Board of Behavioral Sciences - California

Applications received BEFORE or ON THE DATES listed below have been completed. If your app was rcvd PRIOR to these dates, please check your email/mail for communication from BBS or testing vendor.

If your app was rcvd AFTER the dates listed, it is pending and has not been evaluated yet. Staff is unable to provide status checks on apps still pending review.

IF YOUR RECEIVED DATE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROCESSED and you have not received an email, a mailed letter, or cannot look up your associate number on DCA License Search, https://search.dca.ca.gov/, Message the Board at https://www.bbs.ca.gov/about/contact_us.html.

Received date is the date the Board received your application. Apps are processed in date order RECEIVED. If you don't know your RECEIVED date, please consider it approx 1 wk after mailing. SUBMISSION date in Breeze is the date payment was cashiered. Payments can take up to 4 weeks to be processed from date the Board RECEIVED your application.

Pending Associate Apps – If your app status in Breeze was pending or open and now it is not in your Breeze account, your app has probably been approved. You can check your BreEZe account OR use the License Search feature to see if your associate number has been issued, https://search.dca.ca.gov/. You should receive your certificate in the mail approximately 1 week after it is issued.

You will be emailed if something is missing from your application. If your application was missing items, please provide the required documentation to the Board and if sent from a 3rd party, email the evaluator/unit who notified you of the deficiency. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing and an update.

🔔This is a reminder regarding the BBS live webinar event, Journey to BBS Licensure:

Getting Started with Associate Registration, on June 17th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. This webinar event is designed to offer students, trainees, applicants, and educators with an overview of the BBS requirements for initiating the application process for associate registration.

This webinar will feature:

The essential steps in the associate registration application process
Earning hours under the 90-day rule
Tips for maintaining your associate registration
Q&A session

How to join webinar:

Journey to BBS Licensure: Getting Started with Associate Registration
Space is limited – you are encouraged to register in advance via the registration link below. Once registered, you will receive another link to join the webinar.
Registration Link- https://dca-meetings.webex.com/weblink/register/rdb2e3f608d49c7619699fb4f5915a628

Please note: The Webex platform limits attendance for webinars to the first 1,000 registered attendees. Attendees who attempt to log into the webinar after the 1,000 capacity is reached may view the livestream broadcast of the webinar on YouTube via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/Tk3rDYQn5I8

All associates are required to take the California Law and Ethics Examination at least once EACH renewal period, until passed. Once the examination has been passed, it does not have to be taken again.

Associates MUST select the California Law and Ethics Examination or Re-Examination from the Manage Your License Information drop down menu in their Breeze account. If you do not, your application will be delayed. For more info visit: https://www.bbs.ca.gov/exams/calaw_ethics.html

🚨Reminder: Starting on July 1, 2026, the California Law & Ethics Exam (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC): Reduced from $150 to $75

📣Join the Board of Behavioral Sciences for a live webinar event!

Journey to BBS Licensure: Getting Started with Associate Registration, designed to offer students, trainees, applicants and educators an overview of the BBS requirements for initiating the application process for associate registration.

This webinar will feature:

The essential steps in the associate registration application process
Earning hours under the 90-day rule
Tips for maintaining your associate registration
Q&A session

How to join webinar:

Journey to BBS Licensure: Getting Started with Associate Registration
Date and Time: June 17, 2026, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Platform: Webex
Space is limited - Please register in advance by clicking the registration link below. Once registered, you will receive another link to join the webinar.

Registration Link: https://dca-meetings.webex.com/weblink/register/rdb2e3f608d49c7619699fb4f5915a628

🚨💲BBS Reminder!

Starting on July 1, 2026, the following fee reductions will take place:

-Annual Renewal (AMFT, ASW, APCC): Reduced from $150 to $75

-Biennial Active Renewal (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LEP): Reduced from $200 to $100

-Registration Application (AMFT, ASW, APCC): Reduced from $150 to $75

-Initial License Issuance (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LEP): Reduced from $200 to $100

-California Law & Ethics Exam (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC): Reduced from $150 to $75

-LMFT Clinical Exam and LEP Written Exam: Reduced from $250 to $125*

-License Application (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, LEP): Reduced from $250 to $125

These temporary fee reductions are set for a four-year period and expire June 30, 2030.

*Reduced fees do not apply to exams which are not board-administered.

You can find all documents related to the fee reduction on the Board’s website under the “Regulations” drop-down menu in the “Approved Regulations” section.

Link to the Boards webpage: https://www.bbs.ca.gov/about/law_reg.html

🚨The Board has considered the following bills moving through the Legislature this year. For more information on each bill, click on the bill number in the chart.

The Governor has until September 30th to make decisions on bills that make it to his desk.

Link to the Board's considered bills:https://bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/bills_through_legislature_2026.pdf