CA COMBO: CA MFT Law & Ethics and CA MFT Clinical
Looking to become a California MFT and planning to take both the MFT Law & Ethics Exam and the MFT Clinical Exam with the BBS? By purchasing the combo package now, you’ll receive both of TDC’s California MFT Exam prep programs at a big discounted rate. The MFT Combo Package includes online access to everything you need to PASS WITH CONFIDENCE including, audio workshops, step-by-step study plans, practice exams, coaching and more. Both the MFT Law and Ethics and the Clinical Exam programs are designed to maximize learning and minimize stress.
To learn more about what each individual program entails check them out here:
CA MFT Law & Ethics Exam Prep CA MFT Clinical Exam Prep
California MFT FAQs
How Do I Become a Licensed CA MFT?
Outside of California, MFT licensing is overseen by the Association of Marriage and Family Therapist Regulatory Board (AMFTRB), but the state of CA has its own governing board, the Bureau of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). After graduating from a masters degree program, one must register with the BBS as an Associate MFT and then take and pass the MFT Law & Ethics Exam. Once the L&E examination is passed, each candidate must accrue supervised work experience. California requires 3,000 hours over a minimum of 104 weeks in order to qualify for MFT Clinical licensure. When the hours have been completed, it’s time to take and pass the MFT Clinical Test with the BBS. And that’s it! By completing these steps, you can become an LMFT in the state of California. However, if you do decide to pursue this license, we highly recommend connecting with the Bureau of Behavioral Sciences directly as there may be additional details and steps you will need to know during this process. Here is the link to their website: www.bbs.ca.gov
Do I need both MFT Exam Prep Programs now?
Since you’ll need to take both the MFT Law & Ethics and the MFT Clinical exams with the BBS to become a clinically licensed MFT, you might as well get both programs up front and save money. In fact, you'll save $50 with the combo package! Scroll down to read what others have said who’ve used our CA Law and Ethics and CA MFT Clinical Exam prep programs.
What is the Difference Between the MFT Law and Ethics exam and the MFT Clinical exam?
The first exam that associates are required to take is the MFT law and ethics exam. The exam’s name gives away the content--it solely tests your knowledge on the legal and ethical issues that guide our profession. The BBS requires you attempt this exam prior to renewing your associate registration. The clinical exam also tests your knowledge of law and ethics, but it also covers topics such as crisis management, treatment, treatment planning, and evaluation. Each of our programs are comprehensive and cover all of the content and strategy you will need to PASS both exams!
Is the topic of Law and Ethics tested during the CA MFT Clinical Exam as well?
Yes. In fact, questions pertaining to law and ethics make up more than ¼ of the CA MFT Clinical Exam! The BBS recognizes that a significant amount of time is likely to pass between the time applicants pass the law and ethics exam and when they are able to sit for the CA MFT Clinical exam. Therefore, they want to ensure applicants continue to stay up-to-date with relevant laws and ethical guidelines.
How does the CA MFT Clinical Exam compare to the National AMFTRB Clinical Exam?
While the intent of both exams are designed to produce the same results, and that is to ensure public safety within the practice of therapy, there are some nuanced differences between the two MFT Clinical exams themselves.
- Test Items: The CA MFT Clinical exam consisted of 170 test questions, with 20 of them no being counted towards scoring. Those unscored 20 are put on the exam as experimental questions to be considered as part of the scored items in future exams. On the National AMFTRB Clinical Exam there are 200 test questions, all of which are scored.
- Content: The difference is slight, but the CA MFT Clinical focuses on testing your knowledge around treatment planning, clinical evaluation, treatment, crisis management, law and ethics, and treatment. The National AMFTRB Exam content focuses more on practice of systemic therapy (assessing, hypothesizing, and diagnosing), designing and conducting treatment (including the evaluation of the process and termination), managing crisis, and maintaining ethical, legal and professional standards.
- Testing Windows: In California, the BBS offers the MFT Clinical Exam on an ongoing basis of five (5) times per week, while the the National MFT Exam is only offered one week per month, and you must sign up the first of the month during the month prior to you intended exam date.
Course Reviews
Great course that walks you through the material and gives enough practice tests that you feel prepared. I like that the course lays out a general schedule for you that you can tweak, which is a helpful framework to follow. Plus you know that you're on track if you're following what the TDC recommends. I think the practice questions were hard but good in that they seemed to overprepare me for the test and the time constraint. High recommend.
TDC is the complete package, all material necessary to pass!
Great organization of the material with schedule to manage study time.
I am thankful for this program!
I felt so well prepared- and though i wasn't "acing" the practice tests, I felt confident in my ability to work through difficult scenarios. I had colleagues who used other materials state they had gotten great scores on practice materials and then were blindsided by the actual exam. I felt like I was ready for what I was facing, and I know that says something about what you've created in this resource. Thanks!!
I took my California Clinical Exam on 5/9/2019 and PASSED!! I'm truly grateful for your study material. it was my 2nd attempt and although I failed 1st time I never stopped believing that TDC was the top prep company. I used all the strategies Amanda suggested.....IT WORKS!!!. thanks you so much!!
