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
I felt well prepared for the MFT Clinical exam using TDC. The actual exam is significantly less difficult than the TDC Final Mock exam, so it gave me more confidence when I took the actual exam. The practice exams were helpful and studying the rationales made me feel prepared. The manner in which Amanda presents the content made it easy to recall and review what I’d already learned in grad school. As I took the exam, I felt confident in my answers and knew I was passing the whole time. Thank you!
I was originally supposed to take the exam in April, but due COVID-19 my exam was cancelled and rescheduled for June and then cancelled again and rescheduled due to testing center working at half capacity. TDC were extremely flexible and understanding and extended my subscription. I reached out to the coaches to ask them tips about time management as I was always running out of time during the mockup tests. Robin response within a few hours with some great tips that I used. I still ran out of time but just for the last 4 questions, which was a tremendous improvement for me. During the exam I could hear Amanda’s voice in my head helping me to quickly figure out what the question is asking. It was especially helpful to pay attention to goals vs intervention questions and reminding myself to “putting things in order” when a few answers sounded correct. A few times during the exam I felt I was failing, but then I remembered again that she was warning about that in the lectures and reminded myself that “tolerating uncertainty” is something to overcome and that you should lean forward and tackle the exam. So I did. I passed the exam on the first attempt! Thank you TDC!
TDC was very helpful! Studying with TDC helped me to feel confident, and helped me to best understand the question, look at the answer set, and determine the best answer. The tests in TDC were difficult for me, which I am now thankful for as the actual exam seemed easier in comparison. Thank you
This was my 3rd time taking the exam but the first using TDC. I feel it helped soo much to prepare and to knock out the nerves that were plaguing me!
It's a great program! Perfect combination of focus on how to answer exam questions while integrating important material as a therapist. Absolutely recommend!
TDC did a fantastic job preparing me for the exam. The exam felt so much easier than the mocks (which to me was a great thing). Thanks for walking me through this. I completed the entire program in 3.5 weeks. It was intense but I just wanted to slay the beast...and I did. Thank you.
Wonderful! Helped me feel competent, calm and fully prepared to sit for the exam! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this study program. It had been recommended since I was in graduate school at San Francisco State University, then by colleagues. In all honesty, I was initially worried because of the results on my mock exams, but colleagues encouraged me and would often give me the feedback that the mock exams really over-prepare you of for the real thing. I am so glad that I did not let that discourage me and the pep talk at the end of the course before the test was honestly the best thing to set me to have a more confident mindset. Thank you again.
Thank you TDC! I passed on my first attempt!
This program truly helped me get through the exam process and I went in feeling prepared. I heard Amanda's voice through out my test and felt that I had the necessary skills and tools to be successful on the exam. Thank you for making this amazing program available.
Passed on my first try! I felt very prepared taking this exam! TDC over prepared you for the actual test- I felt calm and could recall tips from the TDC team! Thank you so much!
Amazing prep. Felt so prepared and was accurate for exam. Thank you
Grateful for all the study material in preparation for the Clinical Exam. I used all of it! I found the questions on the exam were similar to the ones on the mock tests, so there were no surprises. I also found the rationales helpful when reviewing the incorrect answers on the prep tests. I recommend doing all the mock tests, especially of you are concerned with time management. I found it very useful when gauging time spent on each question and not get caught up on any one question for too long.
I was very nervous about the test and my anxiety was worsened by the killing of George Floyd and recent protests plus the ongoing concerns of the coronavirus. There was little I was going to be able to do to increase my concentration so I could remember everything from the lectures. I focused on the "How to think" lecture and the test taking strategies and that was critical. I feel I internalized Amanda and her ruleout strategy and could hear her voice as I was choosing the answers. Relying on my field expertise, the foundational information that is covered and the test taking strategies made all the difference. Thank you!!
The test prep was excellent because it actually taught me a good amount of important information about being a good therapist! I did not necessarily expect this and was very pleased. They went over over a substantial number of theories, scenarios, and issues in a thorough and astute manner. Amanda (whose confident and clear voice will be in my head always!) is a top rate educator and I can imagine therapist, too. Not only did she offer a lot of direct teaching about the field of psychotherapy and how it's done well, but also tended the inevitable anxieties that arise in facing the test, coaching me in ways to think, calm my nervous system, and stay positive and healthy in order to have the best possible chance of passing. And I did! Whoohoo! Thank you TDC :)
I am 67 years old. I went back to grad school at age 62 to get my degree and finished my hours in February, 2020. I have maintained a practice of 25 clients while studying for this exam and believe whole-heartedly I would never have been able to do this without TDC! The study guides, lectures, and exams all contributed to my being fully prepared for the actual exam. Studying the rationales and organizing them by category was invaluable to me! All of the hints on how to approach the test were so important to me on test day. I did everything suggested, conquered my anxiety, and used good frames to analyze the questions. All of the materials were very succinct and I needed all of it to tackle the test. Thank you so much! After 30 years of teaching, raising 4 sons, e and enjoying 3 grandsons, TDC has helped me to realize my second career goal of owning my own LMFT practice! THANK YOU!
I tried other materials for studying and nothing compares to TDC. It broke everything down into simple and manageable steps. I don’t think I would have passed without TDC! Thank you!!
I think if I wouldn’t have used this program I would not have passed my first time around! After 3000+ hours of experience you know how to deal with most clinical situations, but what really helped me was the testing strategies/ways to think. The orientation to approaching questions in a strategic way saved me and boosted my confidence in the room. Thank you!!!
TDC's MFT law and ethics and clinical exam prep was extremely helpful. My initial test date was cancelled due to COVID 19 so and added layer of uncertainty was present in deciding what timeline to use to continue to prepare. Then I did the first final mock exam and I was terrified at how poorly I scored. Thankfully I was able to talk with a friend who used TDC and passed the first time and I had very encouraging email correspondence with the TDC staff in the 3-4 days leading u to my exam date. For sure I would recommend sticking with the timeline TDC suggests and you will likely be less stressed if you allow time for yourself to go through the material 2x. end of story... I passed on the first attempt!! Thank you TDC for the time and effort you put in to your product and customer service, you're a God send!!!!
Initially, I was really worried about taking the exam, especially when my mock exam scores were less than inspiring, but listening to the lectures over and over and constantly reviewing the material gave me the confidence I needed to succeed. Ultimately, it came down to being comfortable with the material and focusing on the actual taking of the test. Thank you again!