the same week, only 40 of those 45 hours will count. You lose 5 hours permanently. Over months, this adds up to weeks of lost progress.
Track your hours weekly, not monthly, so you can catch this before it becomes a problem at the end of your associate period.
Pre-degree vs. post-degree hours: know the difference
Not all 3,000 hours are equal. The BBS distinguishes between hours earned as a Trainee (before your degree) and hours earned as a registered AMFT (after).
| Hour Type | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-degree (AMFT) | 1,700 | - | Must be registered with BBS |
| Pre-degree (Trainee) | - | 1,300 | Earned during grad program |
| Total required | 3,000 | - | Over minimum 104 weeks |
| Direct client hours | 1,750 | - | Category A |
| Couples, Families, and Children hours | 500 | - | Sub-category A1 |
| Non-clinical hours | - | 1,250 | Category B |
The 90-day rule: If you registered as an AMFT within 90 days of graduating, hours you earned between your graduation date and your registration date may still count, as long as your employer required Live Scan fingerprinting before you started. Don't assume these hours are lost.
Supervision requirements you need to track separately
Beyond the hour categories, the BBS requires specific supervision minimums that are tracked independently of your total hour count. Failing to meet these can delay your licensure even if you've hit 3,000 hours.
104 supervised weeks minimum
You must accumulate hours across at least 104 weeks. Hours alone aren't enough; the weeks count independently.
52 weeks of individual supervision
At least 52 of your 104 weeks must include individual or triadic supervision (one-on-one with your supervisor).
1 supervision unit per 5 client hours
For every 5 hours of direct client contact, you need at least 1 unit of supervision. This ratio must be maintained throughout.
No uncovered weeks
Every week you log experience hours must include at least one supervision unit. Weeks without supervision cannot be counted.
The 6-year rule and why your clock is already ticking
Your AMFT registration is valid for one year and can be renewed up to five times, giving you a maximum of six years to complete your supervised experience. Hours earned outside this six-year window will not count toward your licensure application.
If you let your AMFT registration lapse, any hours earned with an expired registration will not count and cannot be recovered. Renew your registration on time, every year.
This is one of the most painful and avoidable ways associates lose progress. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before your registration expiration date.
Why a spreadsheet isn't enough
Spreadsheets can track raw numbers. They can't automatically enforce the 40-hour weekly cap, flag when you're at risk of missing supervised weeks, calculate your A1 sub-requirement progress, or generate the BBS forms you'll need at the end. That's where things go wrong.
Download the official BBS forms
These forms are free and publicly available from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. No email required.
Form 37A-525: Weekly Log of Experience Hours
The weekly supervision log you and your supervisor sign each week to document your clinical hours.
Download from bbs.ca.gov →Form 37A-301: Experience Verification
The summary form your supervisor completes to verify all hours gained at a particular site.
Download from bbs.ca.gov →Track every hour with confidence
HourJourney is built specifically for California pre-licensed clinicians. BBS-compliant A/B/C tracking, automatic cap enforcement, supervised week counting, and one-click PDF export for BBS forms, so you can focus on your clients, not your spreadsheet.
Start Your Free 30-Day Trial →No spreadsheet gymnastics required.
Common questions about tracking LMFT hours
Can I count hours from multiple work settings in the same week?
Yes, but your combined total across all settings still cannot exceed 40 hours in a single week. Hours above that cap are lost permanently.
Do I need to submit my weekly logs to the BBS right away?
No. Weekly logs are submitted with your Application for Licensure at the end of your associate period, not on a rolling basis. However, your supervisor must sign the logs weekly, so don't fall behind on getting signatures.
What happens if I work a week without receiving supervision?
Any week without at least one supervision unit cannot be counted toward your 104-week requirement. The hours logged that week may still count toward your total, but the week itself won't, which can delay your licensure eligibility.
Can I count telehealth sessions toward my supervised hours?
Yes. The BBS allows telehealth hours to count toward your direct client contact requirement. There is no stated cap on telehealth hours specifically, but confirm with your supervisor that sessions are conducted in compliance with BBS telehealth guidelines.
Does my supervisor need to work at the same agency as me?
No. Your supervisor does not need to be employed at your work setting. They do need to hold a valid, current California license and meet BBS supervisor qualification requirements.
Related guides
California LMFT Hours Requirements: The Complete 2025 Guide
Every hour minimum, maximum, and deadline, in plain English.
BBS Form 37A-525: How to Fill It Out Without Losing Hours
A step-by-step walkthrough of the weekly supervision log.
The 90-Day Rule for AMFTs in California
What counts, what doesn't, and how to protect your hours.
LMFT vs. LCSW in California: Which Path Is Right for You?
Education, hours, scope, salary, and clinical fit compared side by side.