California Licensed Clinical Social
Worker (LCSW) Law and Ethics Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2025 Q&A | GRADED A+
1 Regulatory Body: Which board administers the California LCSW Law and
Ethics Examination?
o A. California Board of Psychology
o B. California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
o C. California Department of Consumer Affairs
o D. California Health and Human Services Agency
o Answer: B. The BBS is the regulatory body that oversees the licensure of
LCSWs and administers this specific exam. While it operates under the
Department of Consumer Affairs, the BBS is the direct administrator .
o 2 Exam Structure: How many scored questions are on the California LCSW
Law and Ethics Examination?
o A. 75 scored questions
o B. 50 scored questions plus 25 unscored pilot questions
o C. 60 scored questions plus 15 unscored pilot questions
o D. 100 scored questions
o Answer: B. The exam contains 75 total questions, but only 50 are scored.
The remaining 25 are unscored pilot questions. You won't know which are
which, so treat every question as if it counts toward your score .
3Mandated Reporting (Child Abuse): An LCSW discovers that a 10-year-
old client has bruises consistent with physical abuse. What must the LCSW
do?
,a. A. Document the findings and discuss with the child's parents first.
b. B. Make an immediate telephone report to a child protective agency,
followed by a written report within 36 hours.
c. C. Report to the Board of Behavioral Sciences within 48 hours.
d. D. Consult with a colleague before taking any action.
e. Answer: B. Under California Penal Code Section 11166, LCSWs are
mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse immediately by
phone, followed by a written report within 36 hours .
4Duty to Protect (Tarasoff): Under California's Tarasoff duty, when is an
LCSW legally obligated to breach confidentiality?
a. A. When a client expresses general anger toward another person.
b. B. When there is a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably
identifiable victim.
c. C. Whenever a client discusses violent fantasies during therapy.
d. D. Only when a client has a documented history of violence.
e. Answer: B. The duty to protect is triggered by a specific, serious threat of
physical violence against an identifiable victim. General anger or fantasies
without a specific threat do not meet this threshold .
f. 5 Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege: What is the psychotherapist-patient
privilege under California Evidence Code Section 1014?
g. A. The therapist's right to refuse to testify about any client.
h. B. The patient's right to prevent their therapist from disclosing confidential
communications in legal proceedings.
i. C. The court's right to compel testimony from any therapist.
j. D. A privilege that only applies to psychiatrists and psychologists.
k. Answer: B. This privilege belongs to the patient, not the therapist. It allows
the patient to prevent their therapist from disclosing confidential
communications in legal
6Court Orders: An LCSW receives a court order for a client's records, but
the client
l. A. Comply with the court order as it overrides confidentiality.
,m. B. Assert privilege on behalf of the client and challenge the court order.
n. C. Provide the records only to the judge for an in-camera review.
o. D. Inform the client that the court order cannot be challenged.
p. Answer: B. It is the therapist's role to advocate for the client's privilege and
challenge the court order. The final decision would then be left to the
court .
q. 7 Supervision: An LCSW provides supervision to an ASW. The ASW
requests that the LCSW not disclose certain details of supervision in the
supervisor's documentation. What should the LCSW do?
r. A. Respect the ASW's request as a professional courtesy.
s. B. Document supervision as required, including content discussed in
supervision.
t. C. Agree to maintain the confidentiality of supervision discussions.
u. D. Discuss the limits of confidentiality with the ASW.
v. Answer: D. Supervisors have an obligation to document supervision. They
must discuss the limits of confidentiality with the ASW regarding what will
be documented in supervision records
8. A therapist receives a subpoena for a client who is in the midst of a
custody battle. When the client is informed of the subpoena, the client
says "I have nothing to hide, give them my records." The therapist is
concerned that releasing the records would be harmful to the client
and her case. The therapist should next:
A. Contact the client and discuss the pending release.
B. Provide a copy of the records immediately.
C. Seek a protective order from the court.
D. Assert privilege on behalf of the client.
o Rationale: The therapist must act in the client's best interest. Even if the
client gives verbal permission, the therapist should assert the
psychotherapist-patient privilege to protect the client from potential harm,
especially when the implications of releasing sensitive records may not be
fully understood.
, 9. Which of the following actions should the therapist take if a
managed care company denies a claim for a client whose treatment
the therapist believes is medically necessary?
A. Modify the diagnosis and treatment plan.
B. Terminate treatment for the denied services.
C. Appeal the managed care company's decision.
D. Advise the client to sue the managed care company.
o Rationale: Therapists have an ethical obligation to advocate for their clients
and can appeal insurance decisions based on clinical necessity. Changing a
diagnosis inappropriately would be unethical, and terminating treatment
without exploring options is premature.
10. A therapist receives a letter from a lawyer requesting information
about a client's diagnosis and treatment. The letter indicates the client
is a defendant in an upcoming court case. The therapist should:
A. Contact the lawyer and explain that a subpoena is needed.
B. Contact the lawyer and release selected information.
C. Do not respond to the letter and contact the client to inform them
of the request.
D. Send a letter to the lawyer refusing the request.
o Rationale: A simple letter from an attorney is not a court order or a valid
subpoena. The therapist should not respond to the request directly. Instead,
the therapist must first contact the client to inform them of the request and
discuss how to proceed, as the client holds the privilege.
11. A therapist has been treating a client for two years when the client
leaves a voicemail that she has found a better therapist and would like
a copy of her records sent to her address. The therapist has serious
concerns about the client seeing the clinical notes. The therapist denies
the request and the client gets upset. What should the therapist do?
