CA MFT LAW AND ETHICS EXAM 2025 Latest
Update 2025-2026 115 Questions and 100%
Verified Correct Answers Guaranteed A+
Question ID #100: Your client is moving to another city in California and wants to
continue therapy with you via the Internet. You are legally and ethically
____________________.
Select one:
A.required to obtain a signed written consent form before any Internet sessions are
scheduled
B.required to provide the client with information about the possible limitations of this
type of therapy
C.allowed to provide therapy over the Internet only because you will be continuing an
existing therapeutic relationship
D.allowed to provide therapy over the Internet only if you've completed an approved CE
course on distance counseling - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is B.CAMFT
and AAMFT ethical standards both address the need to inform clients about the
limitations of therapy delivered via the Internet or other electronic media. In addition,
California law (B&PC Section 2290.5) requires therapists to "inform the patient about
the use of telehealth and obtain verbal or written consent from the patient," and
informing the patient about telehealth would include describing its risks and benefits.
Question ID #102: Jessica, age 13, tells her therapist that she and her boyfriend have
been "fooling around" sexually but have not yet had intercourse. Jessica wants to know
more about birth control, and she doesn't want to discuss any of this with her parents.
She doesn't know her boyfriend's age but thinks he's "a little older" than she is. The
therapist should ___________________.
Select one:
A.refer Jessica to a health care practitioner who can discuss her birth control options
and reassure her that he will not contact her parents
B.inform Jessica's parents so they can take steps to protect her in a way that is
consistent with their values related to birth control and sexual activity
,C.report suspicion of child abuse and follow the guidelines he has established with
Jessica and her family regarding the confidentiality of information Jessica provides in
therapy
D.report suspicion of child abuse, refer Jessica to a - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct
answer is C.The information presented in the question suggests that Jessica may be a
victim of reportable lewd and lascivious acts and that, consequently, the therapist must
report child abuse. (A report is legally required when lewd and lascivious acts involve a
minor under 14 years of age and a partner 14 years of age or older.) Also, it may or may
not be acceptable to share confidential information with Jessica's parents, depending on
what policy the therapist established with Jessica and her parents at the beginning of
therapy about what will be kept private and what might be shared.
Question ID #105: When a therapist receives a written request from a client to see his
or her clinical record, the therapist must ____________________.
Select one:
A.consider whether seeing the record would create emotional distress for the client and,
if so, refuse access
B.transmit a copy or a summary of the record to the client within 25 business days
C.allow the client to inspect the record within 10 business days or transmit a copy of the
record to the client within 30 days
D.allow the client to inspect the record within five business days or transmit a copy of
the record to the client within 15 days - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is D.
Client access to clinical records is addressed in H&SC Section 123110, and answer D is
consistent with its requirements.The correct answer is: allow the client to inspect the
record within five business days or transmit a copy of the record to the client within 15
days
Question ID #108: Therapists are legally required to do which of the following at the
beginning of therapy?
Select one:
A.Discuss the limits of confidentiality.
B.Discuss the limits of confidentiality and outline a secrets policy when there is more
than one client.
,C.Disclose their fee or how the fee will be determined.
D.Describe their training and experience. - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
C.Disclosure of fees is addressed in B&PC Section 4982(n), which identifies a
therapist's failure to inform clients at the beginning of therapy about their fee or the
basis on which the fee will be computed as unprofessional conduct. The issues listed in
the other answers are required or encouraged by ethical standards but are not
mentioned in California law, and this question is asking about legal requirements. (You
might encounter a few questions on the exam that require you to make a distinction
between legal and ethical requirements, so you'll want to be familiar with the differences
between them and, when taking the exam, notice if a question is asking about law
and/or ethical guidelines.)
Question ID #109: A therapist and her colleague share rented office space. Although
they are not legally incorporated, they use the fictitious business name, "Main Street
Counseling Associates." Legally, these therapists __________________.
