MFT Clinical Exam Study System Key Features:
- An organized, step-by-step study program DEVELOPED BY MFTs
- On-line audio workshops with downloadable HANDOUTS
- Complete review of essential content areas for the MFT California Clinical Exam
- Effective study tools designed by California Marriage and Family Therapists who have passed the MFT California Clinical Exam by 90% or higher: Top 50 Topics Tested, Law & Ethics Quiz, DSM 5 & Theory Review
- Clinical Marriage and Family Therapy examples that help you learn instead of memorize
- Essential test-taking strategies you can use on exam day
- 850+ ON-LINE MFT practice exam questions with audio rationales
- Test anxiety management tools
- Experience MFT test prep coaches available for questions and support
This study program is designed to maximize learning and minimize stress. The course takes approximately 65 hours to complete once and can be repeated as needed. Access is set for 6 months, but extensions are FREE. We are with you until you pass the LMFT exam!
MFT Clinical Exam Prep FAQs
What is the Average Pass Rate for the California Clinical MFT Exam?
The BBS publishes the pass rates for all licensing exams in their quarterly Board Meeting materials. The most recent data available shows the pass rate for first time test takers of the California Clinical MFT Exam in the first half of 2018 was over 70%. Since the new MFT Clinical Exam was launched in 2016, Therapist Development Center pass rate has remained above 90% for individuals who used our comprehensive program!
What is the structure of the MFT Clinical Exam?
The MFT Clinical Exam is a standardized 170 question multiple-choice question test. 150 of the test questions are scored, and 20 are experimental and do not count toward your final score. Test takers are granted 4 hours to complete the exam questions. Accommodations for additional time can be requested through the BBS for English as a Second Language (ESL) test takers and those with physical or mental health issues who qualify through the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What is the passing score on the MFT Clinical Exam?
The BBS no longer publishes the passing score for any of their exams, including the MFT Clinical Exam. However, based on the published scores that were shared in prior years, the passing score was typically in the range of 97-103 out of 150 scored questions (mid-60%). The passing score will fluctuate up or down based on the level of difficulty; the passing score will be lower if the exam is considered harder and higher if it is considered easier. In addition to the 150 scored questions, the MFT Clinical Exam will always include 20 questions that are considered experimental and will not count toward your final score.
What is the application processing time for the California Clinical MFT Exam?
The application processing time for the California Clinical MFT Exam can vary based on volume of applications and staffing levels at the BBS. In recent months, the BBS has kept processing time for the MFT California Clinical Exam down to 1-2 months. If you are applying for accommodations (see below), processing times can vary and it is important to begin this process as soon as you submit your application for the MFT Clinical Exam.
How do I apply for accommodations with the BBS?
The BBS provides accommodations for the California Clinical MFT Exam. If you have a physical or mental health disability you may request accommodations such as additional time, a private room, or a written version of the exam. The BBS will determine which accommodations you qualify for based on the information provided in your request for testing accommodations application. The BBS also provides additional time (time and a half, 6 hours) for the MFT Clinical Exam for English as a Second Language (ESL) applicants who meet the requirements enumerated on the ESL accommodations application.
What information is tested on the California Clinical MFT Exam?
The MFT Clinical Exam covers a broad range of subjects including treatment, treatment planning, law and ethics, clinical evaluation, and crisis management. Not only do you need to know the subject matters, the BBS wants to ensure you know how to apply this knowledge in different clinical situations. The majority of questions on the MFT Clinical Exam are considered reasoning-based questions. Therapist Development Center’s program provides a streamlined approach, teaching you the all of the information you need to learn and how to apply this knowledge to the questions that are likely to appear on the exam.
When will I be eligible to take the California MFT Clinical Exam?
The MFT Clinical Exam is the final step on the path to licensure. The following requirements must be satisfied to be eligible to sit for the California MFT Clinical Exam:
- Obtain qualifying master’s degree and complete additional coursework
- Completion of 3,000 hours of experience over the course of 104 weeks or more
- Take and pass the CA Law and Ethics Exam (once you pass, you do not need to take the exam again)
- Submit application for licensure and examination to the BBS: https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/mft/mftapp.pdf
- You must take the exam within one year from the date you receive initial approval. If you do not complete the exam in this timeframe, your application will be considered abandoned. If an application is abandoned, you would need to re-apply and would lose any hours of experience that are more than six (6) years old (with exception of 500 hours accrued as trainee)
What do I do once I successfully PASS the California MFT Clinical Exam?
- Celebrate this awesome achievement!
- Submit application for your initial license.
- Continue receiving supervision until your license is issued.
Course Reviews
TDC was perfect!!! It was EXACTLY like the exam. Used TDC for my law and ethics and clinical exam and passed both the first time!!
TDC helped me feel confident. The reviews were perfect and consistent with the exam structure. The mock exams were great practice and mirrored the decision making strategies I need to implement in the licensing exam. I passed on my first attempt! I also appreciate the customer service - I had to postpone my testing date and TDC extended my timeline for accessing the course immediately - thank you!
Thank you so much for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you! I still can’t believe I passed! Thank you TDC!!!