A. Meet with her in person to review her record.
B. Consult a lawyer.
Worker (LCSW) Law and Ethics Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2025 Q&A | GRADED A+
1 Regulatory Body: Which board administers the California LCSW Law and
Ethics Examination?
o A. California Board of Psychology
o B. California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
o C. California Department of Consumer Affairs
o D. California Health and Human Services Agency
o Answer: B. The BBS is the regulatory body that oversees the licensure of
LCSWs and administers this specific exam. While it operates under the
Department of Consumer Affairs, the BBS is the direct administrator .
o 2 Exam Structure: How many scored questions are on the California LCSW
Law and Ethics Examination?
o A. 75 scored questions
o B. 50 scored questions plus 25 unscored pilot questions
o C. 60 scored questions plus 15 unscored pilot questions
o D. 100 scored questions
o Answer: B. The exam contains 75 total questions, but only 50 are scored.
The remaining 25 are unscored pilot questions. You won't know which are
which, so treat every question as if it counts toward your score .
3Mandated Reporting (Child Abuse): An LCSW discovers that a 10-year-
old client has bruises consistent with physical abuse. What must the LCSW
do?
,a. A. Document the findings and discuss with the child's parents first.
b. B. Make an immediate telephone report to a child protective agency,
followed by a written report within 36 hours.
c. C. Report to the Board of Behavioral Sciences within 48 hours.
d. D. Consult with a colleague before taking any action.
e. Answer: B. Under California Penal Code Section 11166, LCSWs are
mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse immediately by
phone, followed by a written report within 36 hours .
4Duty to Protect (Tarasoff): Under California's Tarasoff duty, when is an
LCSW legally obligated to breach confidentiality?
a. A. When a client expresses general anger toward another person.
b. B. When there is a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably
identifiable victim.
c. C. Whenever a client discusses violent fantasies during therapy.
d. D. Only when a client has a documented history of violence.
e. Answer: B. The duty to protect is triggered by a specific, serious threat of
physical violence against an identifiable victim. General anger or fantasies
without a specific threat do not meet this threshold .
f. 5 Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege: What is the psychotherapist-patient
privilege under California Evidence Code Section 1014?
g. A. The therapist's right to refuse to testify about any client.
h. B. The patient's right to prevent their therapist from disclosing confidential
communications in legal proceedings.
i. C. The court's right to compel testimony from any therapist.
j. D. A privilege that only applies to psychiatrists and psychologists.
k. Answer: B. This privilege belongs to the patient, not the therapist. It allows
the patient to prevent their therapist from disclosing confidential
communications in legal
6Court Orders: An LCSW receives a court order for a client's records, but
the client
l. A. Comply with the court order as it overrides confidentiality.
,m. B. Assert privilege on behalf of the client and challenge the court order.
n. C. Provide the records only to the judge for an in-camera review.
o. D. Inform the client that the court order cannot be challenged.
p. Answer: B. It is the therapist's role to advocate for the client's privilege and
challenge the court order. The final decision would then be left to the
court .
q. 7 Supervision: An LCSW provides supervision to an ASW. The ASW
requests that the LCSW not disclose certain details of supervision in the
supervisor's documentation. What should the LCSW do?
r. A. Respect the ASW's request as a professional courtesy.
s. B. Document supervision as required, including content discussed in
supervision.
t. C. Agree to maintain the confidentiality of supervision discussions.
u. D. Discuss the limits of confidentiality with the ASW.
v. Answer: D. Supervisors have an obligation to document supervision. They
must discuss the limits of confidentiality with the ASW regarding what will
be documented in supervision records
8. A therapist receives a subpoena for a client who is in the midst of a
custody battle. When the client is informed of the subpoena, the client
says "I have nothing to hide, give them my records." The therapist is
concerned that releasing the records would be harmful to the client
and her case. The therapist should next:
A. Contact the client and discuss the pending release.
B. Provide a copy of the records immediately.
C. Seek a protective order from the court.
D. Assert privilege on behalf of the client.
o Rationale: The therapist must act in the client's best interest. Even if the
client gives verbal permission, the therapist should assert the
psychotherapist-patient privilege to protect the client from potential harm,
especially when the implications of releasing sensitive records may not be
fully understood.
, 9. Which of the following actions should the therapist take if a
managed care company denies a claim for a client whose treatment
the therapist believes is medically necessary?
A. Modify the diagnosis and treatment plan.
B. Terminate treatment for the denied services.
C. Appeal the managed care company's decision.
D. Advise the client to sue the managed care company.
o Rationale: Therapists have an ethical obligation to advocate for their clients
and can appeal insurance decisions based on clinical necessity. Changing a
diagnosis inappropriately would be unethical, and terminating treatment
without exploring options is premature.
10. A therapist receives a letter from a lawyer requesting information
about a client's diagnosis and treatment. The letter indicates the client
is a defendant in an upcoming court case. The therapist should:
A. Contact the lawyer and explain that a subpoena is needed.
B. Contact the lawyer and release selected information.
C. Do not respond to the letter and contact the client to inform them
of the request.
D. Send a letter to the lawyer refusing the request.
o Rationale: A simple letter from an attorney is not a court order or a valid
subpoena. The therapist should not respond to the request directly. Instead,
the therapist must first contact the client to inform them of the request and
discuss how to proceed, as the client holds the privilege.
11. A therapist has been treating a client for two years when the client
leaves a voicemail that she has found a better therapist and would like
a copy of her records sent to her address. The therapist has serious
concerns about the client seeing the clinical notes. The therapist denies
the request and the client gets upset. What should the therapist do?
A. Meet with her in person to review her record.
B. Consult a lawyer.
