Types of Behavioral Health Degrees in California
Learning about behavioral health degrees in California leads to rewarding careers that pay between $58,450 and $107,470. The path from student to licensed practitioner takes 8-12 years, which shows the dedication needed for these professions.
California requires at least a master’s degree plus specific licensing requirements to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Understanding a behavioral health degree’s components becomes vital before you commit to this field. California offers several pathways for students who want to start with a mental health bachelor’s degree or explore graduate programs. These include Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (LPCC), Psychology, and s. This piece covers everything you should know about California’s behavioral health education options for 2025.
Understanding Behavioral Health Degrees
Behavioral health degrees prepare you to help people improve their mental and physical well-being. You’ll learn to address behaviors and psychological factors that affect health. These educational programs blend psychology, counseling techniques, and social work principles to create a complete approach to health and wellness.
What is a degree in behavioral health?
A behavioral health degree teaches you about human interaction and behavior in health and wellness contexts. This academic path shows how behaviors affect overall well-being. Students learn evidence-based interventions for common behavioral health conditions.
Bachelor’s programs in Behavioral Health Science build upon associate degrees by adding specialized junior and senior-year courses. These programs explore key concepts such as:
- Current techniques and approaches in behavioral health
- Research methodologies and best practices
- Ethical considerations in behavioral healthcare
- Cultural diversity and its effect on treatment
Students gain expertise in addiction and substance abuse disorders, counseling theories, group dynamics, human development, and abnormal psychology. Most programs emphasize family dynamics, trauma-informed care, and cultural competence—skills you need to work with diverse populations.
Graduates can take entry-level positions as behavioral health specialists, community service managers, mental health service technicians, or case managers. These undergraduate programs provide the foundation to pursue master’s degrees in clinical psychology, counseling, or related fields.
How behavioral health is different from mental health
People often use these terms interchangeably, but behavioral health and mental health represent distinct yet overlapping concepts. This difference matters when choosing your educational path.
Mental health focuses on how your psychological state affects your well-being. Behavioral health examines how your actions influence both mental and physical health. Mental health explains the “why” behind certain behaviors. Behavioral health looks at the behaviors themselves and their effects across multiple health domains.
Behavioral health doesn’t always involve mental health. A behavioral health specialist might study how overeating leads to weight gain or chronic health conditions. The field takes an all-encompassing approach by looking at how single behaviors can be both causes and effects, with impacts on various aspects of well-being.
Treatment approaches highlight this difference. Mental health professionals focus on psychological interventions. Behavioral health specialists consider habits, environment, and physical health when developing treatment plans.
Why California is a top state for behavioral health education
California leads behavioral health education for several compelling reasons. The state has invested heavily in expanding behavioral health curriculum and training opportunities. The Foundation for California Community Colleges awarded over $2 million to 20 community colleges to develop behavioral health education programs.
The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), or Proposition 63, has transformed California’s mental health system. The state moved from a “fail first” approach to a complete system of care. This legislation created new opportunities for education and mental health fields to cooperate in supporting California’s children and youth.
California schools offer rich training environments for students through their commitment to behavioral health. Mental health services include academic counseling, behavioral interventions, assessments, and referrals—giving students practical learning opportunities.
The state’s diverse population provides exceptional experience working with varied cultural backgrounds, a vital skill in behavioral health practice. These initiatives strengthen California’s position as a leader in behavioral health education and workforce development.
Top Behavioral Health Degree Types in California
California students interested in behavioral health careers can choose from several paths. These range from bachelor’s programs to doctoral degrees. Each type of program opens different career paths and licensing options.
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
MFT programs teach you to help families, couples, adults, and children. You’ll learn to work with relationship challenges, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness, and substance abuse. Most California MFT programs use a cohort model. Students move through their courses together and build a supportive learning community.
USC Rossier’s program builds skills in three areas: therapy through self-reflection and supervised practice, cultural awareness with a social justice focus, and proven interventions. On top of that, Chapman University’s students get a chance to complete their one-year clinical practicum at the university’s community clinic.
