CA MFT ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES EXAM
TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ What four items comprise Standard of Care? Answer: "Statutes,
Licensing Board Regulations, Ethical Codes, and Consensus of your
Local Professional Community."
◉ Give an example of a legal standard of care. Answer: Posting your
license in your place of practice, fulfilling a mandate of reporting
child abuse. Or keeping records. Or following the licensing board
regulations.
◉ Give an example of an ethical standard of care. Answer:
Performing a thorough assessment
◉ What are California therapists legally required to do to treat
suicidality? Answer: California therapists are not legally required to
follow any specific treatment protocol when treating a suicidal
client, but this standard of care would be assessed by the consensus
of their local professional community.
◉ Who is being kept foremost in mind when setting legal and ethical
standards for therapy? Answer: The client's safety
,◉ Is the standard of care a standard of perfection? Answer: No
(minimum standard)
◉ How does a therapist ensure they are always meeting standard of
care? Answer: Doing consultation is a great way to know that you're
meeting standard of care especially if in doubt. Documenting
consultation is a great way to show that you're meeting it.
◉ How is standard of care established? Answer: standard of care is
always established by the standards implemented in your local
professional community and is based on the resources available in
your local professional community.
◉ Describe the test-taking strategy to use when seeing the word
"except" in a test question. Answer: Looking for the answer(s) which
is (are) definitely not true
◉ Is Standard of Care considered to be a legal or ethical concept?
Answer: Legal
◉ Define Scope of Practice Answer: "the procedures, methods, and
processes that are permitted for an individual who is licensed in a
given field" or "the activities one can legally do as part of a given
profession"
, ◉ In order to engage in any activity within your profession that
activity must be both WHAT and WHAT? Answer: SCOPE OF
PRACTICE and SCOPE OF COMPETENCE
◉ Is Scope of Practice a legal or ethical concept? Answer: Legal
◉ Give an example of scope of practice. Answer: Psychotherapy
◉ Give an example of a behavior which does NOT fall within the
scope of practice for MFT's in CA. Answer: Prescribing medications,
giving advice about medications or side-effects, and suggesting
changes to medication dosage
◉ Is Scope of Competence a legal or ethical issue? Answer: Ethical
◉ Is Standard of Care a legal or ethical issue? Answer: Both
◉ What is the Scope of Competence? Answer: 1. the area of practice
within a professional field in which an individual is proficient to
work
2. those activities for which you have the appropriate education,
training, and experience to do in your own
TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ What four items comprise Standard of Care? Answer: "Statutes,
Licensing Board Regulations, Ethical Codes, and Consensus of your
Local Professional Community."
◉ Give an example of a legal standard of care. Answer: Posting your
license in your place of practice, fulfilling a mandate of reporting
child abuse. Or keeping records. Or following the licensing board
regulations.
◉ Give an example of an ethical standard of care. Answer:
Performing a thorough assessment
◉ What are California therapists legally required to do to treat
suicidality? Answer: California therapists are not legally required to
follow any specific treatment protocol when treating a suicidal
client, but this standard of care would be assessed by the consensus
of their local professional community.
◉ Who is being kept foremost in mind when setting legal and ethical
standards for therapy? Answer: The client's safety
,◉ Is the standard of care a standard of perfection? Answer: No
(minimum standard)
◉ How does a therapist ensure they are always meeting standard of
care? Answer: Doing consultation is a great way to know that you're
meeting standard of care especially if in doubt. Documenting
consultation is a great way to show that you're meeting it.
◉ How is standard of care established? Answer: standard of care is
always established by the standards implemented in your local
professional community and is based on the resources available in
your local professional community.
◉ Describe the test-taking strategy to use when seeing the word
"except" in a test question. Answer: Looking for the answer(s) which
is (are) definitely not true
◉ Is Standard of Care considered to be a legal or ethical concept?
Answer: Legal
◉ Define Scope of Practice Answer: "the procedures, methods, and
processes that are permitted for an individual who is licensed in a
given field" or "the activities one can legally do as part of a given
profession"
, ◉ In order to engage in any activity within your profession that
activity must be both WHAT and WHAT? Answer: SCOPE OF
PRACTICE and SCOPE OF COMPETENCE
◉ Is Scope of Practice a legal or ethical concept? Answer: Legal
◉ Give an example of scope of practice. Answer: Psychotherapy
◉ Give an example of a behavior which does NOT fall within the
scope of practice for MFT's in CA. Answer: Prescribing medications,
giving advice about medications or side-effects, and suggesting
changes to medication dosage
◉ Is Scope of Competence a legal or ethical issue? Answer: Ethical
◉ Is Standard of Care a legal or ethical issue? Answer: Both
◉ What is the Scope of Competence? Answer: 1. the area of practice
within a professional field in which an individual is proficient to
work
2. those activities for which you have the appropriate education,
training, and experience to do in your own
