California Psychology Law and Ethics
Examination (CPLEE) with Practice
Questions And Corr
1. A licensed psychologist receives a subpoena duces tecum for a patient's records in a
child custody dispute. The patient has not authorized release. Under California law,
what is the psychologist's most legally sound initial action?
A. Immediately release the records because a subpoena is a court order.
B. Refuse to release any information and file a motion to quash.
C. Assert the psychotherapist-patient privilege on behalf of the patient and provide
written notice to the patient and the requesting party.
D. Release only a summary of the treatment to protect the patient's privacy.
Answer: C. Assert the psychotherapist-patient privilege on behalf of the patient and
provide written notice to the patient and the requesting party.
Rationale: Under California Evidence Code §1014 and §1015, the psychologist must assert
the privilege unless the patient waives it. The proper procedure is to notify the patient and
the requesting party, allowing time to seek a court order. Immediate release (A) violates
privilege; refusing entirely (B) may be noncompliant; releasing a summary (D) still
breaches confidentiality.
2. A psychologist in private practice wishes to use a new, empirically supported
treatment for which they have only read the manual but received no supervised
training. According to the APA Ethics Code and California regulations, what is the
most appropriate course of action?
A. Proceed with the treatment as long as they inform the client of their limited
experience.
B. Obtain appropriate training, consultation, or supervision before using the treatment.
C. Use the treatment only if the client signs a waiver of liability.
D. Refer the client to another provider without attempting to gain competence.
Answer: B. Obtain appropriate training, consultation, or supervision before using the
treatment.
Rationale: Ethical Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to practice only within their
boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervised experience, or
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,appropriate professional experience. Merely reading a manual is insufficient; obtaining
training/supervision is necessary. Informing the client (A) does not substitute for
competence; a waiver (C) does not absolve ethical duty; immediate referral (D) may be
appropriate but not the primary step if competence can be achieved.
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,3. Which of the following scenarios constitutes a mandated report of child abuse under
California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) for a licensed
psychologist?
A. A 16-year-old client discloses that they were slapped by a parent during an argument,
leaving no mark.
B. A parent reports that their child was bullied at school and the school failed to
intervene.
C. A client discloses that they witnessed a neighbor yelling at their child.
D. A 17-year-old client reports that their adult cousin touched them inappropriately five
years ago.
Answer: A. A 16-year-old client discloses that they were slapped by a parent during an
argument, leaving no mark.
Rationale: CANRA requires mandated reporters to report known or reasonably suspected
child abuse, including physical abuse. A slap by a parent, even without a mark, may
constitute physical abuse. Bullying (B) is not child abuse by a caregiver; witnessing a
neighbor (C) does not create a reasonable suspicion of abuse by a caregiver; and past
abuse (D) by a cousin may not fall under CANRA if the cousin is not a caregiver, though it
may require other reporting.
4. A psychologist is considering bartering with a client who is a carpenter and cannot
afford the full fee. According to the APA Ethics Code and California law, which
condition must be met for bartering to be ethical?
A. The bartering arrangement must be approved by the client's insurance company.
B. The bartering must be clinically contraindicated but financially necessary.
C. The bartering must not be exploitative or clinically contraindicated.
D. The bartering must be documented in the client's file as a waiver of fees.
Answer: C. The bartering must not be exploitative or clinically contraindicated.
Rationale: APA Ethics Standard 6.05 allows bartering only if it is not clinically
contraindicated and not exploitative. The psychologist must consider the cultural and
clinical implications. Insurance approval (A) is irrelevant; bartering should not be
clinically contraindicated (B is opposite); documentation (D) is required but not the
primary condition.
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, 5. Under California law, what is the maximum duration for which a psychologist may
retain a patient's records after termination of services, assuming the patient is an
adult and no other legal hold applies?
A. 3 years from the date of termination.
B. 7 years from the date of termination.
C. 10 years from the date of termination.
D. Indefinitely, unless the patient requests destruction.
Answer: B. 7 years from the date of termination.
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code §4999.51 and §4980.43 require
licensed psychologists to retain records for at least seven years from the date of
termination of services. For minors, records must be retained until age 18 plus seven years.
Three years (A) is too short; ten years (C) is longer than required but not the minimum;
indefinite retention (D) is not mandated.
6. A psychologist receives a request from a patient's employer for a fitness-for-duty
evaluation. The patient is the employee. What is the psychologist's primary ethical
obligation before conducting the evaluation?
A. Obtain written informed consent from the employee for the evaluation and clarify
who the client is.
B. Notify the employer that the evaluation cannot be conducted without a court order.
C. Conduct the evaluation without consent because it is for employment purposes.
D. Provide the employer with the employee's psychotherapy records to aid the
evaluation.
Answer: A. Obtain written informed consent from the employee for the evaluation and
clarify who the client is.
Rationale: When conducting a fitness-for-duty evaluation, the psychologist must clarify the
role and obtain informed consent from the evaluee. The employer is often the client, but the
employee must understand the limits of confidentiality. Consent is required (C is wrong); a
court order is not typically needed (B); and psychotherapy records should not be released
without authorization (D).
