TWO BBS WAIVERS FOR AMFTs ENDING

As California begins to emerge from the pandemic, two BBS waivers applicable to AMFTs will not be extended. First, the Law & Ethics exam waiver expired on May 31, 2021, and was not extended. Under that waiver, AMFTs whose registrations expired between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2021, must attempt the Law & Ethics exam according to a schedule set out by BBS. Going forward, what this means is that any AMFT whose registration expires after May 31, 2021, must attempt the Law & Ethics exam to renew their registration number. An AMFT whose registration expires after May 31, 2021, and who fails to attempt the Law & Ethics exam will not be able to renew their registration until they attempt the Law & Ethics exam.

Second, the clinical exam waiver expired June 1, 2021, and was not extended. Under the waiver, AMFTs whose one-year eligibility to take the clinical exam with an expiration date between March 31, 2020, and June 1, 2021, are permitted 18 months instead of 12 months to attempt the clinical exam. Beginning June 2, 2021, AMFTs whose one-year eligibility to take or re-take the clinical examination must attempt the clinical examination within 12 months of notification of eligibility or they will abandon their application for licensure. For AMFTs who will be attempting the exam for the first time, this timeframe begins on the date listed on the letter of eligibility from BBS. For AMFTs who must retake the clinical exam, this 12-month timeframe begins on the date the AMFT most recently attempted the clinical exam. AMFTs who may need a testing accommodation can seek an accommodation through Pearson VUE once they have been approved to take the Law & Ethics and/or Clinical exams.

BBS supports the further extension of the face-to-face training and supervision waiver, which is currently set to expire on June 30th. While this waiver might be extended, CAMFT recommends supervisors and pre-licensees begin to have conversations about a return to a pre-pandemic work arrangement. As a reminder, once the waiver is lifted, pre-licensees are only permitted to work in settings that lawfully and regularly provide mental health counseling or psychotherapy. Additionally, pre-licensees can only perform mental health services at the place where the employer permits business to be conducted. Further restrictions are in place for private practices and incorporated sites, which require supervisors of AMFTs to practice at the same site as the AMFT’s employer. If you have any questions about the end of these BBS waivers, please contact CAMFT’s Legal Department at (858) 292-2638.

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