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
TDC prepared me in a way that I was so excited to take this test! I honestly was driving to the exam with a bit of anxiety and a lot of excitement over the fact that I knew this material and was ready to walk in with confidence. I know it sounds so cheesy but honestly this material made this experience so much more enjoyable!!!
From 2015 - 2018 I had taken the California Clinical Exam three times with no success. Then in 2018, a friend of mine recommended TDC study materials to help me with my studying. Using TDC materials herself, she passed her exam on the first try and highly recommended that I purchase the study package. I am excited and pleased to say that I finally passed my exam on June 14, 2019! Thank you to the TDC staff for your support and encouragement. I salute you all!...Ms. Pearl
TDC was amazing! Loved the structure that was provided. Loved how this program really focused on what to look for in the question stem and also made the content of the exam very easy to learn! Thanks TDC!
This program is incredibly comprehensive and user friendly. The hours of lecture, handouts, and multiple practice tests were incredibly helpful!
I have been out of graduate school for 19 years. I was extremely worried about being able to relearn everything! With the TDC program I was able to go slowly and digest all the information. It was very helpful having Amanda talking me thru various scenarios.
I came from Gerry Grossman and ATABS where memorization is highly encouraged.
TDC helps the client examine, clarify, amplify, see the different questions from all possible angles. This is very effective.
I my case was eve harder because English is my second language and some times I got the question wrong because of a word or an expression.
A lot of questions were about Ethics and Law presented with the different theories.
A lot of treatment plan questions dealing with stages in the different theories.
Thank you so much for your help and support.
Marco Hernandez
I passed my MFT exam after using this program. I had tried other study materials and failed twice. Other programs will just provide the study materials and mock tests that aren't useful if your not good with testing. This program teaches you step by step what you need to know and how to use testing techniques that will help you during testing as well as adequately covers all topics. Remember this test will do everything to confuse you. I am beyond thankful for TDC. Thank you Amanda! -Anonymous_
Wow, what an experience! I'm so grateful for TDC. This has been a 5 year journey, and without TDC the "end-game" would have been much more difficult and I would have been ill-prepared for the CCE. This is a dream come true for me and my family. I highly recommend the TDC program!
I am so grateful for the TDC program to help prepare me for the MFT Clinical Exam. I was so nervous about taking the test and felt such a pressure to pass it on the first try, especially since many of my peers had taken the test and passed their first try. But I followed the program faithfully and going into the exam used the strategies suggested and I was so excited to get my pass at the end of the exam!!
I am greatful for TDC for staying with me until I passed! I even tried another study plan, and ended up returning to TDC. In the end, it proved to be the most effective, especially when it came to managing anxiety during the exam. Tips about looking for what questions stems are asking helped reduce my anxiety and increased my ability to pass the exam, and I DID! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
TDC is the way to go. Amanda and her staff were most helpful and encouraging. They got back to me promptly. Their approach was multi-disciplined, with common sense and very engaging. They truly care about what they do. I had used another exam prep program before and wished I had come across this one first.
After using another studying program and not passing, I decided to invest this program. Im so glad I did, it helped me focus, feel positive about the experience, and confident. I also uses the coach and sent email with questions to help. The response was amazing and useful. If we spend out lives investing schooling, working a agencies to get our hours, in order to be in the helping profession-keeping investing in yourself, use this study program!
I am so happy to share that I passed my LMFT clinical exam the first time! This is all thanks to TDC! The material offered by this program is just amazing, and extremely helpful. I truly don't know how I would have done it without TDC. One week before my exam I purchased a coaching session, which allowed me to clarify a few things, and feel more confident. I highly recommend TDC, it will help you pass with confidence!!
I am in much gratitude for all the incredible support of the TDC community and program!! I cant thank you enough for answering my questions and for the supportive words of encouragement when I needed them!! This program overall was very helpful in preparing me for the exam and the Final Mock 1 Exam though very difficult it truly set me up for success on exam day!! I can not thank you enough for the support of your community I have taken the exam 3 times and this was very overwhelming to say the least but your overflowing support and assistance and willingness to accommodate my needs I am immensely grateful for. Thank you very much for this incredible program and for the amazing support of the community!!!
This course is a must if you want to pass his exam and I really want to thank Amanda and Asya for all their help. The test questions (and the rationales that follow) are ESSENTIAL - don't think you can just memorize the content of what's on the lectures and pass this exam. You really have to understand how to pick the right answer. I probably spent a little too much time going over and over the content and then realized that my time was better spent reviewing the rationales for questions. I have to also say that I learned a good deal as well from this review. I highly recommend this course and can't say enough about how responsive Asya was to all my questions!! Many thanks.
The TDC materials are definitely the way to study for a BIG exam. The materials are all laid out for you, plus the Mock exams were designed to challenge you for sure. I took the Final Mock 1 exam and thought it was so difficult and extremely challenging however, when I did the real exam, it proved to be well worth the task. Thank you TDC for your support during this arduous time in my life! I am so grateful.....
The LMCE exam was difficult! I took the exam once last year and missed passing by 1 point, and this was mainly due to my lack of preparation when I only spent a total of 2 weeks to study using the TDC review course. TDC covered 99% of what was in the exam. Many of the situational questions from the mock exams closely resembled the actual test vignettes. It's very helpful and reassuring! Thank you TDC for teaching me how to clearly understand and clearly dissect the questions and select the best answer in a very speedy manner. I am so grateful to all of you!
This program was very helpful in regards to the breadth of information provided and the structure in which the information is disseminated. Having the modules made it easier to move through information and ensure that I was covering everything in a systematic manner. I liked that I was able to budget my time since I could clearly see how long each module would take and could plan my approach accordingly. I still had anxiety going into the exam (naturally), but the preparation provided by this program was obviously sufficient since I passed. I am very grateful for this program and would recommend it to anyone preparing for the exam.
i loved the program it was easy to follow and i appreciate the sample study schedule, i felt that the audios were most helpful especially when speaking about the theories, i felt the questions on the mock exam were very similar to the actual exam which helped me feel less stress during the exam.
I was beyond happy with my experience with TDC and would highly recommend it! The program schedules were well paced and the content was very interesting. One may think that listening to 1 person for hours on end would be monotonous. To the contrary, it was not! Amanda is a great teacher! The material was presented in a way that made it easy to retain information and it was a great refresher on what I learned in graduate school. I am pleased to say I passed my licensure test the 1st time and am so thankful to TDC! Thanks!