License requirements
in plain English
📚 Find out what education you need
🕝 Know exactly how many hours you have to work
📝 Understand the forms to submit and keep on record
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Requirements in California 2026
Educational Requirements
- Master's degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited school
- Electronic Transcripts (sent directly to the BBS)
Experience Requirements
- 3,000 total supervised hours, over 104 weeks (minimum).
- Clinical (2,000 hours min): Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment
- Must include: At least 750 hours of face-to-face individual or group psychotherapy.
- Non-Clinical (1,000 hours max): Advocacy, Consultation, Research, and Training.
- Direct Supervisor Contact: Minimum 1 hour of individual/triadic or 2 hours of group supervision per week in which hours are logged.
Gotchas: The "Golden Rules" (Updated for 2026)
- The 40-Hour Cap: You cannot log more than 40 total hours in any 7 consecutive days.
- The 6-Hour Supervision Max: You cannot log more than 6 hours of direct supervision (the time spent with your supervisor) in a week.
- No Supervision = No Hours: You cannot log any hours for a week in which you did not receive at least 1 unit of supervision (1 hour individual/triadic or 2 hours group).
- The 10-Hour Ratio (BPC 4996.23.1): If you perform more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling (Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment) in a week, you must have 1 additional unit of supervision (total of 2 units). This cap of 2 units applies whether you work 11 hours or 35 hours of clinical work that week.
- Note: Per the Spring 2024 Newsletter, "Clinical" includes all 2,000 hours of assessment/diagnosis, not just the 750 psychotherapy hours.
- NEW: The 7-Year Clock: As of 2026, your hours and your Law & Ethics exam score are now valid for 7 years (increased from 6).
- NEW: Permanent Video Supervision: Remote supervision is now permanent in all settings. You must complete a "Video conference Appropriateness Assessment" with your supervisor within the first 60 days.
Additional Coursework
- Suicide Risk Assessment: 6 hours
- Telehealth (Law & Ethics focus): 3 hours
- Child Abuse Reporting: 7 hours
- Human Sexuality: 10 hours
- Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency: 15 hours
- Aging & Elder Abuse: 10 hours
- Spousal/Partner Abuse: 15 hours
More on CEUs here — what continuing education you'll need after you're licensed (every two years).
The 90-Day Rule: & Starting Hours
TLDR: If you apply for your ASW number within 90 days of graduating, you can start counting hours immediately. If not, you wait for the number.
- Within 90 Days: If the BBS receives your application within 90 days of your degree conferral date, you can accrue hours immediately upon graduation.
- The LiveScan Requirement: To use the 90-day rule, you must have a processed LiveScan fingerprint form from your employer on file *before* you gain those hours.
- After 90 Days: If you apply late, you cannot count any hours until your ASW registration number is officially issued and posted on the BBS website.
Other helpful links