TCI Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the TCI exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 TCI Exam Format at a Glance

50
Questions
60 min
Time Limit
80%
Passing Score

📚 TCI Topics to Study (39)

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Crisis Intervention · 7 cardsLegal and Ethical Considerations in Crisis Intervention · 7 cardsLegal and Ethical Considerations in Crisis Intervention · 7 cardsBehavior Support and Intervention Hierarchy · 6 cardsCaregiver Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation · 6 cardsDeveloping and Using Individual Crisis Management Plans (ICMPs) · 6 cardsPhysical Interventions Criteria & Safety · 6 cardsPost-Crisis Response and Recovery · 6 cardsThe Impact of Trauma on Behavior and Brain Development · 6 cardsThe Life Space Interview (LSI) · 6 cardsThe Stress Model of Crisis · 6 cardsBehavior Support and Intervention Hierarchy · 6 cardsBehavior Support and Intervention Hierarchy · 6 cardsCaregiver Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation · 6 cardsCaregiver Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation · 6 cardsCrisis Prevention Strategies · 6 cardsCrisis Prevention Strategies · 6 cardsDe-escalation Techniques · 6 cardsDe-escalation Techniques · 6 cardsDeveloping and Using Individual Crisis Management Plans (ICMPs) · 6 cardsDeveloping and Using Individual Crisis Management Plans (ICMPs) · 6 cardsPhysical Interventions Criteria & Safety · 6 cardsPhysical Interventions Criteria & Safety · 6 cardsPost-Crisis Response and Recovery · 6 cardsPost-Crisis Response and Recovery · 6 cardsRisk Assessment · 6 cardsRisk Assessment · 6 cardsThe Impact of Trauma on Behavior and Brain Development · 6 cardsThe Impact of Trauma on Behavior and Brain Development · 6 cardsThe Life Space Interview (LSI) · 6 cards

✍️ Sample TCI Questions & Answers

1. Who should IDEALLY be involved in developing a young person's ICMP in TCI?
The young person, their family, and the care team collaboratively

TCI advocates for collaborative development of ICMPs that includes the young person, their family, and the full care team to ensure comprehensive, person-centered planning.

2. Under mandatory reporting laws, a TCI staff member who reasonably suspects child abuse must report to authorities:
Immediately, regardless of supervisor approval

Mandatory reporters are legally required to report suspected abuse immediately and independently — supervisor approval is not required and cannot delay the report.

3. A young person displays a hypervigilant response, constantly scanning the room and startling at small noises. According to TCI, this is best understood as:
A nervous system adaptation to past danger that is now inappropriately activated in safe settings

Hypervigilance is a nervous system adaptation to chronic threat exposure - the brain remains on high alert even in safe environments because safety was unpredictable in the past.

4. When a young person has previously responded to a particular trigger with significant escalation, TCI risk assessment would:
Use this historical pattern as a predictive tool to prepare proactive strategies when the trigger is anticipated

Historical patterns of escalation in response to specific triggers are valuable predictive information used to plan proactive interventions.

5. TCI's Stress Model was developed to help caregivers understand that challenging behavior is:
A natural response to stress that follows predictable patterns and can be influenced through skilled intervention

TCI's Stress Model frames challenging behavior as a natural, predictable stress response that can be understood and influenced through skilled, timely caregiver intervention.

6. When a child is in the recovery phase after a crisis, they are most likely feeling:
Subdued, remorseful, or confused.

The recovery phase is the period after the crisis has de-escalated. The child is no longer explosive but is often emotionally and physically drained, potentially feeling guilty, ashamed, or confused about what happened.

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Your TCI Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation