California ASW Requirements & Hours Tracker

Becoming an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) in California is the first formal step toward eventual Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure under the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

Two separate things are involved:

1. Registering as an ASW – this is your pre-licensure registration so you are legally allowed to earn hours.
2. Accruing supervised experience hours – these hours, earned while registered as an ASW, are later used to apply for the LCSW license.

Below is a step‑by‑step guide with the exact BBS hour categories and terminology.

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1. Educational and basic eligibility requirements

To register as an ASW and eventually become an LCSW, you must:

• Hold a qualifying degree

  • A master’s degree in Social Work from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). (bbs.ca.gov)

• Complete required additional coursework
  The BBS requires specific content areas (e.g., California law and ethics, child abuse assessment, etc.). The full list appears in the “Application Instructions” for the ASW Registration and LCSW Licensure applications. (bbs.ca.gov)

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2. Registering as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW)

You must be registered as an ASW before you can accrue post‑degree supervised hours in California (other than a limited “90‑day rule” period immediately after graduation). (bbs.ca.gov)

Key registration elements:

1. Submit the ASW Registration Application

   • Use the appropriate form:
     • “ASW Registration Application IN‑STATE DEGREE” or
     • “ASW Registration Application OUT‑OF‑STATE or OUT‑OF‑COUNTRY DEGREE.” (bbs.ca.gov)

2. Fingerprinting / Live Scan and background check

   • Complete Live Scan (if in California); results go electronically to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI. (bbs.ca.gov)
   • A criminal background check and evaluation of any convictions are part of the application review. (bbs.ca.gov)

3. ASW registration term

   • An ASW registration is valid for a six‑year life span (five renewals). (bbs.ca.gov)
   • If you do not complete your hours within the six years, you may apply for a subsequent registration number, but subsequent numbers cannot work in private practice or professional corporation settings. (bbs.ca.gov)

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3. California Law & Ethics Examination (ASW stage)

While you are an ASW, you must regularly take the BBS law and ethics exam:

• The exam must be taken annually (until passed) to renew ASW registration.
• The exam must be passed to receive a subsequent ASW registration number (after your first six‑year span or if you re‑register). (bbs.ca.gov)

This exam is separate from the later ASWB Clinical Exam required for LCSW licensure.

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4. Overall supervised experience required for LCSW licensure

Once registered as an ASW, you can begin accruing supervised hours that will be submitted later with your Application for LCSW Licensure. The BBS states: (bbs.ca.gov)

• Total hours required:
  • Minimum 3,000 hours of supervised experience.
• Time frame requirement:
  • Minimum 104 supervised weeks of experience.

Within those 3,000 hours, the hours must fall into specific categories using BBS terminology.

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5. Required hour categories and BBS wording

The BBS “LCSW Summary of Experience Requirements” chart divides hours into Clinical Hours, Non‑Clinical Hours, and Supervision. (bbs.ca.gov)

5.1 Clinical Hours (minimum 2,000 hours)

Under “CLINICAL HOURS,” the Board lists:

• Clinical Psychosocial Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment
• Individual or Group Psychotherapy (bbs.ca.gov)

Requirements:

• Minimum 2,000 hours overall of clinical work.
• Within those 2,000 clinical hours, you must include at least 750 hours performing face‑to‑face individual or group psychotherapy in the context of clinical social work services. (bbs.ca.gov)

Clinical hours generally involve diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental, emotional, or behavioral issues, including psychotherapy and counseling.

Additional limits applying to clinical hours (and to the total experience): (bbs.ca.gov)

• Maximum 40 hours of experience may be credited in any 7 consecutive days toward licensure.
• Maximum 6 hours of direct supervisor contact may be credited in any single week.
• At least 1,700 of the total 3,000 hours (any type) must be supervised by an LCSW (as opposed to other qualifying licenses or an LEP).

5.2 Non‑Clinical Hours (maximum 1,000 hours)

Under “NON‑CLINICAL HOURS,” the Board lists these experience types: (bbs.ca.gov)

• Client‑Centered Advocacy
• Consultation, Evaluation, Research
• Workshops, Seminars, Training Sessions or Conferences
• Direct Supervisor Contact

Requirements:

• Maximum 1,000 hours of these non‑clinical activities may count toward the 3,000‑hour total. (bbs.ca.gov)

These hours can include:

• Activities on behalf of clients such as case management, resource coordination, and advocacy (client‑centered advocacy).
• Program evaluation, research tasks, and consultations that are within social work practice.
• Time spent in qualifying workshops, seminars, training sessions, or conferences.
• Time spent in direct supervisor contact (individual/triadic or group) that qualifies under BBS rules.

Supervision by a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP):

• The Board allows a maximum of 1,200 hours (within your 3,000 total) of “educationally‑related mental health services” to be supervised by a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), if specific qualifications are met. (bbs.ca.gov)
• These hours must still fall within the clinical or non‑clinical categories, and the LEP must meet BBS supervision requirements.

5.3 Supervision requirements (weeks and ratios)

Separately from the hour categories, the BBS also sets supervision frequency and week requirements. Under “SUPERVISION” the chart lists: (bbs.ca.gov)

Supervision, Individual and/or Triadic

• Experience type: “Supervision, Individual and/or Triadic.”
• Requirement: Minimum 52 weeks of individual/triadic supervision.
  • This must include at least 13 weeks supervised by an LCSW.

Additional global supervision rules:

• Total supervised weeks:
  • You must complete at least 104 supervised weeks of work experience.
• Weekly minimum supervision:
  • For each week in which you claim hours in a setting, you must receive either:
    • 1 hour of individual or triadic supervision, or
    • 2 hours of group supervision.
• Additional supervision for high clinical load:
  • In any week where you perform more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling, you must receive an additional 1 hour of individual/triadic supervision, or 2 additional hours of group supervision, for that setting.
  • The Board defines direct clinical counseling as clinical psychosocial diagnosis, assessment and treatment, including psychotherapy or counseling. (bbs.ca.gov)

Supervision, Group

• Experience type: “Supervision, Group.”
• There is no specific minimum or maximum number of group supervision hours—the limits are governed by the weekly supervision rules above and the 6‑hours‑per‑week cap on direct supervisor contact. (bbs.ca.gov)

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6. Who can supervise an ASW?

The BBS lists the categories of professionals authorized to supervise Associate Clinical Social Workers. Supervisors must have a current, valid license and meet additional qualification and training requirements. (bbs.ca.gov)

Authorized license types include:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
• Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) (subject to the 1,200‑hour limit and ERMHS scope)
• Licensed Psychologist (California Board of Psychology)
• Board‑certified Psychiatrist (licensed by the Medical Board of California)

At least 1,700 of your hours (any type) must be supervised by an LCSW, per the BBS experience chart. (bbs.ca.gov)

Supervisors and ASWs must sign BBS forms such as:

• Supervision Agreement (for relationships beginning on or after January 1, 2022).
• ASW Weekly Log of Experience Hours. (bbs.ca.gov)

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7. Submitting hours and moving from ASW to LCSW

After you have:

• Completed 3,000 hours in the required categories,
• Spanned at least 104 weeks with proper supervision,
• Met all coursework requirements, and
• Passed the California Law & Ethics Exam,

you may submit the Application for LCSW Licensure (IN‑STATE) with your supervision verification forms and hour logs. (bbs.ca.gov)

Once the Board approves your experience and education:

1. You become eligible to take the ASWB Clinical Exam for LCSW licensure in California. (bbs.ca.gov)
2. After passing the clinical exam, you must request initial license issuance and pay the initial license fee within one year to obtain your LCSW license. (bbs.ca.gov)

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8. Summary of the hour breakdown in plain numbers

All hours must be earned after the qualifying MSW degree and while you are properly registered as an ASW (except under the limited 90‑day rule). (bbs.ca.gov)

• Total supervised experience:
  • 3,000 hours over at least 104 supervised weeks.
• Clinical Hours (minimum 2,000 hours)
  • Activities:
    • Clinical Psychosocial Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment
    • Individual or Group Psychotherapy
  • Must include ≥ 750 hours of face‑to‑face individual or group psychotherapy.
• Non‑Clinical Hours (maximum 1,000 hours)
  • Activities:
    • Client‑Centered Advocacy
    • Consultation, Evaluation, Research
    • Workshops, Seminars, Training Sessions or Conferences
    • Direct Supervisor Contact
• Supervision specifics
  • At least 52 weeks of individual/triadic supervision (with ≥ 13 weeks supervised by an LCSW).
  • At least 104 supervised weeks total.
  • 1 hour individual/triadic or 2 hours group supervision per week in each setting where hours are claimed.
  • Extra supervision required in any week with >10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a setting.
• Supervisors
  • At least 1,700 hours (any type) must be supervised by an LCSW.
  • Up to 1,200 hours of educationally‑related mental health services may be supervised by an LEP, under BBS conditions.
• Weekly caps
  • Maximum 40 hours of experience credited in any 7 consecutive days.
  • Maximum 6 hours of direct supervisor contact credited per week.

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Because the BBS periodically revises forms and charts (the current LCSW experience chart is marked “Revised 10/2023”), always confirm details against the Board’s LCSW and ASW pages and the “LCSW Summary of Experience Requirements” chart before planning your hours. (bbs.ca.gov)