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
I appreciate this study guide so much, although, I have to admit that those final mocks were extremely difficult compared to the real deal. I understand this may be a good technique to study extra hard, but I had so much anxiety around the low scores I got on those mocks I was convinced I wasn't going to pass. Not sure this technique is great for everyone. I must say though it is a very thorough and clear way to study. Thanks!
This program provided an excellent overview of the material needed to pass the examination. The staff was gracious and let you renew as long as you needed to be able to pass the exam. Thank you TDC!
Thank you so much for your kindness and support. You all helped me pass my exam.
Thanks to TDC I received a treat not a trick on Halloween and passed my LMFT licensure test ! I walked in feeling confident and prepared, ready to attack the test , and it worked ! I would highly to recommend it to anyone. The study guides, mocks and rationales Really helped me and I am so grateful and relieved to have successfully passed on my first try !
Robins was great support in my studying. Thank you so much for everything!
I went through the program twice and tallied the subjects of the questions missed on the first round of mock exams 1 and 2. I then concentrated on studying those most missed subjects and re-took the same mocks and saw a huge improvement in my scores. I did not have time to do the final 4-hour mock exam before taking the real exam, but I passed on the first try anyway.
TDC really helped/prepare me for the exam. I had Amanda through out the entire exam just reminding me that i was going to get through it. The exam vignettes are much more shorter than the TDC exams which help to over prepare you. The way the program is set up really broke down the information and prepared me to conquer the exam.
This program was on point! The questions felt exactly the same! Thank you so much for creating this program.
Such an amazing program, I passed both my MFT and PCC law and ethics with this program!! I cannot recommend this program enough.
The road has been long for me, I am not a great test taker in general. I failed the Law and Ethics 2 times using another program, which left me with a lot more anxiety getting prepared the next time around. I went with TDC due to recommendations from others in the clinic I was at. I was surprised on the holistic approach of preparing for these exams; coaching on how to think, self-care during the study process and a guarantee to stick with you until you pass!
I really enjoyed the ability to listen to the lectures on the go; as I would just stream the content from my phone sitting in traffic, taking walks, which really helped with balancing other time commitments. The mock exams and rationales were very well put together and prepare you more than enough for the actual exam. Since using the TDC program, I passed both exams, Law and Ethics (3rd attempt, 1st with TDC) and the Clinical on my 1st attempt. Really owe it all to TDC and its true, you really do 'hear' Amanda's voice reading the question stem during the actual exam. Thanks TDC!
It’s worth going through the whole program fully and slowly. Amanda’s voice helped me pass! :)
I am truly thankful for Therapist Development Center, their program helped motivate and prepare me for the Law and Ethics exam and the final Clinical exam. I recommend the TDC program to all my friends preparing for either license exam. Thanks again TDC!
I really liked the that it was guided process with a step by step study guide covering all the pertinent topics the exam would address. I would say my favorite part of TDC was the audio lectures. I learn best this way and hearing the rationales or examples provided was super helpful. The concepts are explained very clearly. I appreciated the study tips, prep tips and most importantly the pep talk. I listened to the pep talk twice. Once the night before the exam and 1 hour prior to the exam. Very inspiring and supportive. I felt so confident taking the exam, however did get those moments of expected uncertainty. I didn’t freak out though and remembered Amanda’s words normalizing this. I cried when I got the results. TDC thank you so much for guiding me through this stressful journey!
Thank you so much for this program! It really helps to build your knowledge base with all your streamlined material, then getting exposure to questions by doing the many mocks provided. What also helps is having all the rationales so that you start to pick up where you are going wrong. During the test I used the skills Amanda reiterated (eliminating, putting things in order, etc.). Passed the first time and couldn't be happier!
Love the structure and the segments in the program! Helps you feel organized when studying and it helps you keep track of your progress. I like how Amanda explains things and gives examples that you can relate to and tips on how to memorize information. I feel like this is the only thing you need to pass!
Thank you so much for this material! I felt very prepared and equipped and it worked!
TDC was a wonderful study tool for me! I love to learn using audio and I loved that it was so thorough (but not TOO thorough - in other words having me review details that were not important!). It was also nice having Amanda's voice - it felt like I was listening to a friend as she shared so warmly and like a real person rather than a robotic voice. And Robin was such a support when I was getting that pre-test anxiety. Her kindness and encouragement was so helpful. Thank you, TDC, and especially Robin, for your support!
So overwhelmed with joy to have passed this monster! BBS took over 5 months to approve my hours but it was worth the wait. A few days before delivering my first son, I CAN SAY I AM A LICENSED MFT. Thank you Amanda.
All materials were very well organized, and comprehensive. I especially found the Coaching Session with Robin to be an essential part of the exam prep process.
This program prep for the LMFT law and ethics exam was excellent! I so appreciated Amanda's detailed explanations throughout the program, and even re-listened to her pep talk in the car prior to walking into the exam. Robin and Asya were also extremely helpful and timely with answering any questions I had along the way! Overall I felt confident with a majority of my answers during the exam and now the content is cemented into my brain. This knowledge will increase my competency as an associate therapist. I will definitely utilize this program prep when I begin studying for my final licensing exams!