California Law and Ethics Examination (CLEE) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A supervisee discloses to their supervisor that they are having significant personal difficulties affecting their clinical work. The supervisor should first:

File a complaint with the BBS
Ignore it as personal matters are outside supervision scope
Immediately terminate the supervisory relationship
Address it in supervision, explore the impact on clients, and consider recommending personal therapy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Address it in supervision, explore the impact on clients, and consider recommending personal therapy

Supervisors have a responsibility to address supervisee impairment that affects client care, which includes exploring the issue and recommending personal therapy when appropriate.

Question 2: In California, which board licenses Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)?

California Board of Psychology
Department of Consumer Affairs only
Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) (Correct answer)
California Medical Board

Correct answer: Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) is the regulatory agency responsible for licensing MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs.

Question 3: How many hours of the 3,000 required supervision hours for MFT licensure must be direct supervisor contact?

At least 52 hours
At least 250 hours
At least 500 hours
At least 100 hours (Correct answer)

Correct answer: At least 100 hours

California Business and Professions Code §4980.43 requires at least 104 hours of direct supervisor contact (individual or group) within the 3,000 supervised hours.

Question 4: Which of the following is a PRIMARY dynamic (modifiable) risk factor for suicide?

Male gender
History of childhood abuse or trauma
Current hopelessness and acute psychological pain (Correct answer)
Family history of completed suicide

Correct answer: Current hopelessness and acute psychological pain

Current hopelessness and psychological pain are dynamic factors that can change with clinical intervention, making them key targets in suicide risk reduction.

Question 5: A patient discloses that they were abused as a child but the abuse ended years ago and the perpetrator is now deceased. The therapist's reporting obligation is:

Must report to law enforcement within 36 hours
No current reporting obligation since the perpetrator is deceased and there is no ongoing risk (Correct answer)
Must consult with a supervisor before deciding
Must report immediately regardless of timing

Correct answer: No current reporting obligation since the perpetrator is deceased and there is no ongoing risk

CANRA reporting is intended to protect children from ongoing or future harm; historical abuse with no current risk and a deceased perpetrator generally does not create a mandatory reporting obligation.

Question 6: Under California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), who is classified as a mandated reporter?

Any adult who witnesses abuse
Only law enforcement officers
Licensed mental health professionals, teachers, and other specified individuals (Correct answer)
Only physicians and nurses

Correct answer: Licensed mental health professionals, teachers, and other specified individuals

CANRA designates specific professionals including therapists, counselors, teachers, and physicians as mandated reporters required by law to report suspected child abuse.

Question 7: Which of the following is a reportable form of elder abuse under California law?

Disagreements between family members about elder care decisions
An elder declining recommended medical treatment
Natural cognitive decline associated with aging
Financial abuse, including theft or misuse of an elder's funds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Financial abuse, including theft or misuse of an elder's funds

Financial abuse — including theft, fraud, or misuse of an elder's property or funds — is explicitly reportable under EADACPA.

Question 8: Under California law and professional ethics standards, when determining whether to hospitalize a high-risk suicidal client, therapists should primarily follow which guiding principle?

Always defer entirely to the client's stated preference regarding hospitalization
Consult with the client's insurance company before authorizing any hospitalization
Use the least restrictive intervention that adequately addresses the client's safety needs (Correct answer)
'When in doubt, hospitalize'—to avoid any risk of malpractice liability

Correct answer: Use the least restrictive intervention that adequately addresses the client's safety needs

California law and professional ethics require therapists to use the least restrictive effective intervention, balancing client autonomy and therapeutic alliance with safety needs.

Question 9: Under California Tarasoff law (Civil Code §43.92), a therapist's duty to warn is triggered by a patient's threat toward:

Only the therapist themselves
A reasonably identifiable third-party victim (Correct answer)
Only immediate family members
Any member of the general public

Correct answer: A reasonably identifiable third-party victim

The Tarasoff duty requires the victim to be 'reasonably identifiable' — vague threats against unnamed or unidentifiable persons do not trigger the duty.

Question 10: Residents have a right to telephone privileges. Which of these correctly describes these rights?

Residents may use phones, but they must provide their own.
Residents have the right to use phones during certain scheduled times.
Privacy and phone access are provided to each resident. (Correct answer)
Telephones can be used only under a caregiver's supervision.

Correct answer: Privacy and phone access are provided to each resident.

Residents in healthcare facilities have the right to privacy and access to communication, including telephone privileges. This means they should have reasonable access to a phone and the ability to make and receive calls privately, without undue restrictions or supervision. This right respects their autonomy and their ability to maintain connections with the outside world.

Question 11: A client requests to discontinue therapy. The therapist's ethical obligation regarding informed consent is to:

Document the refusal and charge a termination fee
Contact the client's family to discuss the decision
Require the client to continue for at least 30 days before terminating
Inform the client of potential risks of discontinuing and provide referrals as appropriate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Inform the client of potential risks of discontinuing and provide referrals as appropriate

Clients have the right to withdraw from treatment; therapists must inform them of relevant risks and provide referrals or resources as needed.

