Pre-licensure and Continuing Education
The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau (Bureau) requires applicants and licensees to meet specific mandatory educational requirements as part of the licensure and licensure renewal process. By completing pre-licensing and continuing educational requirements, applicants and licensees can stay current in their understanding of the profession, acquire new skills, and better serve their clients.
Educational requirements can be found in Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 6538 and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 16, Division 41, Article 3. Prelicensure and Continuing Education.
Useful Links
Continuing Education Tracking Log
Continuing Education Certification Form
General Education Requirements
The Bureau does not provide pre-licensing and continuing education courses. Pre-licensing and continuing education may be obtained by completing courses which are either provided by or approved by the providers listed in California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 4446 and which meet the requirements in CCR section 4444. Coursework meeting the requirements established by the laws and regulations governing the licensure of professional fiduciaries will be accepted by the Bureau toward pre-licensing and continuing education requirements.
The Bureau does not provide referrals or recommendations to specific education providers.
Pre-Licensing Education Requirements for Applicants
Pursuant to Business and Professions Code 6538, applicants are required to complete 30 hours of pre-licensing coursework including one hour of instruction in cultural competency.
“Cultural competency” means understanding and applying cultural and ethnic data to the process of providing services that includes, but is not limited to, information on the appropriate services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities, ethnic communities, and religious communities.
Pre-licensing education courses may be obtained from any provider that meets the criteria as an approved provider under California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 4446. Available courses vary depending on the education provider. Some course providers may offer a comprehensive fiduciary management program while others may simply offer individual courses. Pre-licensing coursework may be completed through more than one approved provider.
Applicants are responsible for determining if an education course meets the requirements set forth in CCR. The Bureau does not pre-approve courses or provide a list of approved courses from individual providers. In determining whether a specific course or program qualifies for pre-licensing, it must be taken from an approved provider in accordance with CCR 4446 and meet the criteria set forth in CCR 4440 and CCR 4444.
Course descriptions are provided by approved education providers. Applicants should review course descriptions provided by education providers to determine if the course is relevant to professional fiduciaries (see CCR 4444). If the information on an education provider’s website is unclear or missing, applicants are encouraged to contact the education provider directly for information about their course offerings. The Bureau does not maintain or oversee information provided by approved education providers.
Continuing Education Requirements for Licensees
To renew a license, licensees are required to complete 15 hours of continuing education coursework each annual renewal cycle. Two hours of instruction must be in ethics, or cultural competency, or a combination of ethics and cultural competency totaling two hours. (See BPC 6538 and CCR 4442)
“Cultural competency” means understanding and applying cultural and ethnic data to the process of providing services that includes, but is not limited to, information on the appropriate services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities, ethnic communities, and religious communities.
The annual renewal cycle starts on the first day after the license expiration date and ends on the next license expiration date. The renewal cycle for newly licensed professional fiduciaries starts from the date the license is issued and ends on the license expiration date.
Licensees are responsible for determining if a continuing education (CE) course meets the requirements set forth in the California Code of Regulations. The Bureau does not pre-approve courses or provide a list of approved courses from individual providers. In determining whether a specific course or program qualifies as CE, it must be taken from an approved provider in accordance with CCR 4446 and meet the criteria set forth in CCR 4442 and CCR 4444.
Course descriptions are provided by approved education providers. Licensees should review the course descriptions provided by approved education providers to determine if the course is relevant to professional fiduciaries. If information on an education provider’s website is unclear or missing, licensees are encouraged to contact the education provider directly for information about their course offerings. The Bureau does not maintain or oversee information provided by course providers.
The Bureau recommends licensees familiarize themselves with the statutes and regulations governing continuing education, proof of compliance, and other relevant information regarding alternative methods of earning CE.
The Bureau has a form to assist you in tracking your continuing education hours. Do not submit this form to the Bureau.