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 exam prep provided everything I needed to know, and helped me tremendously regarding what to expect! The combination of printouts, audio, mini quizzes, and mock exams was PERFECT and exactly what I needed to engage all aspects of learning. I was able to make sure what I was being asked, how to answer, and what they were looking for. Also learning WHY I got mock questions wrong and how it applies was golden. I recommend this to EVERYONE, in the same enthusiastic way that it was recommended to me! I passed my law and ethics FIRST TIME and my clinical FIRST TIME! I have TDC to thank--- even down to personally prepping for the exam with snacks and a positive attitude! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The coursework presented by TDC was instrumental in helping me pass! I did my best to follow the directions to the letter, and lo and behold, it worked! I passed on my first try! If you didn’t do well on the sample tests, fear not— they will help you identify ways to process the actual exam questions!
TDC was a great program and the exams really helped me to practice how to think on the test
I passed!!! It's hard to describe the feeling of relief when they hand you that paper and you frantically search it to finally find the small words that say "Congratulations!" and "Pass". This was my first time taking the MFT Clinical Exam and TDC was the best preparation I could imagine. The lectures were thorough, the quick studies were helpful, the anxiety calming strategies worked, and twice I emailed them and got impressively prompt replies. I actually emailed in a panic one week out from my test after I had taken the first final mock and bombed it; Asya replied within hours (on a weekend no less!) with the most encouraging, calming words, reminding me of strategies and helping me figure out where I was struggling the most. During the test, I felt like I could hear Amanda's voice while I was reading each question which was helpful in eliminating possible answers. I came down with a horrible head and chest cold a few days prior to the test (of course that would happen) and had to run out of the testing room to drink water to stop coughing like 3 times, but because I was thoroughly prepared from this TDC program, I still made it!! I had friends show me their study materials from a different company, and I can definitely say TDC is the most like the actual exam and prepared me so well. Do the whole program as they suggest and follow their guidelines and suggestions - it's worth the time and effort for sure. Well worth the cost as well - I budgeted and saved for it while I was waiting for my hours to clear so I didn't dip into other funds; so SO worth it.
One thing I loved which I would've never thought to do on my own, was to encourage myself in the 3rd person, like Amanda suggests. I wrote really big at the top of my scratch paper "Rachel, you've GOT this!" and when I would get overwhelmed, which happened a lot, I would pause for 2 seconds with my eyes closed and then look down at those words and attack it with a new fervor. I cannot express my thanks enough for the amazing program of TDC, the kind encouragement of Asya via email, and just the thought and effort that has been put into not only creating this program, but also keeping it up to date and perfectly relevant to the current exam! Now today I took the day off and am heading up to Sacramento to personally hand in my Application for Initial License Issuance! yay!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I LOVE THE PROGRAM AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT MY EMAILS AND QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED THE SAME DAY. I VERY HAPPY TO START THIS NEW CHAPTER OF MY LIFE.
I passed thanks to TDC. TDC is the best program out there to prepare you for your exam, hands down. I love how structured and thorough the program is. The coaches are all very authentic and helpful. This exam was not easy; i don't think I could've passed on my first try without this program!
I want to thank Amanda and TDC for being in my journey in preparing and guiding me for the MFT L&E. I has previously failed the exam 3 times. I was starting to feel emotionally exhausted, stressed, overwhelmed and anxious. I realized that I was not passing because I was missing study strategies and TDC was exactly what I needed. I definitely felt more prepared and motivated to pass! Thank you!!!!
I feel that the therapist development center not only adequately prepared me for the test but I also learned a lot about the clinical application of the material. I would highly suggest this course to any MFT.
TDC was thorough but also so engaging and helpful. I've never been more motivated to actually study for an exam (I'm usually super avoidant). Amanda is clear, concise, and actually human. She gives relevant, specific examples and rationales. I did the coaching with Asya and she was amazing - she was supportive and super knowledgeable. She was able to provide me with really specific feedback about where I needed to make adjustments, and I felt much calmer and more solid about the test after speaking with her. Thank you!!
So glad I listened to fellow colleagues and went with TDC for my test prep program, I felt very prepared and was able to learn all the information I needed to pass!
I am very grateful for the TDC program. It prepared me very well for the test. I have a pretty demanding job and the program was very flexible to work within my schedule. The content was excellent and very much identical to what was on the test. While I was nervous as heck I felt very prepared. The TDC was also very supportive and flexible when I had to extend my subscription after some life altering events occurred in my life. And for that I am very grateful.
I failed the test twice and came home the day of the second fail and purchased TDC. Love how it is layer out. Love how it walks you all the way through step by step. Passed clinical on my third try but was the first with TDC.
I love how Amanda makes everything so relevant and personal. I love her style and audio personality!
Thank you so much TDC. I went into the test feeling really prepared and confident and passed on my first attempt. The techniques taught on how to take the test were invaluable. Having the audio and visual study aids made it that much more effective. I can honestly say that I learned more in this study program than I did during school. LOL
For me, the clinical exam needed to be more than a standard review. I finished grad school 30+ years ago but decided to put my therapy career on hold until i was older (and perhaps wiser). As such, i counted on the TDC methodology to provide me with everything i would need to know to pass the exam, and it did. In particular, Aysa was available to answer the many questions i had after taking the practice exams. I cant thank you enough for getting me through the ordeal (Strategic therapy). :)
Andy Lavick
I am so glad to be introduced about TDC. I purchased mock exams at other site to have more practice right before the real exam. I noticed many questions of actual exam are similar to questionnaires shown in TDC mock exams while the other materials make me confused. I recognized I did not need other materials at all. TDC was enough.
1) Although I felt like I was tested on 30% of what I studied, I felt very sure that I had studied the full spectrum of material that could be on the exam. 2) The other portion of taking this exam is the skill of reading the question stem carefully and answering the question asked, which TDC does a great job of preparing you for. 3) It is an endurance exam. Get your brain and body used to concentrating at 4 hours stretches. 4) Lastly, I followed TDC's advice and kept swimming, marked answers that seemed too long to devote 4 mins deciphering, moved on, kept track of my clock and had 17 minutes to spare to remove marked answers. I did not leave my chair, but took many breaks in chair stretching, rolling eyes and neck, then went back on task. Good luck.
I felt very prepared!
Exactly what I needed to contain my anxiety with the structure and test strategies. My coaching session with Asya was extremely helpful! I learned a ton and feel like I will be a better therapist as a result of having done this program.
Excellent program! I definitely learned a lot maybe even more than my entire grad program. The lectures were very clear and easy to follow. The final mock exam was significantly harder than the actual exam so I felt very prepared during the test. I spent 5 weeks with the program before sitting for my exam.