Board of Behavioral Sciences outlines seven-step path to associate registration and licensure

Sarita Resso, outreach coordinator for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, opened a recorded lunchtime webinar and said the session is intended to walk applicants through the board’s licensure requirements and application process.

Steve Sodegheri, the board’s executive officer, presented a seven-step roadmap for candidates: obtain a master’s degree; apply for associate registration; take the law-and-ethics exam while accruing supervised hours; apply for licensure; take the clinical exam; and submit an application for an initial license after passing the clinical exam. "It's kind of the licensure road map broken down into seven steps," Sodegheri said, adding that the final administrative step—filing for the initial license after exam passage—is one many applicants overlook.

On timing for counting supervised hours, Sodegheri explained the 90‑day rule: applicants who submit a registration application within 90 days of their degree conferral date and complete a request-for-live-scan at their employment site may be able to count post-degree supervised hours earned before the associate registration is issued. He urged applicants to keep the live-scan form because it must be submitted with the licensure application.

Sodegheri listed materials required for an associate registration package: a completed application, official transcript(s) showing degree title and conferral date (electronic or sealed paper acceptable), degree program certification from the school, the registration-specific request-for-live-scan form, and the payment. He said the application fee is $150 through June 30 and will be reduced to $75 beginning July 1, 2026.

Practical tips emphasized recordkeeping: use tracking when mailing documents, keep copies of all paperwork, ensure supervisor signatures are obtained weekly on logs, verify supervisors hold current licenses, and link a BreEZe account to your registration to monitor transactions. Sodegheri said processing times average about 40 days but may lengthen during peak periods.

On exams and renewals, Sodegheri described the law-and-ethics exam (75 questions, 90 minutes) and the requirement to take it within the first year of registration; once passed, applicants generally will not need to retake the law-and-ethics exam at subsequent renewals. He also summarized clinical-exam timing: applicants approved for licensure must take the clinical exam within one year of approval and face a 90‑day waiting period between retake attempts.

In a question-and-answer period, Sodegheri addressed specific attendee scenarios: live scans performed by an employer generally may be reused for that employer; the 90‑day window is measured from the conferral date printed on the transcript; and application deficiencies can be corrected within one year of the board’s notice. He apologized for earlier technical issues with the chat and noted the recording and slides will be posted on the board’s website for later viewing.

The webinar closed with an invitation to complete a post-webinar survey. Presenters directed attendees to the BBS website for statutes, FAQs, guidance on supervision and the BreEZe online system, and encouraged subscription to board alerts for updates.