I have used other programs in the past and TDC was far superior. The information I received gave me confidence and reduced my anxiety level to almost none. I followed the program instructions completely, found the study materials, test lectures and rationales most effective.
TDC was great! The test strategies and the rationales were so helpful! I could hear myself using Amanda's same strategies of elimination, prioritizing and answering all of the items in the question. Thank you for making the study material comprehensive and fun! My favorite part was studying theories! NOW I feel like I have a clear understanding of each theory. You should open a MFT Online Masters program!! You make learning easy & fun!
I'm so glad I went with TDC for my clinical exam prep. All of my colleagues who had successfully passed the test recommended it. I felt super prepared, the actual exam itself was easier than the final full mocks - and importantly, those full mocks really helped me realize how important timing and strategy was in passing this test. I'm happy I made the investment!
I went with a mentality to attack my exam and I wrote positive affirmations to myself on the scratch paper. I am thankful and overwhelmed with joy and tears. My hardwork payed off and also thanks to Amanda ans TDC material for continued support.
I have used TDC for both my law & ethics and clinical exam. I am glad that choosed TDC over any other material to pass my exams and finally become LMFT.
THANK YOU!
The lectures, mocks, and rationales were essential in preparing me for my exam. I looked at materials from another prep co and they were actually incredibly confusing. Once I knew the info from the course, the thing that I believe helped me pass was working one on one with Robin. She immediately honed in on what I was doing that resulted in some of my mistakes with the answer choices. She talked me through effective strategies that were really geared toward my specific needs. I wish I could have known how many I got right because my hunch is I did quite well on the actual exam. Thank you Robin and TDC!
Amazing program for both exams! I had done used another test prep program and found it to be confusing, providing way too much information that is actually not needed and felt like their recordings were not motivating and seemed to be monotone like.
However when I was referred to the TDC program I felt excited and motivated to pass my exams
Just listening to Amanda's recorded training sessions was motivating, energizing and helped think differently about the exam. The tutoring session was well worth the money and found it to be helpful. As well as the blogs done by Robin and Asya.
Also I had Amanda's voice in the testing room with me asking Who's in the room, was that mentioned in the vignette and so on....very helpful.
Overall an amazing program 5 *** plus
Thank You so much!
TDC helped prepare me to pass the exam! The mocks, question rationales, and the "way to think about the exam" really made a difference! Thanks TDC and a special shout-out to Robin!
You guys are truly AMAZING!! I cannot thank you enough for all the help I received during this very stressful time. The real exam was so much easier than all the practice exams you guys offer and that is a really good thing. Thank you for everything.
TDC helped me prepare for the exam and strategize how to read questions and look for key words in vignettes that could easily eliminate wrong answers. The mock exams are great preparation for the real test.
Thank you so so much for helping me to pass not only my Law and Ethics exam, but also my MFT Clinical exam on the FIRST try! I used another study program along with this one for my Law and Ethics exam, but I only used Therapists Development Center's study course for my Clinical exam because I felt your exam alone would be sufficient. And it sure was! Your course was all I needed! Thank you again! I'm now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and ready for the next chapter in my life.
I don't think I would have passed the board exam without TDC. Thank you TDC!
Thank you Therapist Development Center for helping me pass the MFT Clinical Exam. Your test materials provided a comprehensive review of the areas in would are covered in the exam. I appreciated how you structured the information which helped me to better prioritize the areas that I needed most to focus on. I also benefited from the many quizzes which were provided thought out the exam material more so than the full exams However the most beneficial part of your test materials are the audios which helped me absorb the information more quickly. I believe that without the adios I would have had more difficulty passing the exam.
Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Beth Goodwin
I did not think I was going to pass the exam because I was not testing well on the TDC mock exams. But the exam was almost easier and I did not have a problem passing it.
I guess that was the point...lol!
I had failed three times prior - rate hovering between 60 and 65 % - and I was beginning to lose heart. I have never been a great fan of cramming and the two previous "prep" products I used just didnt seem to get the material presented in a way I could recall effectively in the actual test. TDC's approach was innovative and totally targeted to the reality of the BBS test from the very first step. I only wish I had discovered them sooner and not wasted three attempts trying to pass with inferior prep products.
But wait... I have not taken the MFT exam because I’m still collecting hrs for adolescents/couples...
But I met requirements for the PCC hrs and just passed the NCMHCE!
I passed w/ flying colors. Truly TDC is a blessing! Amanda was with me the entire time and the answers just flowed in naturally and popping out.
Because the NCMHCE format was drastically different from the MFT exam, as Robin recommended, I supplemented w/ the NBCC Booklet which explained examination structure and reviewed on my own a little on 1) assessment instruments and 2) career counseling which did the trick and gave me the warm and fuzzy.
I’m extremely grateful, TDC is not just about helping budding therapist pass a licensing exam... I genuinely believe TDC develops competent therapist!
Thank you and I look forward, confidently to the the MFT exam in the near future!
I am in awe of the way you prepared me. I went into the exam nervous and anxious, of course. I sailed through it feeling like it was almost easy. You over prepared me, thank you. I felt like you were with me in the exam room. I could hear your voice in my head reminding me how to rule out etc. Your program is a gift. Thank you for your part in getting me licensed. I cherish you all.
Juliet