Telehealth & Video Supervision: BBS Rules in California

Is Video Supervision Allowed in California?

Yes. California's supervision statutes require "face-to-face contact" between supervisor and supervisee — and the law defines that phrase to include "in-person contact, contact via two-way, real-time videoconferencing, or some combination of these." In plain terms, an AMFT, APCC, or ASW does not need to be in the same physical room as their supervisor. A session held over live, two-way video satisfies the face-to-face requirement just as fully as an in-person meeting.

The standard is specifically two-way, real-time videoconferencing, where both the supervisor and supervisee can see and hear each other live. Two formats do not qualify: a telephone-only call has no face-to-face component and is not permitted as a supervision session, and a pre-recorded video review is not real-time. The video must be interactive and simultaneous.

This allowance applies to AMFTs (and MFT trainees) under B&P Code §4980.43.2(b)(2), to ASWs under §4996.23.1(b)(2), and to APCCs under §4999.46.2(b)(2). The BBS summarizes these rules in its AB 1758 FAQ.

Does Remote Supervision Count Toward Your Required Hours?

It counts identically. Because the statutes fold two-way, real-time videoconferencing into the definition of "face-to-face contact," a video supervision session is the same kind of supervision as an in-person one. It counts toward your weekly supervision requirement and toward your individual or triadic supervision weeks exactly as an in-person session would. There is no second-class crediting and no separate, lower-value bucket for video hours.

The format of the session still governs how the time is credited. One hour of individual or triadic supervision counts as one unit; two hours of group supervision counts as one unit. Conducting any of these by video does not change that crediting math — what changes is the delivery method, not the supervision category. Importantly, videoconference may be used for individual, triadic, or group supervision, in any setting. For the full breakdown of how units and weekly ratios work, see our guide to BBS supervision hours per week in California.

The general supervision limits apply the same way whether supervision is in person or by video — there is nothing video-specific to navigate here. You can still only bank up to six hours of supervision credit toward a single week, and the overall 104-week structure (with at least 52 weeks of individual or triadic supervision) is unchanged. Crucially, there is no cap on the proportion of supervision done by video and no standalone in-person requirement; you may complete every supervision session by videoconference. Our broader BBS supervision requirements guide walks through those ratios in detail.

The Three Conditions on Video Supervision

The same statutes that authorize video supervision attach three conditions to it. These conditions are identical across the AMFT, ASW, and APCC statutes, and they place the responsibility squarely on the supervisor:

1. Confidentiality compliance. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring compliance with all federal and state laws governing the confidentiality of patient health information. In practice this means the supervision platform and process must protect protected health information — so a secure, private, two-way video tool consistent with HIPAA and California confidentiality requirements, not a consumer-grade call. Conduct sessions from a private space where the conversation cannot be overheard.

2. A documented appropriateness assessment within 60 days. Within 60 days of commencing supervision, the supervisor must meet with the supervisee to assess whether videoconference supervision is appropriate, considering the supervisee's abilities, both parties' preferences, and the privacy of each location. This requirement applies to supervisory relationships established on or after August 29, 2022.

3. Documentation, and a duty not to use it if inappropriate. The supervisor must document that assessment, and must not use videoconference supervision if it is found to be inappropriate for that supervisee. If your supervision is by video, make sure your supervisor has actually completed and documented this assessment — it is a statutory condition, not an optional courtesy.

Confidentiality, HIPAA, and Platform Expectations

Supervision frequently involves discussing real client cases, which means protected health information is on the table. The supervisor's statutory duty to ensure confidentiality compliance, described above, means the technology and environment both matter.

Use a secure, private platform. A video tool used for confidential clinical discussion should be appropriate for that purpose and consistent with HIPAA and California confidentiality requirements. Free, consumer-grade video calls are generally not built for protected health information, so confirm with your supervisor that the platform you use is suitable.

Control your environment. Conduct video supervision from a private space where the conversation cannot be overheard, use headphones, and avoid public networks. The privacy of each location is one of the factors the supervisor must weigh in the 60-day appropriateness assessment.

Do not assume a recording is allowed. Recording a supervision session that discusses client information raises additional consent and confidentiality questions. If you or your supervisor want to record sessions, confirm that it is permissible and that all required consents are in place first.

The Supervisor Remains Fully Responsible

One principle does not change with the delivery method: your supervisor retains full clinical and professional responsibility for the work performed under their license, whether supervision happens in person or by video. Going remote does not dilute that accountability, and it does not reduce the supervisor's obligation to provide adequate oversight.

In practice, that means a video-based supervisor still needs enough genuine contact with your work to supervise it meaningfully — reviewing cases, being available between sessions for urgent matters, and ensuring you are practicing within your scope. A remote arrangement that leaves a supervisor too detached to actually oversee the clinical work is a problem regardless of whether the video calls technically happen on schedule.

Put Remote Supervision in Your Supervision Agreement

California requires a written supervision agreement for supervisory relationships, and it is the natural place to document how remote supervision will work. Spelling out the arrangement up front protects both you and your supervisor and gives you something concrete to point to if questions arise later.

Consider addressing, in writing, how often supervision will be remote versus in person, which secure platform you will use, how you will handle emergencies when the supervisor is off-site, and the privacy precautions you will both take. The more clearly the plan is described, the less room there is for ambiguity about whether your supervision met the standard.

For a section-by-section look at what the agreement should contain, see our BBS supervision requirements guide, which covers the agreement, supervisor qualifications, and weekly ratios together.

Video Supervision Is Now Permanent Law

The all-settings videoconference-supervision allowance was created by AB 1758 (Chapter 204, Statutes of 2022), which took effect August 29, 2022. As originally written, it carried a sunset date of January 1, 2026 — meaning the allowance would have lapsed at the start of this year.

That sunset never took effect. SB 775 (2025) deleted the January 1, 2026 sunset and made the videoconference-supervision allowance permanent. As of 2026, two-way, real-time video supervision in all settings is permanent California law — not a temporary or pandemic-era accommodation.

It is worth distinguishing this from a separate, genuinely temporary measure. During the COVID-19 emergency, a waiver briefly allowed MFT and PCC trainees to earn client-contact hours via any telehealth modality, including telephone. That waiver expired August 31, 2022 and was not extended. Hours earned under it during the pandemic are still accepted, but it concerned trainee–client contact, not supervision — and it should not be confused with the permanent video-supervision rule above.

One note on sourcing: SB 775's chapter number and exact signing date are not reproduced here, so we refer to it simply as SB 775 (2025); the underlying statutory text in the Business and Professions Code sections cited above is the authoritative reference.

Even though the rule is settled, it is always good practice to confirm the current statutory text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (B&P Code §4980.43.2, §4996.23.1, §4999.46.2) and review the BBS's AB 1758 FAQ at bbs.ca.gov. If anything about your specific arrangement is unclear, talk to your supervisor or contact the BBS before you log hours under it.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It reflects California Business & Professions Code §4980.43.2, §4996.23.1, and §4999.46.2 as amended by SB 775 (2025), verified as of June 2026. Statutes and BBS interpretations can be amended, so it is not a substitute for current BBS guidance. Always verify requirements directly with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences at bbs.ca.gov. HourJourney is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the BBS.