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State Cert Guide

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Do I need sexual harassment prevention training in California?

Yes for California-based employees, if the employer has 5 or more workers, counting contractors, volunteers and unpaid interns. California requires 1 hour of sexual harassment training for staff and 2 hours for supervisors, every two years. The employer provides it and pays for it. The state offers free online courses that meet the rule. The next deadline is January 1, 2027.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Employers of 5 or more employees must provide this trainingCalifornia Government Code section 12950.1 sets this rule.
Verified. calcivilrights.ca.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Course hours
Every two years: 1 hour for non-supervisory employees and 2 hours for supervisorsNon-supervisory employees take 1 hour. Supervisors take 2 hours. Both repeat every two years.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
The next training deadline is January 1, 2027That is the next date the state sets for the training.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
Retrain every two years; new hires and new supervisors have six monthsA new supervisor has six months from taking the supervisory role. A new non-supervisory employee has six months from the hire date.
Same source and date as above
Cost
The employer, not the employee, provides the training and bears any costsThe employer covers any cost. The state also says employees can't be required to take it on their personal time.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether the rule covers your workplace. It applies to employers with 5 or more employees. Independent contractors, volunteers and unpaid interns count toward that 5, but the employer doesn't have to train them.

  2. Step 2. Pick the course. The Civil Rights Department's free courses satisfy the rule, but employers may use other ways that satisfy the requirement. The department doesn't approve or recommend outside providers.

  3. Step 3. Take it in an interactive format. E-learning must be individualized, with a trainer you can reach within two business days, and it can't be watched as a group. A text-only handout doesn't meet the law.

  4. Step 4. Keep your certificate. The state's course gives you a certificate of completion at the end. Ask your employer how it wants to receive it before you start. The state can't email a replacement.

Before you pay

Start with the state's free courses before you pay a provider. The employer provides the training and covers its cost, so an employee shouldn't be paying for it.

If someone sells you a course, ask how it meets the interactive rule. A text-only course doesn't.

The state doesn't approve outside providers, so a seller who says the state approved the course is not citing anything the state says.

Questions

Do short-term or seasonal hires need the training?

Yes, with one exception. An employee hired for less than six months must be trained within 30 calendar days of the hire date or within 100 hours worked, whichever comes first. An employer doesn't have to train someone employed for fewer than 30 calendar days who works fewer than 100 hours. A temporary employee placed by a temporary services employer is trained by that employer, not the client.

I took the training at my last job. Do I repeat it?

Not if you took a compliant training within the prior two years. You read and acknowledge the new employer's anti-harassment policy within six months and then follow a two-year schedule based on your last training. The current employer is responsible for ensuring that the earlier training was legally compliant.

What records does the employer keep?

Training records, for a minimum of two years. They include, among other things, the names of the employees trained, the training dates, the sign-in sheet if one was used, copies of any certificates, the type of training, the training materials and the provider's name.

Do employees who work outside California have to be trained?

No. They count when deciding whether the employer is covered, but they aren't required to take the training themselves.

Does harassment law apply to an employer with fewer than five employees?

Yes. The Civil Rights Department says harassment is prohibited in all workplaces, even those with fewer than five employees. The training mandate is a separate rule that starts at 5 employees.

What to do next

Start with the state's free course on the Civil Rights Department training page and choose the supervisory or non-supervisory version. Not sure whether your workplace is covered? Read the department's employer FAQ first.

calcivilrights.ca.gov

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