How to check a California therapist's license

You can check a license yourself, for free, before you book. California’s licensing boards publish license status and public disciplinary documents for free.

Where do I check a California therapist’s license?

Use the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) License Search at search.dca.ca.gov. It covers both boards that license couples therapists:

• Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS): LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, and their associates (AMFT, ASW, APCC).
• Board of Psychology: licensed psychologists and psychological associates.

The BBS states that the DCA search shows “primary source data” from its licensing system and can be accepted as license verification.

How do I search, step by step?

1. Find the therapist’s details. You need their name as filed with the Board, license type and, ideally, license number. Since 1 April 2026 BBS licensees must show all three together in their advertising, including directory profiles and websites.
2. Open search.dca.ca.gov.
3. Choose the board. Pick the Board of Behavioral Sciences for an LMFT, LCSW or LPCC, or the Board of Psychology for a psychologist, then the license type if asked.
4. Search by license number if you have it; it is exact. Otherwise search by last name and first name.
5. Open the result that matches the name and city.

What should I look for on the license record?

• Name. It should match the name the therapist uses, or the therapist should show their name as filed alongside a preferred name.
• License type. For example “Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.”
• Status. Look for Current and Active. Other statuses, such as inactive, expired, cancelled, suspended, revoked or on probation, mean the person may not be allowed to practice, or is practicing with conditions.
• Expiration date. Licenses renew on a cycle.
• Public documents. BBS notes that a link to any available disciplinary documents is listed below the license status. The Board of Psychology says the same search shows “prior public administrative or disciplinary action, if any.”

What if something doesn’t match?

• No record found. Try spelling variations, the other board, or ask the therapist for their license number.
• Different status. Ask the therapist. If you are concerned, contact the board directly: BBS (916) 574-7830, Board of Psychology (916) 574-7720, as listed in the BBS consumer booklet.
• Out-of-state license only. If you are in California, a California license is generally required. See telehealth couples therapy in California.
• A complaint. The BBS has an online complaint form and publishes enforcement actions. The Board of Psychology’s consumer guide says you can submit a complaint at psychology.ca.gov.

Can I check an associate?

Yes. Associates appear in the same search with their registration number. They must practice under a licensed supervisor, and BBS rules require their advertising to name their employer and state that they are supervised. You can check the supervisor’s license too.

How does MarriageCounseling.io verify licenses?

Before a profile goes live, we look up the license on the DCA License Search by hand and record the status and the date we checked. Each profile shows the therapist’s name as filed, license title and license number together, with a link so you can check it yourself. We do not crawl the DCA site; its robots file asks automated tools not to crawl license detail pages. Read our editorial and care policy.