Traditional Path
Licensing Requirements after 2012
Following is a summary of requirements for those who begin graduate study On or AFTER AUGUST 1, 2012, or who began study before 2012 and do not complete it by 2018.
With the exception of the three core courses that can be added post-degree, as described below, the 2012 requirements must be included within degrees earned in California. Students are advised to only enroll in a graduate counseling program in California that has been pre-approved by the BBS. Out-of-state applicants may be able to add these requirements to their degrees earned in another state.
Education: A 60-semester-unit master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited or approved institution, which is counseling or psychotherapy in content, includes 6 semester units of supervised practicum or field work study, and contains at least 3 semester units, or four and one half quarter units, of coursework in 10 of the following 13 core content areas. All 13 core areas must be completed before education can be approved.
- (A) Counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques (includes counseling theories, selection of counseling interventions, orientation to wellness and prevention, etc.)
- (B) Human growth and development across the lifespan (includes psychopathology, normal and abnormal behavior, developmental crises)
- (C) Career development theories and techniques
- (D) Group counseling theories and techniques
- (E) Assessment, appraisal and testing
- (F) Multicultural counseling theories and techniques
- (G) Principles of diagnosis, treatment planning and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
- (H) Research and evaluation
- (I) Professional orientation, ethics and law in counseling, including California law and professional ethics
- (J) Psychopharmacology (includes biological bases of behavior)
- (K) Addictions counseling (includes substance abuse, co-occurring disorders)
- (L) Crisis/Trauma Counseling (includes multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies or disasters).
- (M) Advanced counseling and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques
In addition to the course requirements described above, fifteen semester units of advanced coursework to develop knowledge of specific treatment issues or special populations.
Instruction must include:
- (1) Human sexuality and the study of the physiological, psychological and social cultural variables associated with sexual behavior, gender identity and psychosexual dysfunction
- (2) Spousal or partner abuse assessment, intervention strategies and same-gender abuse dynamics
- (3) Child abuse assessment and reporting (seven hours required)
- (4) Aging and long-term care, including biological, social, cognitive and psychological aspects of aging
View descriptions of each core content area
Instruction must include methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice environments and integrate an understanding of various cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position.
View the entire section 4999.33
in the bill, regarding education for those who begin study after 2012,
or who begin study before 2012 and do not complete it by 2018.
Supervision: A minimum of 3,000 post-degree hours of supervised experience, by a LPC, LMFT, LCSW, licensed psychologist or licensed physician and surgeon, who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, over a period of not less than two years, including not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling with individuals or groups in a clinical mental health counseling setting and 150 hours in a hospital or community mental health setting.
Examination: Passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) and the California Law and Ethics Exam. The Law & Ethics Exam is taken in the first year of internship and the NCMHCE is taken at the completion of the supervised hours.
