California MFT Law and Ethics Cheat Sheet

Consent, Confidentiality, Privilege

16% of exam
Consent and Disclosure Privilege Essentials Privilege Exceptions Records Access Clocks Minor Consent Rules

Limits and Mandated Reporting

16% of exam
Child Abuse Reporting Elder and Dependent Abuse Danger and Crisis Duties Reporting Picker Tarasoff Trigger

Legal Standards for Practice

12% of exam
Records Retention and Disposal Unprofessional Conduct Associate Registration Rules Trainee vs Associate

Professional Competence and Integrity

16% of exam
Competence and Impairment Values and Objectivity Scope of competence Consultation duty

Responsibility to Clients

24% of exam
Boundaries and Dual Roles Termination and Continuity Boundary Picker Board Discipline vs Crime

Practice Policies and Responsibilities

16% of exam
Telehealth Standards Supervision Limits Advertising and Fees Telehealth Steps

Quick Facts

Exam LMFT Law and Ethics
Board California BBS
Vendor Pearson VUE
Items 50 scored, 25 pretest
Time 90 minutes
Fee $75 until June 2030
Score report Pass or fail only
Retake wait 90 days
Eligibility AMFT registration
Blueprint Effective January 2024

Records Clocks CO

Inspect 5 days, copies 15 days
Inspection: 5 working days Copies: within 15 days Board request: 15 days Retention: seven years

Confidentiality vs Privilege CO

Confidentiality

Therapist duty
Applies in practice
Broken by legal exceptions

Privilege

Evidence rule
Applies in legal proceedings
Client holds it
Practice duty vs court rule

Records Request Picker CO

Client wants to read → Allow inspection, 5 workdays
Client wants copies → Send within 15 days
Release risks harm → Offer designated professional review
Subpoena arrives → Assert privilege, notify client
Court order arrives → Comply with the order
Parent of minor asks → Check detriment exception
Board requests records → Provide within 15 days

Consent and Disclosure CO

Client notice BBS complaint notice required
Notice format At least 12-point type
Notice contents Name, number, type, expiration
Notice proof Delivery must be documented
Fee disclosure Before treatment begins 4982(n)
Good faith estimate Self-pay clients
Associate disclosure Unlicensed status, number, employer

Subpoena vs Court Order CO

Subpoena

Assert privilege
Do not release
Notify client

Court order

Judge decided
Comply as ordered
Release named records
Assert vs comply

Privilege Essentials CO

Evidence Code 1010 Defines psychotherapist
Evidence Code 1011 Defines patient
Evidence Code 1012 Confidential communication defined
Evidence Code 1013 Names the holder
Evidence Code 1014 Right to refuse disclosure
Evidence Code 1015 Therapist must claim privilege
Holder Client, guardian, or representative

Privilege Exceptions CO

Evidence Code 1016 Client raises mental condition
Evidence Code 1017 Court-appointed evaluation
Evidence Code 1018 Services aided crime
Evidence Code 1023 Competency proceeding
Evidence Code 1024 Danger to self or others
Evidence Code 1026 Information required to be reported
Evidence Code 1027 Child victim under 16

Records Access Clocks CO

Inspection Within 5 working days
Copies Within 15 days
Access law Health and Safety 123110
Refusal ground Substantial risk of harm
After refusal Note reason, inform client
Alternative Designated licensed professional inspects
Board request Copies within 15 days

Minor Consent Rules CO

Family Code 6924 Minor outpatient consent
Minimum age 12 years or older
Standard Mature enough to participate
Parents Involve unless inappropriate
Documentation Record contact attempt outcome
Payment Parents liable only if participating
Limits No psychotropics or convulsive therapy

Reporting Clocks RE

Child 36 hours, elder two days
Child: phone immediately Child: written 36 hours Elder: phone or internet Elder: written two days

Child vs Elder Reporting RE

Child abuse

Phone immediately
Written 36 hours
Penal Code 11166

Elder abuse

Phone or internet
Written two working days
WIC section 15630
36 hours vs two days

Reporting Picker RE

Suspect child abuse → Phone report immediately ( Written 36 hours )
Suspect elder abuse → Phone or internet report ( Written two days )
Dependent adult abuse → Same elder abuse process
Facility abuse, injury → Verbal within two hours
Serious threat stated → Warn victim and police ( Civil Code 43.92 )
Client gravely disabled → Refer for 5150 evaluation
Prior therapist sex → Give required brochure ( BPC 728 )

Child Abuse Reporting RE

Trigger Knows or reasonably suspects
Standard Objectively reasonable suspicion
First step Phone immediately or ASAP
Written report Within 36 hours
Form DOJ-adopted report form
Law Penal Code 11166
Failure to report Unprofessional conduct

Tarasoff Trigger RE

Communicated threat, identifiable victim, then warn
Threat told to therapist Victim reasonably identifiable Warn the victim Notify law enforcement

Duty to Protect vs Warning RE

Trigger

Communicated serious threat
Identifiable victim
Duty then arises

Discharge

Warn the victim
Notify law enforcement
Liability protection follows
Threat triggers, warning discharges

Elder and Dependent Abuse RE

Law Welfare Institutions Code 15630
First step Phone or internet tool
Timing Immediately or as practicable
Written report Within two working days
Covered harms Physical abuse, neglect, isolation
Facility abuse Verbal within two hours
Facility written Within 24 hours

Danger and Crisis Duties RE

Civil Code 43.92 Duty to protect
Trigger Communicated serious violent threat
Victim Reasonably identifiable person
Discharge Tell victim and police
Immunity No liability once discharged
Grave disability Cannot meet basic needs
5150 hold Up to 72 hours
Who may hold County-designated professionals only

