Answer: Any person who meets the requirements of section 2913 of the Business and Professions Code (B&P) may apply to be registered as a Psychological Associate using application form PSB 100 (rev. 07/22).

Answer: A registration is limited to a cumulative total of six-years (72-months). [Title 16, California Code of Regulations (CCR) § 1391.1(b)]

PLEASE NOTE: Unless the registration is cancelled, the registration period will continue to count towards the 72-month limit.

Answer: To cancel a registration, email the Board at BOPlicensing@dca.ca.gov with the following information:

• Name and registration number of Psychological Associate
• Effective date of cancellation
• Name and license number of primary supervisor(s)

Answer: The Psychological Associate is responsible to complete and submit the "Notification to Add or Change Supervisor or Service Location for a Psychological Associate" form PSB 101. The form must be completed and signed by both the psychological associate and new primary supervisor. You must submit a separate notification with a $210 fee for each add/change supervisor. There is no fee to remove supervisors.

PLEASE NOTE: It is considered unlicensed practice if the psychological associate begins providing services before receiving approval from the Board.

If the psychological associate is accruing supervised professional experience for psychology licensure, a new supervision agreement and plan must be completed and signed by the psychological associate and new primary supervisor prior to the commencement of the supervised professional experience. Mail the new completed supervision agreement along with the notification.

Answer: Yes, there is a $210 fee to add/change a primary supervisors. However, there is no fee to remove a primary supervisor(s) nor add/change/remove service location with the same primary supervisor.

Answer: A psychological associate must provide a valid address as the Address of Record (AOR) to the Board for all correspondence (e.g., courtesy renewal postcard reminders, updates, etc.). The AOR is public information and is available to anyone who asks over the phone, in writing, or via the Board's website. If the AOR is a PO Box, or a mail drop location, the psychological associate is required to provide a confidential physical business or residential address which will not be made available to the public [16 CCR § 1380.5]. Any address change must be reported within 30 days to the Board.

Answer: A psychological associate must provide a valid email address to the Board for all correspondence pursuant to 16 CCR § 1380.5(b). An applicant's email address is not public information. Any address change must be reported within 30 days to the Board [16 CCR § 1380.5(c)].

Answer: The application fee for registration as a psychological associate is $424.00. [16 CCR §1392.1(a)]

Answer: Only licensed psychologists can serve as the primary supervisor of a psychological associate. [16 CCR § 1391.5(a)]

Answer: A licensed psychologist must complete a six-hour course in supervision every two years to qualify to supervise a psychological associate. [16 CCR § 1387.1(b)]

Answer: The primary supervisor shall inform each client or patient, prior to the rendering of services by the psychological associate that the assistant is unlicensed and is under the direction and supervision of the supervisor. [16 CCR § 1391.6(b)]

Answer: Yes. A psychological associate must be under the direction and supervision of a licensed psychologist who is employed in the same setting as the psychological associate. [16 CCR § 1391.5(a)]

Answer: The supervisor must be available to the assistant 100% of the time the assistant is rendering professional services. The availability can be in-person, by telephone, by pager or by other appropriate technology. [16 CCR § 1391.6(c)]

Answer: A licensed psychologist can supervise no more than three (3) psychological associates at any given time. [B&P section 2913(c)(2)]

Answer: A supervision agreement form is required if it is the intention of the psychological associate to count the hours worked as a psychological associate as SPE toward the psychology licensure requirements. The Board also recommends that a supervision agreement form be completed even if the hours are not being accrued towards licensure. [16 CCR § 1387(b)(10)].

Answer: Yes. All psychological associates must maintain a written, weekly log of all hours of supervised professional experience gained toward licensure that meets the requirements of 16 CCR § 1387.5.

Answer: A maximum of forty four (44) hours per week can be credited toward meeting the supervised professional experience requirements. This includes the required 10% supervision. [16 CCR § 1387(b)(5)]

Answer: The supervisor must provide a minimum of one (1) hour per week of direct, individual, face-to-face supervision to the psychological associate. However, the psychological associate must be provided with supervision for 10% of the total time worked each week in order for the hours to meet the licensing requirements. [16 CCR § 1387(b)(4) and 1391.5(b)]

Answer: No. Primary supervisors cannot have any familial, intimate, business or other relationship with the psychological associate. [16 CCR § 1387.1(j)

Answer: No. Psychological associates cannot rent, lease, sublease, or lease-purchase office space from the supervisor, employer or any entity for the purposes of functioning as a psychological associate. [16 CCR § 1391.8(c)]

Answer: No. The unlicensed/unregistered practice of psychology is prohibited. A registration is not valid until approved and issued by the Board [B&P section 2913]

Answer: No. A primary supervisor cannot supervise a psychological associate who is, or has been, a psychotherapy client of the supervisor. [16 CCR § 1387.1(k)]

Answer: No. A psychological associate cannot pay a fee, monetary or otherwise, for supervision. [16 CCR § 1391.8(a)] 

Answer: No. The supervisor must supply all provisions necessary to function as a psych assistant [16 CCR § 1391.8(a)] 

Answer: No. A psychological associate is not licensed to practice independently. The supervisor can list the psychological associate on advertisements and/or websites as long as it is clear that the person is registered as a psychological associate, provides the registration number, and the name and license number of the supervisor. [16 CCR § 1396.4and § 1397]

Answer: If a registration is not renewed by the expiration date, it becomes delinquent the following day. [16 CCR § 1391.12(b)]
A registration that is not renewed within 60 days after its expiration date becomes cancelled and a new application for registration must be submitted. [16 CCR § 1391.12(e)]

PLEASE NOTE: Providing psychological services while the registration is delinquent or cancelled is unlicensed/unregistered practice of psychology. [B&P section 2913]

Answer: No. A registration that is not renewed by its expiration date is delinquent. Practicing with a delinquent or an expired registration is prohibited and considered the unlicensed practice of psychology. [16 CCR § 1391.12(c)]