AB-1598 Behavioral sciences
Sep 27, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0063 · Published 2026-09-27 · Version 2 · Proposed
AB 1598 proposed licensing and associate-registration changes, including a tightly conditioned private-practice hardship extension.
What happened
AB 1598’s retained proposal would revise behavioral-sciences licensing and registration rules, including six renewals over a maximum seven-year associate-registration period for marriage and family therapy, clinical social work and professional clinical counseling. It also proposes changes to experience and examination recency requirements. The operative provisions for marriage and family therapy, clinical social work and professional clinical counseling exempt initial-license or subsequent-associate-registration applications received by the board on or before January 1, 2030 from the seven-year age limit on the California law and ethics examination. That proposed recency limit therefore applies after January 1, including the specified application categories, rather than on January 1 itself. The bill separately revises professional and faith-based counseling exemptions; those provisions do not create a general exemption for all counseling work.
An applicant holding a subsequent associate-registration number would generally remain barred from private-practice work, but could request a one-time, two-consecutive-year hardship extension for one private-practice or professional-corporation employer. Work could not begin or continue until board approval. The application requires joint signatures under penalty of perjury, good cause for inability to complete licensure within seven years and a plan for gaining the remaining hours. The proposal also expands client disclosures about unlicensed, supervised status and the employer or volunteer entity. These proposed changes do not themselves extend an individual’s current registration or authorize additional practice.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Proposed
- Applicability
- Potentially applicable
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
Why it matters
Workforce planning must separate proposed registration flexibility from current authority to practice and preserve supervision and client disclosure controls.
Recommended action
Monitor the bill’s disposition. Review associate cohorts, supervision and renewal records, and prepare any hardship process only after confirming enacted language, board approval requirements and applicable commencement dates.
Sources
- AB-1598 Behavioral sciences, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-31 · Source review 2026-09-10
- AB-1598 Behavioral sciences, current bill text (08/27/26 - Enrolled)Official · California Legislature · 2026-08-27 · Source review 2026-09-10
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