Blueprint Split LE

Law 44 percent, Ethics 56 percent
Consent 16% Reporting 16% Legal standards 12% Competence 16% Client duties 24% Policies 16%

Trainee vs Associate LE

Trainee

Still in degree program
No registration number
12 units completed

Associate

Degree awarded
Registered with board
Number appears in ads
In school vs registered

Records Retention and Disposal LE

Adult records Seven years after termination
Minor records Seven years after turning 18
Format Written or electronic
Disposal Protect confidentiality when destroying
Law BPC 4980.49
Content standard Sound clinical judgment

Licensee CE vs Associate CE LE

Licensee

36 hours
Every two years
Renewal requirement

Associate

Three hours
Law and ethics only
Every year
36 biennial vs three annual

Unprofessional Conduct LE

Sexual relations Barred two years after termination
Fees Undisclosed fees are violations
Referral fees Paying or accepting prohibited
Advertising No false or misleading claims
Competence No practice beyond competence
Confidentiality Failure to maintain is violation
Conviction report Tell board within 30 days
Records to board Within 15 days

Associate Registration Rules LE

Registration term Expires after one year
Exam duty Take yearly until passed
Renewals Maximum five renewals
Hard limit Six years total
Subsequent number Requires passing the exam
Associate CE Three law and ethics hours
Licensee CE 36 hours every two years

Competence and Impairment CO

Scope of competence Education, training, experience
Staying current Track professional developments
Cultural competence Diversity-informed services
Beyond competence Refer or gain training
Impairment Stop practice, seek help
Substances No practice while impaired

Values and Objectivity CO

Self-awareness Monitor personal values
Bias Prevent effects on treatment
Conflicts of interest Avoid client exploitation
Consultation Seek help early
Documentation Record consultation decisions

Board Discipline vs Crime CL

BPC 4982

Unprofessional conduct
Board discipline
Two-year former-client bar

BPC 729

Criminal offense
Jail or fine
Sexual exploitation charge
License action vs prosecution

Boundary Picker CL

Client offers gift → Discuss impact, then decide
Client requests friendship → Decline, explain boundaries
Attraction develops → Seek consultation immediately
Former client contacts → Two-year bar applies
Colleague acts unethically → Address per ethical standards

Boundaries and Dual Roles CL

Sexual contact Prohibited with current clients
Former clients Two-year statutory bar
BPC 729 Sexual exploitation is crime
BPC 728 Give brochure, discuss it
Brochure Therapy Never Includes Sexual Behavior
Gifts Weigh therapeutic impact first
Nonprofessional contact Avoid exploitive dual roles

Termination and Continuity CL

When to terminate Treatment no longer needed
Referral Offer qualified alternatives
Continuity Plan interruptions and coverage
Abandonment Avoid abrupt unplanned endings
Documentation Record rationale and referrals
Autonomy Respect client decisions

Experience Math PR

3,000 hours across 104 weeks minimum
1,700 post-degree minimum 1,300 pre-degree maximum 1,750 direct clinical 500 couples, families, children

Telehealth Steps PR

Starting telehealth → Obtain informed consent ( BPC 2290.5 )
First session → Give license number
Before treatment → Explain risks and limits
Every session → Verify name and location
Setting up → Note local emergency resources
Client outside California → Follow that jurisdiction

Telehealth Standards PR

Rule 16 CCR 1815.5
Consent Obtain per BPC 2290.5
Disclose License number and type
Risks Explain telehealth limitations
Each session Verify name and location
Emergencies Document local crisis resources
Out of state Follow other jurisdiction rules
Training Three telehealth hours required

Supervision Limits PR

Total hours 3,000 over 104 weeks
Post-degree At least 1,700 hours
Pre-degree No more than 1,300
Direct clinical At least 1,750 hours
Relational hours 500 with couples, families, children
Weekly supervision One hour each credited week
Weekly cap Six supervision hours credited
Supervisee cap Six in nonexempt settings
Supervisor license Two years within five

Advertising and Fees PR

Associate ads State registered associate status
Ad details Number, employer, supervision
AMFT abbreviation Only with full title
Trainee ads Supervisor designation and number
Fictitious names No misleading business names
Fee basis Disclose before treatment starts

Common Traps

Confidentiality vs privilege

Confidentiality is practice duty ≠ Privilege is courtroom rule

Subpoena vs court order

Subpoena, assert privilege ≠ Court order, release records

Report clock mix-up

Child written 36 hours ≠ Elder written two days

Warn vs protect

Duty is to protect ≠ Warning discharges the duty

Retake course myth

No 12-hour retake course ≠ Associates need three CE hours

National exam myth

California uses its exam ≠ AMFTRB exam not required

Passing score myth

No published cut score ≠ Report shows pass or fail

Trainee vs associate ads

Associates list registration number ≠ Trainees list supervisor details

Last Minute

1. Exam: 50 scored, 25 pretest
2. 90 minutes, no published cut score
3. Law 44%, Ethics 56%
4. Child abuse: written within 36 hours
5. Elder abuse: written within two days
6. Tarasoff: warn victim and police
7. Records: keep seven years after termination
8. Inspect records within 5 working days
9. Copies of records within 15 days
10. Minors 12 and older may consent
11. Sexual relations barred two years
12. Associates: three law-ethics CE hours
13. Licensees: 36 CE hours biennially
14. Subpoena: assert privilege, not release
15. Supervision: 3,000 hours, 104 weeks

California MFT Jurisprudence

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