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
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!
I truly appreciated the one on one coaching. The final mocks were very helpful in orientating me with TDC's testing strategies. Thank you!!!!!
I was so pleased with the fact that I could listen to this in my car or on my phone and at home. This program is amazing and easy to help understand things that I didn't understand before.
I think it was very helpful that you reminded me that I was going to feel like I was failing. I felt like I was going to fail even after I submitted my test. It was incredibly challenging and the biggest challenge is not all of the information that was covered, but how to take this test. Your tips on narrowing down answers, not getting stuck on questions that are too challenging, and to read all answers and not just choose ones that have terms was very helpful. I am not sure what the passing score is, but it has to be low as I would say the majority of questions, I struggled with significantly.
There's no way i would've passed my LMFT exam if it weren't for TDC. I really felt over prepared, which was a good thing because this test was not easy.
TDC study programs are wonderful! It is a lot of work but it gets the job done. In my opinion, TDC is more challenging than the actual exam. Great program and you will be well prepared. Used the TDC program to pass Law and Ethics the first time as well. Really great program!
Great course that walks you through the material and gives enough practice tests that you feel prepared. I like that the course lays out a general schedule for you that you can tweak, which is a helpful framework to follow. Plus you know that you're on track if you're following what the TDC recommends. I think the practice questions were hard but good in that they seemed to overprepare me for the test and the time constraint. High recommend.
TDC is the complete package, all material necessary to pass!
Great organization of the material with schedule to manage study time.
I am thankful for this program!
I took my California Clinical Exam on 5/9/2019 and PASSED!! I'm truly grateful for your study material. it was my 2nd attempt and although I failed 1st time I never stopped believing that TDC was the top prep company. I used all the strategies Amanda suggested.....IT WORKS!!!. thanks you so much!!
I PASSED on my first attempt (Law & Ethics and Clinical MFT). TDC really prepares you for this exam, giving you just the right amount of content and most importantly, strategies to pass. The audios, print outs (quick studies) and mocks were ALL very helpful, and made it to where you could study anywhere. I would recommend TDC to anyone who is preparing for this exam. It really is the only material you need to PASS!
TDC provided a comprehensive and organized way to prepare for my LMFT exam. I passed the first time. It made an arduous and grueling process doable. I felt prepared. Very prepared. I also reached out to Asya, one of the coaches, and had a session to help me with managing my anxiety. She was SO helpful, gentle and reassuring! Thank you Asya! ❤️ And thank you Amanda for becoming that confident voice in my head that replaced any doubt and negative self talk. ❤️
TDC community was amazing to work with and passed my CLMFT exam!
I highly recommend TDC for the MFT Clinical exam (although they also helped me pass Law and Ethics too!). I felt very prepared overall— more than just knowing the material/content, but actually being able to problem solve through, even when I wasn’t sure of the answer. Aysa helped me with time management and test-taking strategies, which I found to be so enlightening! I followed the plan exactly and wrote, “Trust Yourself,” at the top of the page, along time breakdowns. Every time I felt anxious or defeated, I looked down for that bit of encouragement to keep me going! Thank you TDC!
I passed the exam on the first try!! I was impressed with all the information was covered in the TDC exam materials and they truly reflected what was on the actual exam. There were MANY questions that were VERY similar to the TDC Mock Exams. I was feeling a little underprepared due to some lower scores on the Mock Exams and I scheduled two sessions with Asya. Asya was able to help me identify my weak points and also help me with strategies that I was able to take with me on exam day. I am grateful for this program, it is succinct, and provided me with only the pertinent information that I needed to know to pass. Well worth the investment! Thank you TDC team!
I passed! That was a hard test and the only way I passed is with the help of TDC. I am so thankful that I had this resource and all the practice test and coaching,
I highly recommend!
I took this last September and failed. I used TDC, but didn't follow the program. I assumed I knew more than Amanda and studied how I wanted. This time around I followed the program to the T. I also did a coaching session the Monday before my exam and did 2 mocks after that and there was a significant increase in my score. TDC prepares you in all ways for this beast of an exam. I'm still in disbelief that I'm a LMFT!!! Thank you TDC and Asya for all the help!!
TDC is a great tool to study, I used the program to help me with Comprehensive tests for my Graduate program and I passed. You have to be focused and follow the program, put time and effort and you will pass.
When I took my exam I had difficulty with two issues (there was another person across from my cubical banging the table which caused my monitor to shake and the exam being poorly written) and I still was able to pass. PSI did not give us our exact score but gave us pass/fail and I was passed even with distractions! TDC gave me confidence I didn't really feel I had before studying and taking the exam! Thank you TDC!!!