The California MFT Law and Ethics exam is comprised of 40% Law and 60% Ethics. Within the Law portion, 14% is dedicated to Confidentiality, Privilege and Consent, 16% to Limits of Confidentiality / Mandated Reporting, and 10% to Legal Standards for Professional Practice. Within Ethics, 18% is dedicated to Professional Competence and Preventing Harm, 27% to Therapeutic Relationships, and 15% to Business Practices and Policies.
Passing this Law and Ethics exam on the first attempt is very important, as the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) will require you to wait 90 days after failing the exam before you can retest, and you will need to pay a $100 processing fee. That is time and money wasted; TDC can help give you the tools and skills you need to get that passing score on the first try.
The Therapist Development Center supports California’s Marriage and Family Therapists in preparing for their CA MFT Law and Ethics exams, and is proud to say that 95% of our users PASS!
MFT Law and Ethics Exam Prep Study System
Includes INSTANT online access to:
- An organized, step-by-step study plan
- 15 on-line audio workshops with downloadable handouts
- A complete review of essential MFT Law and Ethics Exam content areas
- Effective study tools
- Clinical examples that help you learn rather than memorize
- Clear test-taking strategies you will use on exam day
- 5 Full-length MFT Law & Ethics Practice Exams
- Test anxiety management
- Coaches available for ongoing questions and support
Our program not only addresses each of these content areas, but mimics how the BBS weighs the content to ensure you’re focusing on the right content for the right amount of time. TDC’s California MFT L&E Exam Prep is designed to maximize learning and minimize stress. It can be completed in approximately 35 hours and can be repeated as needed. Access is set for 4 months, but extensions are FREE. We are with you until you pass! Please note: this program is for SINGLE users only. Want to SAVE $50 on your California exam prep materials? Buy the CA COMBO!
Scroll down to read real, amazing testimonials from our users about how TDC worked for them to PASS their MFT Law and Ethics exams.
MFT Law and Ethics Exam Prep FAQs
What is the structure of the California Law and Ethics exam?
The California Law and Ethics exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions. 50 questions are scored, and 25 questions are considered experimental and will not count toward your final score. The experimental questions can appear anywhere on the exam; the BBS does not indicate which questions will count and which are experimental.
How much time do I have to complete the exam?
Test takers are granted 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the exam. Accommodations for extra time can be requested through the BBS for test-takers with mental or physical health conditions that qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act or for English as a Second Language (ESL) test-takers. Here are the forms for each accommodation: ESL accommodations form and disability accommodations form. Additional accommodations can be requested based on individual needs (i.e. separate room, reader, paper exam).
What is the current passing score for the CA MFT Law and Ethics exam?
In 2018, the BBS discontinued publishing the passing score for all of their licensing exams. However, during the first two years the exam was administered the scores were published. Between 2016 and 2018, the passing score was typically in the range of 33-36 out of the 50 scored questions (upper 60s% to lower 70s%). The 25 experimental questions do not count in the final score.
When will I be eligible to take the California Law and Ethics Exam?
Once you receive your associate registration number you are eligible to apply for the exam. The good news is this application for the California MFT Law and Ethics exam is the easiest application you will find on the BBS’s website! All you need to do is complete the one-page application and submit it along with your check to the BBS. Here is the Law and Ethics Exam Application. You can expect the processing time for the application to take 4-6 weeks. If you are applying for accommodations, submit that application at least 90 days prior to your anticipated exam date.
How much time should I give myself to study with the Law and Ethics Exam prep program?
TDC’s California MFT Law and Ethics exam prep program includes approximately 37 hours of content, including 5 full-length mock exams. We are strong advocates of maintaining a healthy balance of studying alongside all of the other responsibilities and joys in your life. If you are able to devote 8-10 hours each week to your studying, you can complete the California MFT Law and Ethics exam prep program in 5 weeks. Some people prefer to move through the program more quickly, while others feel they need more time. Our program is adaptable to meet your needs.
What happens once I pass the California Law and Ethics Exam?
You only need to pass the California Law & Ethics Exam one time. Once you pass the exam, you have fulfilled this requirement and will not be required to take it again. The next exam you will be required to take is your California MFT Clinical Exam.
Can I take one Law and Ethics exam if I am working toward my LPCC and LMFT?
The answer to this question is no. The BBS requires you to take the Law and Ethics exam specific to your license. If you are working toward dual licensure, you will need to complete the California MFT Law and Ethics exam and the California LPCC Law and Ethics Exam. Many people have successfully passed both of these exams using our California MFT Law and Ethics exam prep program. If you fall into this category, please reach out to a TDC coach for additional guidance.