I PASSED on my first attempt (Law & Ethics and Clinical MFT). TDC really prepares you for this exam, giving you just the right amount of content and most importantly, strategies to pass. The audios, print outs (quick studies) and mocks were ALL very helpful, and made it to where you could study anywhere. I would recommend TDC to anyone who is preparing for this exam. It really is the only material you need to PASS!
TDC provided a comprehensive and organized way to prepare for my LMFT exam. I passed the first time. It made an arduous and grueling process doable. I felt prepared. Very prepared. I also reached out to Asya, one of the coaches, and had a session to help me with managing my anxiety. She was SO helpful, gentle and reassuring! Thank you Asya! ❤️ And thank you Amanda for becoming that confident voice in my head that replaced any doubt and negative self talk. ❤️
TDC is worth the money! I found my self with no anxiety and felt very prepared for the test and I passed!
TDC community was amazing to work with and passed my CLMFT exam!
So Amanda testimonials are always iffy for me, but you did have quite a few so I gambled with $275. I was a High School Humanities and Social Science teacher for 25 years so I have a pretty good sense of the standards of excellent teaching and materials. You exceeded that. I could have learn an thing or two from you when I was teaching. You could not done a better job. I would highly recommend students go back over the 30 Topics Lectures after they take the first Mock Final. With more context, I was able to find pieces of information I had missed first time around and it also tied together concepts I hadn't noticed before. I will highly recommend you and I will be coming around here again for the Final BBS Exam in a few years. Thank you Amanda and Robin who quickly answered and researched my questions. Eli Gifford
I highly recommend TDC for the MFT Clinical exam (although they also helped me pass Law and Ethics too!). I felt very prepared overall— more than just knowing the material/content, but actually being able to problem solve through, even when I wasn’t sure of the answer. Aysa helped me with time management and test-taking strategies, which I found to be so enlightening! I followed the plan exactly and wrote, “Trust Yourself,” at the top of the page, along time breakdowns. Every time I felt anxious or defeated, I looked down for that bit of encouragement to keep me going! Thank you TDC!
I passed the exam on the first try!! I was impressed with all the information was covered in the TDC exam materials and they truly reflected what was on the actual exam. There were MANY questions that were VERY similar to the TDC Mock Exams. I was feeling a little underprepared due to some lower scores on the Mock Exams and I scheduled two sessions with Asya. Asya was able to help me identify my weak points and also help me with strategies that I was able to take with me on exam day. I am grateful for this program, it is succinct, and provided me with only the pertinent information that I needed to know to pass. Well worth the investment! Thank you TDC team!
I passed! That was a hard test and the only way I passed is with the help of TDC. I am so thankful that I had this resource and all the practice test and coaching,
I highly recommend!
I took this last September and failed. I used TDC, but didn't follow the program. I assumed I knew more than Amanda and studied how I wanted. This time around I followed the program to the T. I also did a coaching session the Monday before my exam and did 2 mocks after that and there was a significant increase in my score. TDC prepares you in all ways for this beast of an exam. I'm still in disbelief that I'm a LMFT!!! Thank you TDC and Asya for all the help!!
The person on the audio is clear and straightforward and I really enjoyed learning from her. Everything was clear and to the point and helped me get the gist of what I need to know.
Thank you TDC for preparing me for the Law & Ethics Exam with stems that resemble the actual exam.
It truly helped me differentiate the legal questions from the ethical questions on the exam!
TDC is a great tool to study, I used the program to help me with Comprehensive tests for my Graduate program and I passed. You have to be focused and follow the program, put time and effort and you will pass.
TDC definitely prepared me to pass the exam. Although the mock exams made me think I may not pass, they were actually great study tools. Can't wait to use TDC to study for the clinical next year.
When I took my exam I had difficulty with two issues (there was another person across from my cubical banging the table which caused my monitor to shake and the exam being poorly written) and I still was able to pass. PSI did not give us our exact score but gave us pass/fail and I was passed even with distractions! TDC gave me confidence I didn't really feel I had before studying and taking the exam! Thank you TDC!!!
This program has been recommended to me and I have recommended this program to many others - this is the program to use to feel more confident and pass this grueling exam. If your eyes cannot tolerate 4 hours of screen time get computer glasses before you take this exam.
Studying for this exam pushed me to beyond my limits. I am a procrastinator and feared taking this exam due to my procrastination. TDC helped me create a plan that worked for me as I have three littles under age 7, work full time, and going to school to obtain my PsyD in Psychology. At times I felt defeated and overwhelmed though, I continued to trust the process. I continued to say to myself “Cirilda you can do this” throughout studying and in the actual exam and it worked. I finished with 20 minutes to spare went back on my marked questions and submitted with 5 minutes to spare. This was not an easy process but TDC prep materials helped me manage my time and Sanity :)! Thank you TDC for the guidance and helping me to reach this goal!