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
This program was great, what helped me most was the audio rationale. Glad I chose Therapist development Center!
I am so thankful that I passed and I feel very appreciative of TDC and the study program for helping me focus in on the important material. It was nice to re-visit material studied in Grad school as in the field I am focusing on client care in the specific population that I serve. Thank you!!!
This program is a lifesaver! It helped me pass my LMFT Clinical Exam on the first try with as much confidence as I could have hoped for. is so well-organized, supportive, and provides the exact type of information needed to pass the test. The test strategies woven throughout the course are by far the biggest game changer here, since the exam really doesn't focus solely on testing knowledge, but instead focuses on reasoning & clinical judgment. I could hear Amanda's voice in my head throughout the test. As a bonus, I actually feel like a better, more confident clinician. I didn't expect that! I am so thankful to TDC for making this study process manageable and supporting me along the way. WAHOO!
Worth the time and money! Great help!
Yay I passed on the first try. This was one long journey but TDC exam prep is simply the BEST. There are others but I would only recommend TDC. Most of my circle had use TDC and passed on the first try. I also know others who tried others study prep courses but did not have success, so switched to TDC and passed on their first try after studying with TDC. You truly learn how to rationalize and pay attention to what is being asked which helps to filter out information that is not as important. Thank you TDC for your support. This Chapter is closed!
I passed my exam! The lectures, the quizzes, the rationales and the personal help I received from the coach was extremely helpful and prepared me well for the exam. Highly recommend the TDC study material.
The program was exceptional. I listened and read the material, felt prepared and without the mocks, I wouldn't have known how to strategically manage the questions on the exam day. It was well organized and a great investment. I had to reschedule my exam a few times, the coaches were able to reset my target date with no hesitation. Thank you to all the TDC support. I
I only invested my money and time with TDC. Once I committed to studying, I reaped the reward by passing my exam. TDC proved to be an awesome study guide.
Thanks so much! I really appreciated the extensions when the BBS took FIVE MONTHS to process my application...Your program really worked for me. And I must say, your full-length mock exam was waaay more difficult than the actual exam, so thank you for that, too!
I struggled with anxiety approaching the exam. I worried about my stamina for the 4 hour test. It was of tremendous help to have two four hour mocks to build stamina. I had a coaching session with Robin who gently guided me through strategies that would work for me. It's true when Amanda says "take me with you into the test". I used Robin's strategies and wondered "how would Amanda reason this out" whenever I felt stuck. I had a personal goal of passing the first time taking the test and I DID! I highly recommend this program. Thank you, Therapist Development Center! I wish I could give you 10 stars!
A very thorough study course to ace the marathon exams the BBS requires. It is well worth the price. The team is there for you when the anxiety flares up. Self care and good study habits are championed. You will succeed if you follow the plan!
Hi, I used TDC for both the Law and Ethics and the CCE. I found the materials covered everything I needed to know to pass both exams. Amanda was amazing in discussing rationales and I felt totally prepared to take the exam. I followed everything she said. When I went in to take the exam I had no anxiety. I utilized all the TDC strategies that I learned over the past 6 months of studying. Thanks so much!!!!!
The last final mock exams for TCD were very difficult , more that the actual exam. In some was ways they were more anxiety provoking than the real one, they did however really help Moving into the final exam. I would say difficulty based on vurbadum and level of analysis and contextualizing that applied to each case. Also there is a way in which Tdc should articulate that knowing the martial is the basic ask, but it's the aaplication of the knowledge that we are tested on. I learned all the diagnosis, to which at most 5 questions showed up, in terms of theories I felt like there was no more than 10, most of the exam was very clinical and of course keeping clients mind safety in place, law and ethics.
TDC did an excellent job preparing me for this test. I used TDC for the L&E exam and knew I had to use TDC again for the clinical. Special thanks to Robin for her tips on how to manage test anxiety.
Thank you for the material and the explanations. It became very useful and I succeeded!
TDC was instrumental in helping me prepare for this exam! Each time I reached out to ask a question or request an extension I immediately received a friendly response. I really felt that the team at TDC WANTED me to pass and were incredibly helpful. The material was thorough and detailed, so much so that by the time I took the actual exam I felt almost over-prepared! THANK YOU TDC!
There were so many times when I was taking the test when I really could hear Amanda's voice--so many questions I would have had wrong--if not for this study system. I appreciate all that TDC has done for me, above and beyond. I received a cancer diagnosis three months in and was paralyzed wondering through chemo what I was even doing getting my MFT for a while after getting the news. But I got back on the horse followed the study system to the T and with support from the very kind coach was able to pass yesterday on my first try.
I don't really have a testimonial other than this was an awesome program and I felt well prepared for the test. I struggled during the test with time management and finished the test with just one minute and twenty-three seconds...talk about a burst of adrenaline, but I finished!!! A few times I swear I heard your voice asking me, "What are they asking for?" The mock exams really helped me learn the structure of the test and how to discern between two similar answers. Thank you for creating this program!!!
I am extremely grateful for the TDC program, as it prepared me well for the LMFT Clinical Exam. I'd previously used this program for the Law & Ethics exam, and passed the first time due to how well TDC prepared me, so I knew choosing it again for the Clinical exam was the right choice. The Clinical exam was definitely challenging, but TDC did the best job in not just reviewing important knowledge, but getting me mentally prepared for the difficulty of the exam as well. The test-taking strategies throughout this program are even more valuable than the knowledge review!
TDC offered a perspective of what to expect on the clinical exam. They also provided a system that I could follow to avoid being overwhelmed by the scope of material to review.