Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a UE transmits an indication of capability of the UE to support one or more reference signal (RS) types as a quasi co-location (QCL) source RS for one or more transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. A base station receives the indication, and determine a TCI state with a QCL source RS based on the indication of the UE capability. The base station transmits, to the UE, a designation of the TCI state with the QCL source RS associated with one or more scheduled communications.