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'm still stunned that I passed, after such a long journey. I'd used a different test prep for Law and Ethics, and ended up having a panic attack during the test. Needless to say, I failed it. So going into this exam, I once again had a panic attack after the first full mock exam because I didn't score as well as I'd hoped. This time though, I knew my worst enemy was anxiety, and not my lack of knowledge or experience. Then I took the 2nd one, like Amanda said, just "attack" it. I guess I had to re-experience all the self-doubt and gird myself before the actual exam. It didn't feel like free fall; I was aware that I learned from my mistakes and knew how to reason through the questions. I went in nervous but confident, stuck to her tips about state-dependent learning, and passed still with an hour left on the clock. What a rush!
Passed on my first try! TDC is the way to go!
Thank you TDC!!! I went through a lot of personal/physical difficulties in the past year and had to postpone taking my exam several times and each time, TDC granted me an extension without question. Thank you so much for providing a solid studying program, the test ended up feeling much easier than I thought as a result of the materials you provided.
I would highly recommend this study material to anyone taking the LMFT exam! I passed the first time after using TDC! So relieved!
I was definitely more than prepared! Thank you
Your prep course was incredibly helpful. I also did a coaching session with Robin 2 days before I took the test which helped me hone in on the things I needed to improve my test taking (slow down my reading of the questions). Thank you so much Amanda and team! I was so well prepared using your prep course. I took the exam and had time for a break in the middle and 20 minutes at the end to go over my marked questions. I felt pretty confident throughout the exam because I was so prepared by your prep course. so THANK YOU!
This was a journey, that brought me to my knees at times. I continued to dig deeper after each test, sought out additional test support academically and mentally. Worked on my anxiety with a therapist, through some deep personal therapy, peeled more off that onion ... and much shifted for me... mental freedom... it’s another part of me I can bring to my clients.
I took the test two times using other programs and this program was the best! I knew the questions, how to "attack" the exam and Amanda was with me. I was able to manage anxiety, took the break at question 100, ate a snack and really felt the reset! I am so humble by this process and grateful for the program. Thank you TDC for the variety of study materials, concepts and diversity of training. I will recommend TDC to everyone!!
Amanda Rowan provides an extremely valuable preparatory experience for the MFT clinical exam. The presentation of the material is methodical and thorough and, more importantly, Amanda inspires confidence by helping candidates learn how to think about the test and what to expect before and during the test. There is way too much material to know it all in my opinion. But there are ways to approach the questions that make it MUCH more likely that you will get the right answer even if there is material in the question stem that is unfamiliar. I could hear Amanda’s voice as I was reasoning through the answer possibilities on the test.
This course truly helped me in studying and how to study for the LMFT clinical exam. I was very nervous about this test and was also going through an injury and a death in my family but the team here at the TDC helped me with all my questions and put all my anxieties to bed. If you truly follow this step by step you will go into the exam and feel adequately ready. I passed first time, and literally took the entire four hours, and also took a break when Amanda had said to do so. Taking the break was ESSENTIAL! After coming back from the break with a snack I felt I had answered almost every question correctly and had a rejuvenated focus on the test. No other program prepares you well enough like the TDC does.
So glad I took this course. I passed on the first try and felt extremely prepared! Thank you TDC!!!
I will forever be greatlful for your support and guidance. This has been a difficult journey and with your help I was able to pass!
Thank you TDC!!! I passed the LMFT examination on my first attempt!!! A+++++ :-)
I completed the AATBS program before receiving my approval to take the licensing exam. Since I had some time available, I decided to do another program. A friend had just passed using only the TDC program. The TDC DSM prep was excellent. I am very certain that the TDC prep helped ensure I did not miss the comparison questions. The Theories audio material was also excellent and I am sure helped me get a number of the theory questions correct. I did not score as high on the TDC mocks as I did on the AATBS mocks, but the difficulty of the TDC questions prepared me for the actual test, as every skill I learned was needed. It is important for those using the TDC system to expect they can pass the actual exam even if they score 50 on the full mock exams! The key is to understand why you missed certain questions.
TDC is the only test prep to take! Well organized and very comprehensive without gratuitous learning. Easy to review with the materials provided. I felt very confident in my knowledge base, with some excellent help dealing with test anxiety. I felt very well prepared.
Thank You!!! My journey initially started in the mid 90's, I took a leap of faith to start the process all over. THANKS to TDC, I passed the MFT Law and Ethics Exam on the first attempt in 11/2017. I took the LMFT CE for the first time 11/2018 and failed. I ran out of time, leaving 20 questions unanswered. On 11/27/2019, I PASSED the LMFT CE on my 2nd attempt and my license posted on 12/21/2019. TDC materials were well worth the cost. I felt completely prepared for the Clinical Exam the 2nd time. The first time I studied for the CE, I didn't allow myself enough time to study. The 2nd time was different, I quickly noticed as I started studying that it all made sense. The support staff was helpful when I was having technical issues. Overall it was a GREAT experience with using TDC. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND ONLY TDC!!! Thanks again!!!
Stephanie Martinez LMFT
I failed twice on my own. Purchased TDC and passed 3 months later. You put in the time and it works!
I would like to thank Robin for her continued support in this journey and provided me all the support needed with this MFT exam. I used TDC for both the law and ethics as well as clinical exam. I passed the clinical exam in December, 2019. TDC rocks!!!!
Thank you very much for the study material & for allowing an extra extension. I had a high level of test anxiety & that of course was getting in my way of thinking clearly when choosing the right answers. On the day of the exam, the anxiety was there but i felt much confident. I was able to finish before the test time expired, & i was able to review some of my marked questions. I almost fainted when i got my final test result. I couldn't believe it. God is good!!! Thank you very much :)
Talk about an anxiety provoking situation! I was nearly convinced that I would not pass the clinical exam my first try after reading comments on social media groups about how others have already failed their first few attempts. Some of the mocks TDC provides are extremely hard, and my scores on those mocks made me think I just wasn’t getting it. But I made sure to note the average score on those exams and I cannot stress this enough; I studied studied studied studied those rationales after the mock exams and jotted down notes of the concepts I was struggling with, and reviewed those dozens of times until I felt comfortable. I took all the mocks I could a second time after days of reviewing concepts and making sure I understood rationales. My scores on the mocks went up *slightly* yet I was still not extremely confident I would pass. However, when I sat down to take the exam, all those rationales and little tidbits told to us on the audios were in my head and made the actual clinical exam seem so easy and simple. Thank you TDC