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
My first two tries, I was not following the recommendations and was more distracted, ran out of time. This time, I followed the recommendations religiously... Such as, positive self talk, "keep swimming", and EXERCISE. I also utilized one coaching session with Asya. It's so valuable... I gained a lot of insight into how I picked my answers. My recommendation is... Trust the TDC system and do it.... Thank you so much for such wonderful supports through out this challenging journey.
Your program is amazing, far superior than any other program I have ever utilized. I absolutely loved your audios because it made studying/reviewing so convenient with my busy schedule. I will be coming to you when I begin to prepare for the clinical examination. Thank you for all your help.
I would like to thank God, TDC, and Caroline, my coach, for helping me pass the L&E exam. Without the help of either I don't think I would have passed the exam.
The TDC program is excellent! I took the Law and Ethics Exam today for the first time, and PASSED! Amanda is thorough and she was easy to follow and understand! When I was feeling discouraged due to test scores, I contacted TDC coaches and Robin's words were encouraging and helped me push through! Thank you for is program, TDC!
I really want to thank you for developing this program for us therapists. I not only pass the exam but also felt better equipped as a therapist. This program helped me learned in such an organized way the material that I never learned in any supervision session or even grad school. Cannot say thank you enough. Keep it up!
TDC was an excellent program. I feel it greatly prepared me to the L & E, and walked into the test feeling confident in my ability to pass.
Thank you TDC for helping me pass my MFT Clinical Exam after the first try! The recordings were great, and I found I was able to incorporate them into my daily routine without making studying such a daunting task. Overall, I think the material was extensive and detailed enough to help me pass the test. I will definitely recommend this system to my colleagues!
I am an "out-of-state" candidate so I needed to make a 6 hour drive to take the CA MFT Law & Ethics Exam. I have serious A.D.D. and my "special accommodations" had not been approved by the BBS in time, so I felt a lack of support there. I really struggle with exams due to my crazy A.D.D. but I felt like I had studied sufficiently and had a super helpful coaching session with Coach Robin to finalize the journey. The reassurance I got from Coach Robin and how she helped me understand how to read the stem of the question, is what allowed me to feel confident, even with my struggle to focus. Coach also shared that some of the questions would feel nonsensical and they were most likely the "throw away questions" and to make a selection and keep going. I felt I had the attitude I needed to understand the stem, have the knowledge base, the ability to deduce wrong answers and select the answer that my gut believed was the best answer. All at a great pace, so I wasn't ruminating over my selections. That was drilled into my brain by the amazing Amanda, throughout the audio segments and in the final Pep Talk. I am now starting to study for the big boy, the MFT Clinical exam and with such a great study program, I am now looking forward to that. Love you guys for creating an excellent program so we can just get back to the work of healing, empowering and inspire people and transforming lives. #therapistsrock
The TDC program is very well organized which gave me piece of mind, not having to worry about what or how to study. I felt confident that I was learning all I needed to know in order to pass the test. I strongly recommended TDC, it’s guides you the entire way and keeps you positive ! You won’t regret using this program :)
Before using TDC I used Gerry Grossman. I unfortunately failed twice. I felt with Gerry it was too much material since it gave me two big books, a stack of flash cards, audio material, charts, and bullet point of each topic. With all these materials I was so overwhelmed and confused that I didn't know where to start. Their practice test I didn't feel it was helpful because they test you 5 times of each topics and and their questions are repeated so I memorized their question and answer which didn't help and it didn't prepare for the test. I heard about TDC from a dear friend of mine who highly recommended it. After failing test I thought it won't hurt to try it. I was so glad that I did! TDC study material was so clear cut, straight to the point and Amanda's rational to the question was so helpful I loved how she would give you helpful tips for the test, how to understand the question that the test are asking, and how to look out for the tricks. I also love how Amanda is so encouraging
and motivating you through the entire time. I especially loved that for the practice test you can only take it twice, it made trained myself to really learn the material versus memorizing the answer. once I took the practice the audio rational was awsome it really help see where I was still lacking and I needed to focus the most. Once I had to take the actual clinical test I was prepare and confident. I just keep remembering what Amanda would say during the audio material which help me to pick the correct answer. Thank you TDC you are awesome, Side note having to study with two toddler was not easy but TDC you made this material so clear that even with two small toddler I was able to understand and comprehend what I studying. Again THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Excellent program!!! I PASSED on my first try. Amanda Audios are the best. I could basically hear Amanda's voice in my head during the exam. The program teach you everything you need to know and nothing that's unnecessary. The audios about the questions rationals from the MOCK exams are extremely helpful. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE practice if English is your second language like me it would take more time for you to read the questions. BELIEVE IN YOUR SELF and have FAITH in GOD. I
I know TDC was the reason I was able to pass the licensing exam on the first attempt. Amanda really helped me be able to understand how to go into the test, understand what the question was asking, and be able to knock out wrong answers. The exam was still challenging but with the program I felt like I had a shot at passing. The practice exams and rationale lectures were probably the most helpful part but I know I was able to do well on those exams because of all the audio lectures and understanding how to take the exam. I am so thankful for TDC and so happy I don’t have to take the exam a 2nd time. Thank you so much!!!
Would not be able to pass without this! I heard everyone who has used TDC passed their L&E exams the first time.
Even though I passed the test on my second attempt, I felt TDC had my back. I got all the extensions I needed until I felt ready to face the test. I listened over and over again to Amanda's lectures and I certainly brought her to the test with me. I heard her voice in my head as I read the vignettes and ruled out the ones that were bogus. I used all the suggestions, strategies, and even though I was afraid to waste time on the break (I ran out of time on the first attempt), I trusted the system, and I made it. I had all the information I needed. I didn't feel overwhelmed by having to read volumes of data that was not necessary. I did that in school. Amanda and TDC gave me the right tools and strategies I needed to feel confident and conquer the beast. Thank you, TDC!
Thank you! Everything was clear and easy to understand and follow.
I was extremely prepared for the exam, even to the point of being able to tolerate the discomfort of not knowing if I was even doing well, when I was taking the actual exam. Thank you for such a concise and well mapped out study program.
TDC did an excellent job of explaining legal and ethics dilemmas in a comprehensive and applicable manner!
Thank you so much TDC! I used TDC for my MFT law and ethics exam and found this program to be significantly helpful. The review of information is structured and easy to relate to and understand. The mock exams were hard, but encouraged you to critically think. Thank you for your help!
I passed the first time I took the exam. I went through the program once. It is a great program.
I used TDC for my Law and Ethics and MFT clinical exam and I have zero complaints. Honestly, the best study program ever! I've already referred a handful of colleagues to TDC. Worth every penny. THANK YOU, Amanda and TDC!