After finishing an MFT program and meeting state requirements, you can apply for California’s Marriage and Family Therapy license. The results speak for themselves – USC Rossier reports that “92% of their MFT students pass” their Clinical BBS Exams, well above the typical 70% pass rate.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (LPCC)
LPCC programs prepare you to deliver mental health services in different settings. Getting this license is a great way to get work in private practice, community mental health, medical settings, and schools.
The license requires a master’s degree, 3,000 supervised hours, and passing two exams: the California LPCC Law and Ethics Exam and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam. University of San Diego’s CMHC program shows strong results with a “96% licensing exam pass rate” based on 2020 NCMHCE passing rates.
Clinical Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
Clinical psychology doctoral programs offer two paths: PhD programs focus on research while PsyD programs emphasize practice. Both let you become a licensed clinical psychologist but develop different skills.
The University of San Francisco’s APA-accredited PsyD program teaches students to work with underserved populations in team-based settings. National University’s PsyD program develops practitioners who provide detailed and culturally aware services.
Students complete coursework, clinical practica, internships, and dissertation projects. They can get licensed in California after finishing their postdoctoral hours.
Social Work (LCSW)
The path to becoming an LCSW starts with a master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Next comes registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW). You’ll need 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least two years.
California social workers earn some of the highest salaries in the country. LCSWs can work independently in private practice or other settings and bill clients directly after supervised training and passing their exams.
Mental Health Bachelor’s Degree Options
A bachelor’s degree in psychology or behavioral health builds a strong foundation. The Bachelor of Science in Psychology typically needs 120 credits. Courses cover behavioral sciences, counseling skills, personality theory, social psychology, health psychology, and forensic psychology.
These degrees prepare you for jobs in behavioral health, business, criminal justice, or healthcare. They also set you up well to pursue graduate degrees in behavioral health specialties.
Each employer sets their own education requirements based on specific roles. This makes a bachelor’s degree useful for many career paths.
Education and Licensing Requirements
A licensed behavioral health professional’s path in California needs rigorous education, supervised experience, examinations, and ongoing professional development. Each step is a vital building block that prepares competent practitioners.
Typical degree timelines and pathways
The road to licensure starts with educational qualifications that differ by profession. Students complete a bachelor’s degree in four years. Master’s programs in counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy need another 2-3 years of specialized study.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) must have a master’s degree with at least 60 semester units covering 13 core content areas. Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) candidates need a master’s degree with 60 semester units in marriage and family therapy or related fields. Aspiring psychologists must earn a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), which adds 4-6 years beyond undergraduate studies.
Supervised clinical hours explained
After completing academic requirements, candidates register with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as associates (AMFT, ASW, or APCC). Every behavioral health licensure path requires 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience. This practical training takes a minimum of two years but cannot exceed six years.
Licensed professionals guide candidates through their supervision process to give them hands-on experience. Psychologists split these hours between pre-doctoral internship (1,500 hours) and post-doctoral supervised experience (1,500 hours).
Licensing exams for each profession
Candidates must pass profession-specific examinations after completing supervised hours. LPCC candidates take two exams: the California Law and Ethics Exam and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). LMFT aspirants must pass the Law and Ethics exam and then the LMFT Clinical Exam.
Candidates must take the Law and Ethics Exam in their first year as associates and repeat it yearly until passed. They have one year to take the clinical examination after passing this exam to maintain eligibility.
Continuing education and license renewal
Professional licenses need renewal every two years. Each renewal period requires 36 hours of continuing education (CE). New renewals after July 1, 2023, need 36 hours of CE, while only 18 hours were needed before.
Required continuing education has:
- 6 hours of Law and Ethics training each renewal period
- One-time 3-hour telehealth training requirement (effective July 1, 2023)
- One-time 6-hour suicide risk assessment and intervention training
Associates must renew their registrations yearly. Starting January 1, 2023, associates need 3 hours of California Law and Ethics CE for each renewal. These requirements help behavioral health professionals keep their knowledge and skills current throughout their careers.
Career Paths and Work Settings
Your behavioral health degree and California license open doors to many work environments. Behavioral health professionals can find rewarding work in a variety of settings that come with their own challenges and rewards.
Private practice and clinics
Starting a private therapy practice in California is a great chance for mental health professionals as the need for available services keeps growing. You’ll need to pick between a sole proprietorship (simpler but less protected) or a professional corporation (better for liability protection) when setting up your practice.
