STRTP Practice Test

This page is for people training to run a California Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program who need to pass the CDSS Administrator Certification Exam after their Initial Certification Training Program (ICTP). It has free practice sets grouped by topic, worked explanations of sample questions and the checked exam facts with their official source. It also has a study plan for the 60 days you have after ICTP.

STRTP Exam at a Glance

What changed for STRTP in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Remote web-conferenced exam via Blackboard; open book (printed materials only) (previously Remote, live-proctored by ACB via Blackboard; open book (printed materials only)).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Next exam date changed to 2026-10-28 (previously Next sessions: Mon 10/26, Wed 10/28/2026; Nov–Dec 2026 Mondays and Wednesdays).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Testing window changed to Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM (previously Mondays & Wednesdays, 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM (2026–2027)).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Registration deadline changed to Within 60 days of ICTP completion date (previously Pass within 60 days of finishing the ICTP).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake fee changed to $0 for attempts 2 and 3; $100 after 3 failed attempts (previously Attempts 2–3 included; after 3 fails, new ICTP + $100 again).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to Immediately after exam submission in Blackboard (previously Immediately after submission (Blackboard)).^[2]

What the STRTP is and how it works

According to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) - Administrator Certification Bureau, “Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) 75 90 minutes”^[1]

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Administrator Certification Bureau runs the STRTP Administrator Certification Exam. Passing it is part of becoming a certified administrator of a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program. You take it after you finish your Initial Certification Training Program (ICTP).

The exam has 75 questions and a 90-minute time limit. You take it remotely through a combined web-conferencing and web exam application in Blackboard. It is open book, but only printed materials are allowed, so print your notes and reference pages before exam day. Exams run only on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM. Check the current CDSS exam schedule PDF for open dates.

You need a score of 70% or more to pass. Your result appears as soon as you submit the exam in Blackboard.

The $100 exam fee is non-refundable and covers up to 3 attempts. All of them must happen within 60 days of your ICTP completion date. Attempts 2 and 3 cost nothing extra. If you have not passed within 60 days and 3 attempts, you must take an ICTP course again and pay the $100 exam fee again. The initial certificate application fee is $140, and certificates renew on a two-year cycle. Fees and rules can change, so confirm them on the CDSS Administrator Certification pages before you register.

Worked examples: how to reason through STRTP questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which California state agency is primarily responsible for licensing Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs)?

1. Department of Social Services (DSS)
2. Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
3. Department of Education (CDE)
4. Department of Justice (DOJ)

Answer: A. Department of Social Services (DSS)

Explanation:

A is correct. The California Department of Social Services licenses STRTPs through its Community Care Licensing Division. The same department runs the Administrator Certification Bureau, which certifies STRTP administrators. The Department of Health Care Services (B) is a likely trap because it deals with Medi-Cal and mental health services, but it does not issue the facility license. The Department of Education (C) oversees schools, not residential care facilities. The Department of Justice (D) handles criminal record clearances for staff, but it is not the licensing agency.

Rule to remember: if a question is about licensing, inspections or administrator certification, the answer is CDSS. Other agencies handle supporting tasks, not the license itself.

Example 2

Question: How must medications be stored in an STRTP to comply with licensing regulations?

1. In a communal bathroom cabinet accessible to residents for self-administration
2. In a locked, secure location with controlled access by authorized staff
3. In the resident's personal bedroom for privacy
4. In a refrigerator shared with food items

Answer: B. In a locked, secure location with controlled access by authorized staff

Explanation:

B is correct. Medications in an STRTP must be kept in a locked, secure place that only authorized staff can open. This protects young people from misuse and accidental ingestion, and it lets staff account for every dose. A shared bathroom cabinet (A) is open to every resident, so there is no control over who takes what. A resident's bedroom (C) may seem to respect privacy, but the medication is left unsecured where other residents can reach it. A refrigerator shared with food (D) mixes medication with food and is open to everyone. Medications that need to be kept cold still have to be locked and stored apart from food.

Rule to remember: for medication storage questions, pick the option that is locked, separate and open only to authorized staff.

Example 3

Question: When a resident is discharged from an STRTP to reunify with their family, which clinical service is most commonly recommended to sustain progress?

1. Family therapy and in-home support services
2. Continued residential treatment at the same STRTP
3. Intensive inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
4. Adult day treatment programs

Answer: A. Family therapy and in-home support services

Explanation:

A is correct. An STRTP is a short-term placement. Discharge planning aims to move the young person into a family setting with enough support to keep the progress made in treatment. Family therapy and in-home support services do this by working with the whole family after the young person goes home. Staying at the same STRTP (B) works against reunification and short-term care. Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization (C) is a more restrictive level of care for acute crises, not a step down after progress. Adult day treatment (D) is for adults, and STRTP residents are children and youth.

Rule to remember: the best transition answer moves the young person to the least restrictive, family-centered option and keeps services going after discharge.

How to use these practice tests

1. Find your gaps. Take the STRTP Licensing and Regulatory Compliance and STRTP Resident Rights and Advocacy sets without notes. Write down every topic you miss.
2. Build your printed reference. The exam is open book, but only printed materials are allowed. Print your ICTP materials and the STRTP regulations, then tab them by topic so you can find a rule quickly.
3. Work through the remaining sets. Go through Safety and Crisis Management, Medication Management, Documentation and Record Keeping, Staffing and Training, Discharge Planning and the other topic sets. For each miss, find the rule in your printed reference and mark the page.
4. Practice at exam pace. You will have 90 minutes for 75 questions. Answer what you know first and save the book lookups for the hardest items.
5. Schedule early. Book a Monday or Wednesday session soon after ICTP. Your 3 attempts must all fall within 60 days, and booking early leaves time for attempts 2 and 3 if you need them.

Sources & last verified

1. California Department of Social Services (CDSS) - Administrator Certification Bureau — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake fee (official source). “Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) 75 90 minutes” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
2. California Department of Social Services (CDSS) - Administrator Certification Bureau — exam fee, score release (official source). “The Administrator Certification Exam non-refundable fee is $100 and includes up to three (3) attempts to pass the exam.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
3. California Department of Social Services (CDSS) - Administrator Certification Bureau — validity (official source). “If you renew more than two (2) years but less than four (4) years after your certificate expiration date, you must complete the required hours…” Verified Oct 27, 2026.
4. California Department of Social Services (CDSS) - Administrator Certification Bureau — next exam date, testing window (official source). “October Mondays – 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26 Wednesdays – 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.