California Law and Ethics for BBS Associates (AMFTs, APCCs, & ASWs) - 2025

Information on changes to state law for 2025, and key reminders of legal and ethical standards impacting the work of prelicensed clinicians. Meets BBS requirements for a 3-hour Law & Ethics course for associate registration renewal. 3 hours CE

On-demand video format. Complete at your own pace.

Instructor

Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT

Course Description

This course highlights recent changes to California state law, as well as common legal and ethical concerns, that impact the work of Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs), Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASWs), and Associate Professional Clinical Counselors (APCCs). Specific topics include 2025 law changes; key requirements for supervised experience; differences between therapy, coaching, and consulting; artificial intelligence; and marketing rules for associates.

This course is designed to conform with Assembly Bill 1759 (2022), which requires all California BBS registrants to complete 3 hours of continuing education in Law & Ethics in each one-year registration renewal period.

Learning Objectives

By completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe at least two changes to state law impacting mental health care in 2025
2. Describe at least two legal and two ethical concerns related to the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care
3. Differentiate between therapy and related unlicensed fields like coaching and consulting
4. Describe at least three lesser-known legal rules related to supervised experience
5. Describe at least three legal and/or ethical rules related to associates’ use of marketing

Course Outline and Format

1. Introduction (0:05)
2. Legal changes for 2025 (0:25)
3. Key supervision reminders (0:23)
1. Lesser-known supervision rules
2. Licensure requirements and the application process
4. Therapy versus coaching, consultation, and support (0:19)
5. Artificial intelligence in mental health care (1:19)
1. Uses
2. Ethics
3. Therapists’ concerns
6. Websites and social media (0:18)
1. Advertising rules
2. Ethical issues
3. Job postings
7. Reporting reminders (0:16)
1. Child abuse
2. Elder & DA abuse

On-demand video format. Approximate total running time 3 hours, 4 minutes.

Shared Content

The extended discussion of Artificial Intelligence in this course is also a component of our 6-hour Law & Ethics course for BBS Licensees.

Course Completion and CE Certificates

To complete the course, watch all required video components, complete a quiz on course content with a score of at least 80%, and complete a satisfaction survey. When all course components have been successfully completed, your certificate will issue automatically and can be downloaded from your dashboard.

CE Provider Approval

Ben Caldwell Labs Inc d/b/a High Pass Education is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (#137848) to provide continuing education for marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, and educational psychologists. Ben Caldwell Labs Inc d/b/a High Pass Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

This course meets the qualifications for 3 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Refunds, Grievances, Accommodations, and Additional Policies

Our policies on Accommodations can be found on our Accessibility page. All course videos are captioned. Our other CE policies can be found here.

Course History

Published October 21, 2024.