A solid business structure and malpractice insurance will protect you from potential legal claims. Many therapists join platforms like Headway. This platform helps providers accept insurance easily, get better rates with top insurance plans, and receive reliable bi-weekly payments.
Hospitals and rehabilitation centers
Kaiser Permanente lets you build a career focused on patients’ total mental health in a team-based setting. Their addiction medicine and recovery programs help review and diagnose addictions. They develop treatment plans that include behavioral therapy, medication-based treatment, and rehabilitation.
The California Department of State Hospitals runs five facilities statewide, employing about 11,000 people across 300 different job types. These places range from busy city environments to relaxed spots near beaches or wine country.
Schools and academic institutions
California’s behavioral health scene now relies heavily on school-based roles. Orange County’s Behavioral Health Services Division helps children and youth in schools. They provide academic counseling, behavioral interventions, assessments, and referrals.
These roles create perfect training grounds, especially if you have relevant degrees and want hands-on experience with different populations.
Community and government agencies
County jobs come with stable work and great benefits. Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health looks for clinical psychologists, mental health clinicians, psychiatric social workers, and psychiatric technicians. Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services employs behavioral health peer specialists, mental health workers, counselors, program coordinators, and various administrative staff.
Government jobs typically include detailed benefits packages. You get retirement plans, medical insurance, dental coverage, life insurance, paid holidays, vacation time, and sick leave. Sacramento County’s dedication to creating inclusive workplaces that match its community stands out—it’s among the most ethnically and racially diverse areas in California.
Professional Associations and Support Networks
Professional associations play a vital role in supporting your behavioral health career journey. These organizations give you continuing education, legal guidance, networking opportunities and strong advocacy support.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
CAMFT, a 59-year old statewide professional organization, has over 36,500 members. Members get great benefits like legal consultation access, on-demand continuing education, job listings, and professional growth opportunities. This non-profit champions high ethical standards and speaks up for therapists in the state legislature.
California Association for LPCCs (CALPCC)
CALPCC, a 12-year old organization, protects and advances the LPCC license in California. Nine counseling organizations came together to form the California Coalition for Counselor Licensure that created CALPCC. The organization now makes use of its Sacramento connections to help LPCCs work effectively across the state. Each member receives personal guidance on licensure processes, ethical issues, and practice-related questions.
California Psychological Association (CPA)
CPA, the largest state psychological association, champions psychology’s science and practice while fighting for Californians’ health. The team reviews about 3,000 legislative pieces each year. Their efforts led to a soaring win in 2023 with two bills that streamlined licensure and protected licensee privacy.
National Association of Social Workers – CA Chapter (NASW-CA)
NASW-CA leads as the largest chapter nationwide with nearly 9,000 members. Nine geographic regions (A through I) divide the state into smaller local units. Quality social work practice is the chapter’s foundation to enhance Californians’ lives. Criminal justice reform, healthcare access, and economic inequality reduction top their advocacy priorities.
Start Your Behavioral Health Career Now
Getting a behavioral health degree in California takes dedication but opens doors to truly rewarding careers. You can choose from Marriage and Family Therapy, Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or Licensed Clinical Social Work. Each path will require focused education, supervised clinical practice and continuous growth as a professional.
California’s substantial investment in training programs and its diverse population make it an excellent place to study behavioral health. Students can develop their clinical skills while learning to work with people from many different backgrounds.
Licensed professionals have many career paths to choose from. They can start a private practice, join hospital teams, work in schools, or help communities through government agencies. Each role brings its own challenges and rewards while giving professionals a chance to change people’s lives.
Your career growth gets strong support from professional associations. Groups like CAMFT, CALPCC, CPA, and NASW-CA are a great way to get resources, continuing education, legal guidance, and advocacy as you direct your professional development.
Behavioral health jobs keep growing throughout California, creating more jobs for qualified practitioners. The path takes time and effort—usually 8-12 years from start to licensed practice. Yet helping others overcome challenges while earning competitive pay makes this career worthwhile. As you think about your options for 2025 and beyond, note that each step moves you closer to achieving a career focused on improving others’ mental and behavioral health.