MFT Clinical Exam Study System Key Features:
- An organized, step-by-step study plan to help prepare to pass the MFT Clinical Exam
- 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
I am so grateful to TDC! I passed the first time! I enjoyed the structure of the program, and the coaches were great!
Yes!!!! Thank you so much! I love TDC and truly helped with my clinical exam. Thank you Ms. Asya!! Truly appreciate you for supporting and working with me throughout this experience. Yay!!!!!!
I passed!! Yahoo!
I listened to Amanda's first lecture on How To Think the day before I took the test and it really helped.
I am so glad that I revisited the part on feeling ambiguous with my answers during the test taking. Honestly, there were only a handful of answers that I felt absolutely certain that I answered correctly. But I kept on moving through the test with just 10 minutes to spare. I used the 10 minutes to look at my marked answers and only had one "Awe" moment where I made a change.
Thank you for all of the support. I think I am going to miss Amanda's voice and have withdrawal symptoms from not studying. Happy Holidays to Everyone at TDC!
Trust the process, typically I don’t learn well with audio but I was surprised how great it was plus it gave me the opportunity to write notes and it really stuck!!!
TDC was amazing at getting me in the mindset for the exam!!!!
I have taken the CA MFT Clinical Exam twice and failed before using Therapist Development Center MFT Exam prep study system. I used another study prep program the first two times, attended their weekend workshops, took all the practice mock exams multiple times and it was devastating to fail each time since I felt I knew the material, yet just cannot seem to adjust my brain to how to take the exam. The exam felt like it was reading a foreign language. Additionally, the practice exams did not look like the real exam, I felt the test questions were much easier compared to the real exam.
However, with TDC study guide, I finally passed. It is an extremely organized system and I would definitely recommend it to all MFT Associates. The practice exams were very much like the real exam and even though the practice questions felt like they were harder, which was depressing when I got my practice scores back, I preferred for it to be harder since when I took the real exam, I felt extremely prepared. I do not believe I would have passed the exam without TDC. Thank you Amanda!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I was so nervous about taking my exam. Using TDC really helped me feel prepared. It also made me feel like a better therapist. Reviewing all the theories made me more confident in session with my clients. During the test, I felt knowledgeable. I got really anxious on test day, but I was actually able to hear Amanda's voice in my head telling me how to think. The most valuable part of the experience was the mock exams. The mocks took away the surprise factor and I knew what to expect when I sat down. I definitely recommend this to a friend.
Amanda... I really appreciate this course... I have tried other ones and couldn't pass.... English is my second language and I tend to have problems with time but because the questions were so familiar to the ones you presented on your program, I was able to pass. Interestingly that I haven't heard no one that took this course to prepare for exam and didn't pass. Of course, I can rely on God for passing honestlly... but your program made it easier... And you are very informative of all the topics... very clever and direct. I really appreciate that you put together this course so we can be successful. Thank you so much!!!!!
Still cannot believe I passed! Thank you Amanda! Excellent preparation. Highly recommend. Thank you.
I studied for the Law and Ethics and the Clinical MFT exams with TDC and my experience has been great. I was able to pass both exams the first time. TDC prepares you not only for the exam, but it really helps you learn and understand important information that is essential for your practice. Thank you TDC! I have also used the coach services and emailed questions on topics that were not very clear to me. Asya replied in less than 24 hours with clear explanations. Thank you TDC staff for your help and support during this stressful journey!
TDC helped me tremendously to chunk down the mass amount of study content into relevant manageable sections. This helped cut down my study time big time! It also offered excellent strategies and insight into common pitfalls to avoid. Very happy I chose this program!
The combination of ways of learning was so helpful. Access to auditory and visual learning is great for those who study in varying ways. Including guidance on self care during the study period, before and during the test were great additions!!
I passed the LMCE today. The study material and the mock exams that are provided by TDC ensured my success. For those who are preparing to take the exam it is very important to be mindful of your time, use the exam tips for managing time that TDC provides. This helped to keep my anxiety in check while taking the test. Thank you TDC!
The strategies audio was a game changer for me it transfomed the way that I approached the exam and made a huge difference. Thank you!!!!
I couldn't have done it with out TDC, this time I followed the program exactly as Amanda says to and I passed.
TDC is a blessing for anyone attempting to prepare for this exam while keeping a balanced life. As a mother of a toddler, currently expecting a second child, the thought of preparing for this test felt daunting. Taking time off from private practice and/or non-profit work also impossible. However, Amanda took care of the parts that overwhelmed me. She provided the structure, information and rationales in such a way that it felt good to take some time each week to study. Yes, you heard me, it felt exciting! All I had to do was grab my iPad and everything was there. I can honestly say TDC held my hand and made this mountain fun to conquer. Don’t suffer, buy the program, trust and enjoy the process. Many thanks to both Amanda and her staff!
TDC was extremely thorough and really helped me feel prepared and confident for the the test. I don't think I would have passed had I used any other method. Thank you TDC!
I love how approachable the information was through the lecture series and the quick studies. I have printed out all the quick studies and plan to have them bound as an "MFT Manual," which I keep at my desk. They will make a handy reference quide.
I highly recommend this program. Great program with the information needed to pass this test. They also give very good strategies to reduce the anxiety and to be present and focus on the test. I did pass last week the CCE in my first try, after I had tried the L&E for several times. Thank you TDC for your support and the great program.
So excited to share that I passed on the first try. I was concerned because my final mock was not very good, but when I went back and reviewed materials, there was a lot of information that helped me to shift my focus. I felt very well prepared to go into the the exam. The day before included a stress free day of self-care and that shifted my energy. I highly recommend following the guidance and ease your way into the test day. Thanks TDC for such a well played-out study prep program.