Submitting hours to the California state licensing board

If you’d like to submit your hours to the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for approval, you can find information for each license type in California below:

• LCSW
• LPCC
• LMFT
• Additional tips

LCSW

What do I need to submit to the BBS? 

• Application for Licensure

You can access the ​​Licensed Clinical Social Worker Application for Licensure from the BBS website. For more information about the documents required for submission, see pages 2-4 of the application. You must complete the application and all other requirements in order to become eligible to take the clinical exam.

Note: To receive confirmation that your application has been received, the BBS recommends mailing your application with tracking, or confirming with your bank if the check or money order has been cashed.

Along with the application, you’ll submit:

• A check or money order for the application fee
  • Additional details are included in the application packet
• Experience Verification form(s) for each site/supervisor
  • Be sure to submit the original Experience Verification form(s)

Important: Don’t submit your weekly logs with your application. You should retain these logs for your records in case the BBS requests them at a later date.

• Written oversight agreement(s) between each employer and each supervisor
  • If your supervisor was not employed by your employer, you must submit the original signed letter(s) of agreement between the supervisor and employer
• Copy of your W-2 for each year you were paid
  • If you were paid for your work, submit a W-2 for each employer and each year you’re claiming experience 
  • If the name on the W-2 doesn’t match the name of your site/supervisor, you’ll need to include an explanation 
  • If a W-2 isn’t available for the current year, you can submit a pay stub in its place 
  • You can submit copies of your W-2(s)/pay stub, instead of the originals
• Volunteer letter for each employment setting in which you were a volunteer
  • If you weren’t paid for your work, submit a letter from the employer confirming your volunteer status instead of a W-2
  • Be sure to submit the original volunteer letter(s) 
• Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) 
  • Be sure to submit the original Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) signed by each supervisor
  • If you’ve misplaced a form, you’ll need to get a new one signed by your supervisor
• Supervisory Plan
  • Be sure to submit an original Supervisory Plan signed by each supervisor 

LPCC

What do I need to submit to the BBS? 

• Application for Licensure

You can access the ​​Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Application for Licensure from the BBS website. For more information about the documents required for submission, see pages 2-4 of the application. You must complete the application and all other requirements in order to become eligible to take the clinical exam.

Note: To receive confirmation that your application has been received, the BBS recommends mailing your application with tracking, or confirming with your bank if the check or money order has been cashed.

Along with the application, you’ll submit:

• A check or money order for the application fee
  • Additional details are included in the application packet
• Experience Verification form(s) for each site/supervisor
  • Be sure to submit the original Experience Verification form(s)

Important: Don’t submit your weekly logs with your application. You should retain these logs for your records in case the BBS requests them at a later date.

• Written oversight agreement(s) between each employer and each supervisor
  • If your supervisor was not employed by your employer, you must submit the original signed letter(s) of agreement between the supervisor and employer
• Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) or Supervision Agreement(s) 
  • Be sure to submit the original Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) or Supervision Agreement(s) signed by each supervisor
  • If you’ve misplaced a form, you’ll need to get a new one signed by your supervisor
• Copy of your W-2 for each year you were paid
  • If you were paid for your work, submit a W-2 for each employer and each year you’re claiming experience 
  • If the name on the W-2 doesn’t match the name of your site/supervisor, you’ll need to include an explanation 
  • If a W-2 isn’t available for the current year, you can submit a pay stub in its place 
  • You can submit copies of your W-2(s)/pay stub, instead of the originals
• Volunteer letter for each employment setting in which you were a volunteer
  • If you weren’t paid for your work, submit a letter from the employer confirming your volunteer status instead of a W-2
  • Be sure to submit the original volunteer letter(s) 
• Supervisory Plan
  • Be sure to submit the original Supervisory Plan for each supervisor/site

LMFT

What do I need to submit to the BBS?

• Application for Licensure

You can access the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Application for Licensure from the BBS website. For more information about the documents required for submission, see pages 2-4 of the application. You must complete the application and all other requirements in order to become eligible to take the clinical exam.

Note: To receive confirmation that your application has been received, the BBS recommends mailing your application with tracking, or confirming with your bank if the check or money order has been cashed.

Along with the application, you’ll submit:

• A check or money order for the application fee
  • Additional details are included in the application packet
• Experience Verification forms for each site/supervisor
  • Be sure to submit the original Experience Verification forms 
  • Your pre-degree and post-degree experience should be included on separate Experience Verification forms

Important: Don’t submit your weekly logs with your application. You should retain these logs for your records in case the BBS requests them at a later date.

• Copy of your W-2 for each employment setting in which you were paid as an Associate
  • If you were paid for your work as an Associate, submit a W-2 for each employer and each year you’re claiming experience 
  • If a W-2 isn’t available for the current year, you can submit a pay stub in its place 
  • You can submit copies of your W-2(s)/pay stub, instead of the originals
  • Note: This requirement only applies to post-degree experience, and isn’t required for hours logged as a Trainee.
• A volunteer letter for each employment setting in which you were a volunteer as an Associate
  • If you didn’t receive payment for your work as an Associate, submit a letter from the employer confirming your volunteer status instead of a W-2
  • Be sure to submit the original volunteer letter(s) 
  • Note: This requirement only applies to post-degree experience, and isn’t required for hours logged as a Trainee.
• Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) or Supervision Agreement(s) 
  • Be sure to submit the original Supervisor Responsibility Statement(s) or Supervision Agreement(s) signed by each supervisor
  • If you’ve misplaced a form, you’ll need to get a new one signed by your supervisor
• Written oversight agreement(s) between each employer and each supervisor
  • If your supervisor was not employed by your employer, you must submit the original signed letter(s) of agreement between the supervisor and employer

Additional tips

Don’t use a binder or tabs. The BBS has specifically stated that you should not use a binder or tabs when submitting your application. Their preference is that you submit your paperwork with the application on top. If you’re including a return self-addressed envelope, place this on top of the completed application packet.  

Make sure your paperwork is 100% complete. According to the BBS, the number one reason for application rejections is missing information. Check and double-check your application and all forms before submitting them.

Retain a copy of every document. Since you’ll be submitting original documents to the BBS, be sure to retain a copy of each document for your records.

Include all signed Experience Verification forms in sequential date order. When printing your forms, double check that you’ve included all forms and that each page includes signatures in the proper places. Organize the forms in sequential order by date to make them easier to review.

Use your legal name on the application. If your legal name has changed since you registered with the BBS, you must submit a Notification of Name Change form and the required documentation along with your application.

Confirm that your supervisor's license was valid at the time they supervised you. You can search for and view the status of your supervisor's license through the DCA License Search page.   

Organize your weekly experience logs in sequential date order. While the BBS doesn’t require you to submit your weekly logs with your application, they may request them if they have questions after reviewing your Experience Verification forms. Organizing your weekly logs now will help ensure that you have them ready in case they are requested. 

When should I expect to hear back from the BBS? The BBS no longer provides updates on application processing times on their website, and they specifically request that applicants do not contact them about the status of an application. You can view application processing times updates by visiting the BBS CA Facebook page.