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Examination (CPLEE) with Practice
Questions And Corr
1. A licensed psychologist receives a subpoena duces tecum for a patient's records in a
child custody dispute. The patient has not authorized release. Under California law,
what is the psychologist's most legally sound initial action?
A. Immediately release the records because a subpoena is a court order.
B. Refuse to release any information and file a motion to quash.
C. Assert the psychotherapist-patient privilege on behalf of the patient and provide
written notice to the patient and the requesting party.
D. Release only a summary of the treatment to protect the patient's privacy.
Answer: C. Assert the psychotherapist-patient privilege on behalf of the patient and
provide written notice to the patient and the requesting party.
Rationale: Under California Evidence Code §1014 and §1015, the psychologist must assert
the privilege unless the patient waives it. The proper procedure is to notify the patient and
the requesting party, allowing time to seek a court order. Immediate release (A) violates
privilege; refusing entirely (B) may be noncompliant; releasing a summary (D) still
breaches confidentiality.
2. A psychologist in private practice wishes to use a new, empirically supported
treatment for which they have only read the manual but received no supervised
training. According to the APA Ethics Code and California regulations, what is the
most appropriate course of action?
A. Proceed with the treatment as long as they inform the client of their limited
experience.
B. Obtain appropriate training, consultation, or supervision before using the treatment.
C. Use the treatment only if the client signs a waiver of liability.
D. Refer the client to another provider without attempting to gain competence.
Answer: B. Obtain appropriate training, consultation, or supervision before using the
treatment.
Rationale: Ethical Standard 2.01 requires psychologists to practice only within their
boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervised experience, or
Page 1 of 85
,appropriate professional experience. Merely reading a manual is insufficient; obtaining
training/supervision is necessary. Informing the client (A) does not substitute for
competence; a waiver (C) does not absolve ethical duty; immediate referral (D) may be
appropriate but not the primary step if competence can be achieved.
Page 2 of 85
,3. Which of the following scenarios constitutes a mandated report of child abuse under
California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) for a licensed
psychologist?
A. A 16-year-old client discloses that they were slapped by a parent during an argument,
leaving no mark.
B. A parent reports that their child was bullied at school and the school failed to
intervene.
C. A client discloses that they witnessed a neighbor yelling at their child.
D. A 17-year-old client reports that their adult cousin touched them inappropriately five
years ago.
Answer: A. A 16-year-old client discloses that they were slapped by a parent during an
argument, leaving no mark.
Rationale: CANRA requires mandated reporters to report known or reasonably suspected
child abuse, including physical abuse. A slap by a parent, even without a mark, may
constitute physical abuse. Bullying (B) is not child abuse by a caregiver; witnessing a
neighbor (C) does not create a reasonable suspicion of abuse by a caregiver; and past
abuse (D) by a cousin may not fall under CANRA if the cousin is not a caregiver, though it
may require other reporting.
4. A psychologist is considering bartering with a client who is a carpenter and cannot
afford the full fee. According to the APA Ethics Code and California law, which
condition must be met for bartering to be ethical?
A. The bartering arrangement must be approved by the client's insurance company.
B. The bartering must be clinically contraindicated but financially necessary.
C. The bartering must not be exploitative or clinically contraindicated.
D. The bartering must be documented in the client's file as a waiver of fees.
Answer: C. The bartering must not be exploitative or clinically contraindicated.
Rationale: APA Ethics Standard 6.05 allows bartering only if it is not clinically
contraindicated and not exploitative. The psychologist must consider the cultural and
clinical implications. Insurance approval (A) is irrelevant; bartering should not be
clinically contraindicated (B is opposite); documentation (D) is required but not the
primary condition.
Page 3 of 85
, 5. Under California law, what is the maximum duration for which a psychologist may
retain a patient's records after termination of services, assuming the patient is an
adult and no other legal hold applies?
A. 3 years from the date of termination.
B. 7 years from the date of termination.
C. 10 years from the date of termination.
D. Indefinitely, unless the patient requests destruction.
Answer: B. 7 years from the date of termination.
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code §4999.51 and §4980.43 require
licensed psychologists to retain records for at least seven years from the date of
termination of services. For minors, records must be retained until age 18 plus seven years.
Three years (A) is too short; ten years (C) is longer than required but not the minimum;
indefinite retention (D) is not mandated.
6. A psychologist receives a request from a patient's employer for a fitness-for-duty
evaluation. The patient is the employee. What is the psychologist's primary ethical
obligation before conducting the evaluation?
A. Obtain written informed consent from the employee for the evaluation and clarify
who the client is.
B. Notify the employer that the evaluation cannot be conducted without a court order.
C. Conduct the evaluation without consent because it is for employment purposes.
D. Provide the employer with the employee's psychotherapy records to aid the
evaluation.
Answer: A. Obtain written informed consent from the employee for the evaluation and
clarify who the client is.
Rationale: When conducting a fitness-for-duty evaluation, the psychologist must clarify the
role and obtain informed consent from the evaluee. The employer is often the client, but the
employee must understand the limits of confidentiality. Consent is required (C is wrong); a
court order is not typically needed (B); and psychotherapy records should not be released
without authorization (D).
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