CALIFORNIA MFT LAW AND ETHICS EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS 300 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
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SECTION 1: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
(Questions 1-25)
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Question 1
Which California code section establishes the Marriage and Family Therapist
Practice Act?
A) Health and Safety Code Section 1000
B) Evidence Code Section 1014
C) Business and Professions Code Section 4980 et seq.
D) Civil Code Section 43.92
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The MFT Practice Act is found in Business and Professions Code (BPC)
Section 4980 et seq. This section defines the scope of practice, licensure
requirements, title protections, and the regulatory authority of the Board of
Behavioral Sciences over Marriage and Family Therapists in California . The other
options reference different code sections: Evidence Code 1014 addresses
psychotherapist-patient privilege, Civil Code 43.92 addresses the duty to protect,
and Health and Safety Code 1000 is unrelated to MFT regulation.
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Question 2
Which entity is responsible for regulating Marriage and Family Therapists in
California?
A) California Medical Board
B) Department of Consumer Affairs directly
C) Board of Psychology
D) Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) is the regulatory body
responsible for licensing and regulating Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed
Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and Licensed
Educational Psychologists in California . The BBS operates under the Department
of Consumer Affairs but is the specific entity with direct regulatory authority over
MFTs.
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Question 3
What is the minimum supervised experience requirement for LMFT licensure in
California?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 2,000 hours
C) 3,000 hours
D) 5,000 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: California requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised experience
for LMFT licensure . These hours must be accrued under the supervision of an
approved supervisor and include specific categories of direct client contact,
including minimum numbers of individual and group therapy hours. This
requirement is more extensive than many other states.
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Question 4
Does California require passage of the AMFTRB national MFT examination for
LMFT licensure?
, A) Yes, it is required in all states
B) Yes, but only for out-of-state applicants
C) No, California requires no examination at all
D) No, California has its own independent Law & Ethics and Clinical Exams
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: California does NOT require the AMFTRB national examination .
Instead, California administers its own independent Law & Ethics Exam and
Clinical Exam through Pearson VUE. This is a key distinction that sets California
apart from most other states that accept or require the national exam. Note that
the BBS is considering transitioning to the national exam with a proposed date of
July 1, 2027, but this has not been finalized.
---
Question 5
Under California law, who holds the psychotherapist-patient privilege as
established in Evidence Code Section 1014?
A) The therapist
B) The patient
C) The court
D) The insurance company
QUESTIONS 300 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
---
SECTION 1: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
(Questions 1-25)
---
Question 1
Which California code section establishes the Marriage and Family Therapist
Practice Act?
A) Health and Safety Code Section 1000
B) Evidence Code Section 1014
C) Business and Professions Code Section 4980 et seq.
D) Civil Code Section 43.92
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The MFT Practice Act is found in Business and Professions Code (BPC)
Section 4980 et seq. This section defines the scope of practice, licensure
requirements, title protections, and the regulatory authority of the Board of
Behavioral Sciences over Marriage and Family Therapists in California . The other
options reference different code sections: Evidence Code 1014 addresses
psychotherapist-patient privilege, Civil Code 43.92 addresses the duty to protect,
and Health and Safety Code 1000 is unrelated to MFT regulation.
---
Question 2
Which entity is responsible for regulating Marriage and Family Therapists in
California?
A) California Medical Board
B) Department of Consumer Affairs directly
C) Board of Psychology
D) Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) is the regulatory body
responsible for licensing and regulating Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed
Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, and Licensed
Educational Psychologists in California . The BBS operates under the Department
of Consumer Affairs but is the specific entity with direct regulatory authority over
MFTs.
,---
Question 3
What is the minimum supervised experience requirement for LMFT licensure in
California?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 2,000 hours
C) 3,000 hours
D) 5,000 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: California requires a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised experience
for LMFT licensure . These hours must be accrued under the supervision of an
approved supervisor and include specific categories of direct client contact,
including minimum numbers of individual and group therapy hours. This
requirement is more extensive than many other states.
---
Question 4
Does California require passage of the AMFTRB national MFT examination for
LMFT licensure?
, A) Yes, it is required in all states
B) Yes, but only for out-of-state applicants
C) No, California requires no examination at all
D) No, California has its own independent Law & Ethics and Clinical Exams
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: California does NOT require the AMFTRB national examination .
Instead, California administers its own independent Law & Ethics Exam and
Clinical Exam through Pearson VUE. This is a key distinction that sets California
apart from most other states that accept or require the national exam. Note that
the BBS is considering transitioning to the national exam with a proposed date of
July 1, 2027, but this has not been finalized.
---
Question 5
Under California law, who holds the psychotherapist-patient privilege as
established in Evidence Code Section 1014?
A) The therapist
B) The patient
C) The court
D) The insurance company