Course Reviews
I used TDC to help me prepare for both the MFT and PCC Law and Ethics exam. Since the TDC materials for the law and ethic was focused on MFT, I was a little worried about using it for my PCC exam. However, now that I have taken both exams with using the TDC study materials and successful passed both on my first try, I can confidently say that TDC prepared me for both! I want to give a special shoutout to my couch, Maria! As I went through the study materials, Maria helped me answer all of my questions through several email threads. I can't thank her enough for all of her help! She also sent me additional materials specifically for the law and ethics PCC exam. TDC not only helped me feel more prepared and confident for my exams, but it has also given me a deeper understanding of law and ethics as it shows up in my work with clients as an associate! I will definitely be signing up for TDC once I begin studying for my MFT clinical exam :) Looking back, I wish I had bought the package to save more money! Thank you TDC for helping me pass my exams!
I definitely passed because of this program. Thank you.
THANK YOU!!
I completed the program with an increased confidence that I was going to pass the LMFT Law and Ethics exam and I did. I loved the different types the way the information was taught (i.e. timed exams, audios, link to code of ethics, quick studies, etc.). Overall great program and customer service. Thank you TDC team!
Amazing program!
I gave myself 3 weeks to study for the MFT Law and Ethics exam, so I knew I needed a succinct to and efficient way to study and obtain all the necessary information. That’s why I chose TDC over purchasing a book to study from. I’m a pretty good/confident test-taker, so my main concern was time and efficiency. The audios were easy to follow, and I especially liked the ability to speed up the audio recordings to get through them faster. I took written notes for each topic and felt confident going through the practice exams. Practice exam scores, including the final mocs, ranged from 65% - 75%. As a high achiever, I was striving to get at least an 80% on the final moc. When that didn’t happen I started to get nervous. I Googled how many questions I needed to get right to pass, as this was not stated in the material. I realized that out of the 75 questions, only 50 are scored and it seemed that I needed to get about 35 of those right (high 60s, low 70s) to pass. As I’m calculating all of this, I recognize that my 65-75% on the moc exams were likely passings scores. Anyway, the moral of the story is, stay out of your head! I passed! I will be using this program for the MFT licensure exam dand I highly recommend TDC for all test-takers.
It had been a few years since I graduated from my MFT program and taken the Law and Ethics class, so I was worried about preparing to take the exam. A friend of mine mentioned this program to me and it was definitely worth the investment. The structure of the program was very simple to follow and the practice tests and audio were so helpful in learning to know what the test is looking for in your answers. I am proud to say that after almost six years of time passing, I was able to pass my Law and Ethics exam on the first try! I am so excited and thrilled to share with others that going into the test, I felt so prepared!! Thank you so much for your help on helping me pass this test on the first time! Can't wait to study for the next exam!
If you are like me you will need to put in the time and study. In so doing you will be prepared for the exam. I can't think of any shortcuts or how the program may be improved. It was a straight forward process for me and when followed, as advised, I found success.
Thanks
Sean
TDC was recommended to me by fellow teammates I work with. I bought the course for my law and ethics and passed the exam on the first try. The program is very easy to understand and follows a natural flow. I will be using TDC for my clinical exam as well. Thank you, TDC for a job well done.
Thank you for having this program. I am passed my L&E for my PCC, now Im going to schedule an exam for my MFT.
I'm ADHD and I found the structure and content very easy to follow. And the narration was clear and concise. And it worked the FIRST time!
So thankful for TDC! I look forward to using TDC in preparation for my clinical exam!
I love the way TDC takes you step by step and offers emotional support in the process. Thank you!
TDC helped me feel well prepared to pass the exam and helped curb my anxiety throughout the study process.
I am utterly grateful to TDC for helping me believe in myself. I was super nervous, and I lacked thinking that I was ever going to pass; all of the feedback I had from those who had tried more than once and failed had me terrified. But I now know that no matter how long it takes, if one believes, it will come true. Thank you, TDC, for helping me well with this task. Forever grateful.
I appreciate the coach Maria and Asya very much. They have been very helpful for me. After the tutoring session with Asya, I felt that my understanding about the concept of this exam has reached into next level. Maria’s warm and helpful suggestions also helped me in gaining my confidence about this exam. Thank you for all the support.
Yes, I highly recommend it.it helped me a lot to prepare to my exam.
I am so grateful that my colleagues suggested TDC. I felt well prepared and after listening to the rationales I remembered the similar questions when testing. I am so excited to have taken this journey with TDC. I will also be using to study for the clinical MFT exam.
It was greatly helpful to study with TDC study material. Especially listening to rationales help me better understand. Thank you TDC!
I read reviews on the top rated test prep and decided on Therapist Development Center because the main difference was teaching how to test and explaining the rationale behind choosing answers instead of bombarding me with a ridiculous amount of material to memorize. Another key difference is it offered a schedule for studying that included overall wellness (e.g. exercise, self-care, food choices why studying). Overall, it helped me a ton with managing test anxiety and eliminating wrong answers.
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