Question 12: A therapist may disclose confidential information without patient consent when:

The patient has not attended sessions for 60 days
The patient owes an unpaid balance
There is a serious and imminent threat to an identifiable third party (Correct answer)
Another therapist requests records for a referral

Correct answer: There is a serious and imminent threat to an identifiable third party

Under the Tarasoff duty (Civil Code §43.92), a therapist must take reasonable steps to protect an identifiable third party facing a serious and imminent threat.

Question 13: Electronic health records (EHRs) used by California mental health providers must comply with:

Only HIPAA — California has no additional EHR requirements
Only California state record-keeping laws
Voluntary industry standards only, as no specific laws govern EHRs
Both HIPAA security standards and California's data privacy laws, including CMIA (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Both HIPAA security standards and California's data privacy laws, including CMIA

EHRs must comply with both HIPAA's Security Rule and California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), which has additional protections beyond HIPAA.

Question 14: What is a 'covered entity' under HIPAA as it applies to a California therapist in solo private practice?

Therapists who use EHR systems but not those using paper records
Only therapists who accept Medicare or Medicaid
Any health care provider who transmits health information electronically in connection with covered transactions (Correct answer)
Only therapists who work in hospitals or large organizations

Correct answer: Any health care provider who transmits health information electronically in connection with covered transactions

HIPAA's covered entity definition includes health care providers who transmit health information electronically for standard transactions such as billing — this includes most solo practitioners.

Question 15: Under HIPAA, psychotherapy notes stored separately from the general medical record:

Require separate, specific patient authorization for release beyond standard TPO disclosures (Correct answer)
May be disclosed to insurers without authorization for billing purposes
Must be released with the medical record upon any patient request
Are not subject to HIPAA protections

Correct answer: Require separate, specific patient authorization for release beyond standard TPO disclosures

HIPAA's privacy rule gives psychotherapy notes (process notes) heightened protection, requiring a specific authorization separate from the general medical record authorization.

Question 16: A client with a serious mental illness lacks capacity to provide informed consent. The therapist should:

Proceed with treatment without consent since the client needs help
Discharge the client immediately to a higher level of care
Seek consent from a legally authorized representative and/or pursue appropriate legal processes (Correct answer)
Provide only crisis stabilization and no ongoing therapy

Correct answer: Seek consent from a legally authorized representative and/or pursue appropriate legal processes

When a client lacks decisional capacity, therapists must seek consent from a legally authorized representative (LAR) such as a conservator or authorized family member.

Question 17: A therapist discovers an error in a client's medical record. The correct way to make a correction is to:

White out or delete the error and rewrite the entry
Destroy the original record and create a new one
Leave the error in place and note the correction only in the next session's notes
Draw a single line through the error, add the correction, and date and initial the correction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, add the correction, and date and initial the correction

Proper record amendment requires a single line through the error, with the correction, date, and initials added — never obscuring or deleting original entries.

Question 18: A therapist who is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is approached by a client seeking treatment for a complex neurological disorder that is beyond the therapist's expertise. What is the therapist's responsibility in this situation?

Refer the client to a specialist who has experience with neurological disorders. (Correct answer)
Consult with a colleague who specializes in neurological disorders while continuing therapy.
Accept the client but limit the therapy to emotional support.
Take on the case and conduct research to learn about the disorder.

Correct answer: Refer the client to a specialist who has experience with neurological disorders.

Therapists are ethically bound to practice within their scope of competence and expertise. If a client presents with an issue beyond the therapist's training or experience, such as a complex neurological disorder, the therapist's responsibility is to refer the client to a qualified specialist. This ensures the client receives appropriate, effective, and specialized care, prioritizing their well-being.

Question 19: A mandated reporter's duty to report child abuse is triggered when they:

Have absolute proof that abuse occurred
Observe physical injuries firsthand
Know or reasonably suspect that abuse or neglect has occurred (Correct answer)
Receive a confession from the alleged perpetrator

Correct answer: Know or reasonably suspect that abuse or neglect has occurred

The 'reasonable suspicion' standard means the reporter does not need proof — they only need information that would cause a reasonable person to suspect abuse.

Question 20: A therapist has a patient who is a 'dependent adult' under California law. This means the patient:

Is under a court-ordered conservatorship
Is financially dependent on their therapist
Is between ages 18–64 with a physical or mental limitation that restricts their activities (Correct answer)
Has a substance use disorder

Correct answer: Is between ages 18–64 with a physical or mental limitation that restricts their activities

California Welfare and Institutions Code §15610.23 defines a dependent adult as a person aged 18–64 whose physical or mental limitation restricts their ability to carry out normal activities.

Question 21: A client who has signed an informed consent form later states they did not understand what they agreed to. The therapist's responsibility is to:

Have the client sign a second form acknowledging the original
Remind the client they signed the form and the matter is settled
Note the client's statement in the chart and continue treatment unchanged
Revisit the consent information, answer questions, and ensure true understanding (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Revisit the consent information, answer questions, and ensure true understanding

Informed consent is an ongoing process; therapists must ensure that clients genuinely understand the information throughout the treatment relationship.