Select one:
A.should not use the business name in advertisements because doing so would be
misleading
B.may use the business name in advertising as long as the ads also include their full
names and licensure status
C.may use the business name in advertising only if the business is an LLC or other
legal entity
D.may use the business name in advertising only if their liability insurance covers Main
Street Counseling Associates - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
B.Therapists may use a fictitious business name (which is also known as "doing
business as" or DBA) as long as they file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the
registrar-recorder/county clerk in the county where the business is located. In addition,
to meet the requirements of CCR Section 1811(a) and B&PC Section 4980.45, all
advertisements for the business must include the full names of the owners and their
licensure stat
Question ID #110: HIPAA's Privacy Rule requires therapists to provide clients with a
written _________________ at or before the beginning of treatment that indicates how
protected health information will be used and disclosed.
Select one:
, A.informed consent
B.copy of the Security Rule
C.Notice of Privacy Practices
D.copy of the Transaction Rule - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is C.The
Notice of Privacy Practices indicates how protected health information will be used and
disclosed.
Question ID #116: The psychotherapist-patient privilege is NOT waived in which of the
following situations?
Select one:
A.A therapist's client is suing her employer, claiming that harassment at work was the
cause of an anxiety disorder that has made it impossible for her to do her job.
B.A therapist's current client is a defendant in a criminal case in which he has been
accused of physically assaulting his boss.
C.A therapist conducts a custody evaluation as an employee of the court.
D.A client has initiated a malpractice suit against her therapist as a result of the
therapist's breach of her confidentiality. - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
B.Clients on trial for committing a crime (other than child, elder adult, or dependent adult
abuse) retain the privileg
Question ID #119: When an adolescent client is suicidal, the therapist
________________.
Select one:
A.must tell the client's parent or legal guardian
B.must contact child protective services
C.may break confidentiality if necessary to prevent the threatened danger
D.should have the client complete a safety plan - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct
answer is C.Breaking confidentiality when a client of any age is suicidal is permitted by
EC Section 1024, which provides an exception to the psychotherapist-patient privilege
when a client poses a danger to self, but is also routinely interpreted as being applicable
to a breach of confidentiality in contexts outside of legal proceedings.
Update 2025-2026 115 Questions and 100%
Verified Correct Answers Guaranteed A+
Question ID #100: Your client is moving to another city in California and wants to
continue therapy with you via the Internet. You are legally and ethically
____________________.
Select one:
A.required to obtain a signed written consent form before any Internet sessions are
scheduled
B.required to provide the client with information about the possible limitations of this
type of therapy
C.allowed to provide therapy over the Internet only because you will be continuing an
existing therapeutic relationship
D.allowed to provide therapy over the Internet only if you've completed an approved CE
course on distance counseling - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is B.CAMFT
and AAMFT ethical standards both address the need to inform clients about the
limitations of therapy delivered via the Internet or other electronic media. In addition,
California law (B&PC Section 2290.5) requires therapists to "inform the patient about
the use of telehealth and obtain verbal or written consent from the patient," and
informing the patient about telehealth would include describing its risks and benefits.
Question ID #102: Jessica, age 13, tells her therapist that she and her boyfriend have
been "fooling around" sexually but have not yet had intercourse. Jessica wants to know
more about birth control, and she doesn't want to discuss any of this with her parents.
She doesn't know her boyfriend's age but thinks he's "a little older" than she is. The
therapist should ___________________.
Select one:
A.refer Jessica to a health care practitioner who can discuss her birth control options
and reassure her that he will not contact her parents
B.inform Jessica's parents so they can take steps to protect her in a way that is
consistent with their values related to birth control and sexual activity
,C.report suspicion of child abuse and follow the guidelines he has established with
Jessica and her family regarding the confidentiality of information Jessica provides in
therapy
D.report suspicion of child abuse, refer Jessica to a - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct
answer is C.The information presented in the question suggests that Jessica may be a
victim of reportable lewd and lascivious acts and that, consequently, the therapist must
report child abuse. (A report is legally required when lewd and lascivious acts involve a
minor under 14 years of age and a partner 14 years of age or older.) Also, it may or may
not be acceptable to share confidential information with Jessica's parents, depending on
what policy the therapist established with Jessica and her parents at the beginning of
therapy about what will be kept private and what might be shared.
