BBS Announcement: Expedited Licensure for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas Available Now

From the California Board of Behavioral Sciences:

Starting January 1, 2021, individuals in the following categories who apply for licensure by the Board of Behavioral Sciences may seek an expedited licensure process.

1. Refugees pursuant to section 1157 of title 8 of the United States Code;

2. Those granted asylum by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to
section 1158 of title 8 of the United States Code; or,

3. Individuals with a special immigrant visa that have been granted a status pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, Public Law 109-163, or section 602(b) of title VI of division F of Public Law 111-8.

In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide documentation of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package. Please note that this does not mean a license or registration must be issued, but simply that the process will be expedited.

For more details and documentation examples, https://www.dca.ca.gov/about_us/ab2113.shtml

To go directly to the BBS expedite form, https://bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/refugee_exp_request.pdf

BBS has also added this announcement to our website to be accessed at any time, https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/ab2113.pdf