Question 22: A resident in your care tells you that he does not like his current physician and wishes to be seen by another doctor. Your response to this should be ____.

to help the resident contact the social worker or RN for assistance in this matter (Correct answer)
to gently tell the resident that the doctor has been assigned to him and he cannot change physicians without a legal procedure
to acknowledge the resident's concerns and suggest a different medical provider
to reassure the resident that his doctor is qualified and capable and encourage the resident to respect the doctor

Correct answer: to help the resident contact the social worker or RN for assistance in this matter

Residents have the right to choose their physician. If a resident expresses dissatisfaction and wishes to change doctors, the nursing assistant's role is to advocate for them and facilitate their request through appropriate channels. This typically involves contacting the social worker or Registered Nurse (RN), who can then guide the resident through the process of changing physicians, respecting their autonomy.

Question 23: A therapist may withhold a client's records if:

The records are more than 5 years old
Disclosure would cause substantial harm to the client or others, as documented (Correct answer)
The therapist determines the client does not need the records
The client has an outstanding balance for services

Correct answer: Disclosure would cause substantial harm to the client or others, as documented

California Health and Safety Code §123115 permits withholding records if the treating provider documents that access would cause substantial harm to the patient or a third party.

Question 24: A client tells their therapist they plan to overdose on pills at home that evening. The therapist's MOST appropriate first action is to:

Document the conversation and schedule a next-day follow-up appointment
Call 911 immediately without further conversation with the client
Consult the BBS ethics hotline before taking any action
Conduct a thorough safety assessment and attempt to engage the client in collaborative safety planning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Conduct a thorough safety assessment and attempt to engage the client in collaborative safety planning

The clinically appropriate first response is to assess safety and attempt collaborative safety planning before escalating to involuntary intervention.

Question 25: A patient waives the psychotherapist-patient privilege when they:

Ask the therapist for a copy of their records
Miss multiple scheduled appointments
Place their mental condition at issue in a legal proceeding (Correct answer)
Request a change in treatment modality

Correct answer: Place their mental condition at issue in a legal proceeding

A patient waives privilege when they place their mental or emotional condition at issue in litigation, such as claiming emotional distress damages.

Question 26: When treating a minor, which party generally holds the psychotherapist-patient privilege?

The therapist on behalf of the minor
The minor patient exclusively
The minor's parent or guardian
Both the minor and the parent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Both the minor and the parent

For minor patients, the privilege is held by the minor's parent or guardian, with limited exceptions such as when the minor independently consented to treatment.

Question 27: Under California law, a therapist may breach confidentiality without client consent when:

The client discloses past criminal activity
There is a serious and imminent threat of harm to an identifiable third party (Correct answer)
The client misses multiple appointments without explanation
The therapist believes the client is withholding information

Correct answer: There is a serious and imminent threat of harm to an identifiable third party

California's Tarasoff duty requires therapists to take reasonable protective steps, including breaching confidentiality, when a client poses a serious and imminent threat to an identifiable third party.

Question 28: A therapist wishes to video record sessions for training purposes. The therapist must:

Obtain supervisor approval only — client consent is optional
Obtain consent only if the recording will be shown outside the agency
Obtain specific written informed consent for recording, separate from general therapy consent (Correct answer)
Notify the client in the initial disclosure but no separate consent is needed

Correct answer: Obtain specific written informed consent for recording, separate from general therapy consent

Recording sessions requires separate, specific informed consent beyond the general therapy consent, as recording is not a routine part of treatment.

Question 29: A California therapist receives a request from a coroner investigating a client's death. The therapist should:

Refuse to release any records due to the psychotherapist-patient privilege
Release records only with a court order
Cooperate with the coroner's request, as the privilege may be waived in death investigations (Correct answer)
Release records only if the deceased client's estate provides authorization

Correct answer: Cooperate with the coroner's request, as the privilege may be waived in death investigations

California law permits disclosure to coroners and medical examiners investigating a death, and courts have found privilege may yield to a coroner's lawful investigation.

Question 30: A California MFT who wants to add telehealth services must ensure that:

Telehealth sessions do not count toward supervised hours
All telehealth platforms must be approved by the BBS
They obtain a separate telehealth license from the BBS
Clients receiving telehealth are located in California unless the therapist holds licensure in the client's state (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Clients receiving telehealth are located in California unless the therapist holds licensure in the client's state

Therapists must hold licensure in the state where the client is physically located during telehealth sessions, meaning out-of-state clients generally require licensure in that state.

California Law and Ethics Examination (CLEE)

The California Law and Ethics Examination (CLEE), administered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), tests licensed therapists (LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCCs) on California laws and professional ethics governing behavioral health practice, including confidentiality, mandated reporting, and scope of practice.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

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No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

bbs.ca.gov — Renewal, fees, eligibility, retake policy, score validity, retake fee · verified Oct 2026
home.pearsonvue.com — Registration deadline · verified Oct 2026
pearsonvue.com — Test delivery, score release, time limit · verified Oct 2026