Licensed Psychologist · California · regulated by California Board of Psychology · high confidence
| Degree | Doctorate in psychology (clinical, counseling, school, consulting, forensic, I/O), education (counseling/educational/school psych), or professional-practice field; regionally accredited |
|---|---|
| Internship | Not separately mandated; up to 1,500 predoctoral SPE hours may come from an APA/APPIC/CAPIC internship (or exempt setting / registered associate) |
| Supervised experience | Two years of supervised professional experience (SPE) = 3,000 hours (1 year = 1,500 h); at least 1,500 h postdoctoral |
| Pre-doctoral hours | Up to 1,500 predoctoral SPE hours count, only after 48 semester/72 quarter units of graduate psychology coursework |
| Postdoc required? | Yes |
| Postdoc hours | At least 1,500 hours (one year of SPE) after the doctoral degree requirements are met |
| Credential during the postdoc | Registered psychological associate (BPC §2913), or APA/APPIC/CAPIC postdoc program, exempt setting, or DMH waiver (no registration) |
| Exams | EPPP (Part 1) + California Psychology Law and Ethics Examination (CPLEE); no oral exam |
| EPPP-2 | not adopted (board halted its EPPP two-part regulations after ASPPB's 10/22/2024 decision) |
| PSYPACT | not member (no compact provision in BPC ch. 6.6) |
Supervision during the postdoc
- Supervision: Supervision for 10% of total time worked each week; ≥1 h/week face-to-face individual with primary supervisor
- Who may supervise: Primary supervisor: licensed psychologist, active license free of discipline, 6 h supervision coursework every 2 years
- Time limit: Each 1,500-h year within 30 consecutive months; if all 3,000 h postdoctoral, within 60 months
Related credentials
- School psychology: Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), master's-level, licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BPC §4989.20)
Can you be supervised remotely in California?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: supervisor on-site rule, prior board approval.
- Video supervision: Since SB 775 (1/1/2026) any supervision may be real time, in person or synchronous audiovisual; ≥1 h/week individual face-to-face with the primary supervisor and 10% of weekly time in supervision (16 CCR §1387(b)(4)).
- Phone only: not allowed for supervision hours (statute defines real time as in-person or synchronous audiovisual); telephone only satisfies the 100% availability rule
- Supervisor licensed in California? required for registered psychological associates (psychologist licensed under the California Code); out-of-state SPE supervised by a psychologist licensed where the SPE occurs
- Supervisor credential: Primary supervisor licensed by the Board completes 6 h supervision coursework every 2 years; no separate supervisor registration.
- Supervisee cap: ≤3 registered psychological associates per supervisor at any time
- Board approval first: Associate registration required before starting work; written SPE agreement before any hours count; associates in a private setting must submit an SPE plan to the Board for approval; supervisor/location changes notified on form PSB 101.
- If you live outside California: Board telehealth rule lets a licensee or registrant serve a client located in California while the provider is temporarily outside California, subject to the other jurisdiction's laws.
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
SB 775 (Stats. 2025, ch. 787) amended BPC §§2913-2914 eff. 1/1/2026 (real-time audiovisual supervision). BPC §2914(d) lets applicants sit the EPPP after academic coursework; 16 CCR §1388(c) still says after doctorate + 1,500 h. The board says regs are being modified to implement AB 282. Telehealth practice standards reg eff. 7/1/2026.
Where the rules are unclear
California’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- 16 CCR §1391.5(a)/(c) same-setting requirement vs BPC §2913(c) (SB 775) real-time audiovisual supervision: may a supervisor at a different physical location supervise by video?
In the board’s own words
“two years of qualifying SPE shall be completed and documented prior to licensure. One year of SPE shall be defined as 1500 hours.” — 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)✓ matched in the source
“At least 1500 hours of SPE shall be accrued postdoctorally.” — 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)✓ matched in the source
“Up to 1500 hours of SPE may be accrued predoctorally but only after completion of 48 semester/trimester or 72 quarter units of graduate coursework” — 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)✓ matched in the source
“Each year of SPE shall be completed within a thirty (30) consecutive month period.” — 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)✓ matched in the source
“Trainees shall be provided with supervision for 10% of the total time worked each week.” — 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)✓ matched in the source
“at least one year of which shall have occurred after the applicant was awarded the qualifying doctoral degree” — Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2914 (as amended by SB 775, eff. 1/1/2026)✓ matched in the source
“Any supervision may be provided in real time, which is defined as through in-person or synchronous audiovisual means” — Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2914 (as amended by SB 775, eff. 1/1/2026)✓ matched in the source
“and the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination (CPLEE), except that the EPPP shall be waived” — 16 CCR §1388 Examinations, 2026 Laws and Regulations book printed pp. 196-197✓ checked by hand
“the Board has stopped working on the regulatory package and is no longer implementing the EPPP two” — Board of Psychology, EPPP Part 2/Integrated EPPP page✓ matched in the source
“Any supervision may be provided in real time, which is defined as through in-person or synchronous audiovisual means” — Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2913(c)-(d) (as amended by SB 775, eff. 1/1/2026)✓ matched in the source
“At least one hour per week shall be face-to-face, direct, individual supervision with the primary supervisor.” — 16 CCR §1387(b)(4), (6), (10), Board of Psychology 2026 Laws and Regulations, printed pp.186-187✓ checked by hand
“This availability may be in-person, by telephone, by pager or by other appropriate technology.” — 16 CCR §1387(b)(4), (6), (10), Board of Psychology 2026 Laws and Regulations, printed pp.186-187✓ checked by hand
10 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in California
- LPCC (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- All California licenses · every state
Sources
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2914 (as amended by SB 775, eff. 1/1/2026)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2913 (registered psychological associate)
- 16 CCR §1387 Supervised Professional Experience, in Board of Psychology 2026 Laws and Regulations book, printed pp. 185-188 (PDF pp. ~203-206)
- 16 CCR §1387 (LII mirror, used to cross-check book text; history through Register 2022, No. 35)
- Board of Psychology, EPPP Part 2/Integrated EPPP page
- Board of Psychology, Regulations page (proposed/approved regulations list)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §4989.20 (Licensed Educational Psychologist)
Checked against California Board of Psychology’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.