Discussions about California’s “six-year rule” for associate marriage and family therapists (AMFTs), clinical counselors (APCCs), and clinical social workers (ASWs) often turn confusing. There’s a simple reason for that. When people refer to California’s “six-year rule,” they actually might be referring to either one of two different rules, both of which have six-year timeframes. Here’s a breakdown of both six-year rules.