Question ID #105: When a therapist receives a written request from a client to see his
or her clinical record, the therapist must ____________________.
Select one:
A.consider whether seeing the record would create emotional distress for the client and,
if so, refuse access
B.transmit a copy or a summary of the record to the client within 25 business days
C.allow the client to inspect the record within 10 business days or transmit a copy of the
record to the client within 30 days
D.allow the client to inspect the record within five business days or transmit a copy of
the record to the client within 15 days - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is D.
Client access to clinical records is addressed in H&SC Section 123110, and answer D is
consistent with its requirements.The correct answer is: allow the client to inspect the
record within five business days or transmit a copy of the record to the client within 15
days
Question ID #108: Therapists are legally required to do which of the following at the
beginning of therapy?
Select one:
A.Discuss the limits of confidentiality.
B.Discuss the limits of confidentiality and outline a secrets policy when there is more
than one client.
,C.Disclose their fee or how the fee will be determined.
D.Describe their training and experience. - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
C.Disclosure of fees is addressed in B&PC Section 4982(n), which identifies a
therapist's failure to inform clients at the beginning of therapy about their fee or the
basis on which the fee will be computed as unprofessional conduct. The issues listed in
the other answers are required or encouraged by ethical standards but are not
mentioned in California law, and this question is asking about legal requirements. (You
might encounter a few questions on the exam that require you to make a distinction
between legal and ethical requirements, so you'll want to be familiar with the differences
between them and, when taking the exam, notice if a question is asking about law
and/or ethical guidelines.)
Question ID #109: A therapist and her colleague share rented office space. Although
they are not legally incorporated, they use the fictitious business name, "Main Street
Counseling Associates." Legally, these therapists __________________.
Select one:
A.should not use the business name in advertisements because doing so would be
misleading
B.may use the business name in advertising as long as the ads also include their full
names and licensure status
C.may use the business name in advertising only if the business is an LLC or other
legal entity
D.may use the business name in advertising only if their liability insurance covers Main
Street Counseling Associates - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
B.Therapists may use a fictitious business name (which is also known as "doing
business as" or DBA) as long as they file a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the
registrar-recorder/county clerk in the county where the business is located. In addition,
to meet the requirements of CCR Section 1811(a) and B&PC Section 4980.45, all
advertisements for the business must include the full names of the owners and their
licensure stat
Question ID #110: HIPAA's Privacy Rule requires therapists to provide clients with a
written _________________ at or before the beginning of treatment that indicates how
protected health information will be used and disclosed.
Select one:
, A.informed consent
B.copy of the Security Rule
C.Notice of Privacy Practices
D.copy of the Transaction Rule - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is C.The
Notice of Privacy Practices indicates how protected health information will be used and
disclosed.
Question ID #116: The psychotherapist-patient privilege is NOT waived in which of the
following situations?
Select one:
A.A therapist's client is suing her employer, claiming that harassment at work was the
cause of an anxiety disorder that has made it impossible for her to do her job.
B.A therapist's current client is a defendant in a criminal case in which he has been
accused of physically assaulting his boss.
C.A therapist conducts a custody evaluation as an employee of the court.
D.A client has initiated a malpractice suit against her therapist as a result of the
therapist's breach of her confidentiality. - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct answer is
B.Clients on trial for committing a crime (other than child, elder adult, or dependent adult
abuse) retain the privileg
Question ID #119: When an adolescent client is suicidal, the therapist
________________.
Select one:
A.must tell the client's parent or legal guardian
B.must contact child protective services
C.may break confidentiality if necessary to prevent the threatened danger
D.should have the client complete a safety plan - CORRECT ANSWER: The correct
answer is C.Breaking confidentiality when a client of any age is suicidal is permitted by
EC Section 1024, which provides an exception to the psychotherapist-patient privilege
when a client poses a danger to self, but is also routinely interpreted as being applicable
to a breach of confidentiality in contexts outside of legal proceedings.
