California Law and Ethics Examination for
LCSWs, Exam Questions With Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is required by law regarding client records?
A. Destroy records immediately after the client terminates
B. Retain records for at least 7 years after termination
C. Only keep records for minors
D. No retention is required
B. Retain records for at least 7 years after termination
California law mandates that clinical social workers maintain client
records for a minimum of 7 years after the termination of services.
2. A client requests access to their records. The LCSW may:
A. Refuse access under all circumstances
B. Provide access unless it would cause harm to the client or
others
C. Only provide summaries
D. Charge an unreasonable fee
B. Provide access unless it would cause harm to the client or others
Clients generally have the right to access their records; exceptions are
limited to situations where disclosure would be detrimental.
3. Dual relationships are considered:
A. Always acceptable
, B. Sometimes unavoidable and must be managed to prevent
exploitation
C. Encouraged to enhance rapport
D. Never addressed in law
B. Sometimes unavoidable and must be managed to prevent
exploitation
Ethical standards caution against dual relationships, but if unavoidable,
the therapist must prevent harm or exploitation.
4. Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California established:
A. Right to refuse clients
B. Duty to warn identifiable victims of threats
C. Client confidentiality is absolute
D. Mandatory reporting of child abuse
B. Duty to warn identifiable victims of threats
This landmark case clarified that therapists must warn identifiable third
parties if a client poses a serious risk of violence.
5. If a client reports past abuse of a dependent adult, an LCSW must:
A. Ignore if the abuse is not current
B. Report to the appropriate agency immediately
C. Only discuss in supervision
D. Wait for client consent
B. Report to the appropriate agency immediately
Mandated reporting laws require immediate reporting of suspected
abuse of dependent adults.
6. Confidentiality may be legally broken in all EXCEPT:
A. Court subpoena
, B. Client threatens self-harm
C. Client requests disclosure to a friend
D. Suspected child abuse
C. Client requests disclosure to a friend
Client permission to share is ethical but not a legal exception; disclosure
without proper consent is not mandatory.
7. Informed consent must include:
A. Fees, services, and limits of confidentiality
B. Only fees
C. Only the treatment plan
D. Therapist’s personal beliefs
A. Fees, services, and limits of confidentiality
Clients must understand the scope of services, fees, and confidentiality
before starting treatment.
8. An LCSW discovers a colleague is practicing unethically. The LCSW
should:
A. Ignore it
B. Confront publicly
C. Report to the Board or follow agency protocol
D. Immediately terminate the colleague’s license
C. Report to the Board or follow agency protocol
Ethical responsibility includes addressing colleague misconduct
appropriately, usually through reporting channels.
9. Which scenario is considered a dual relationship?
A. Treating a neighbor as a client
B. Treating a stranger
, C. Both A and working with a family member
D. Treating a client in an office setting
C. Both A and working with a family member
Dual relationships occur when multiple roles exist that could impair
professional judgment.
10. When can a social worker refuse a client?
A. If providing services would violate the worker’s values
B. Always
C. Never
D. Only if the client is rude
A. If providing services would violate the worker’s values
Refusal is permitted when accepting a client would compromise ethical
standards or professional judgment.
11. Child abuse reports must be made:
A. Within 24 hours
B. Within 36 hours of knowledge
C. Within a week
D. Only when the child asks
B. Within 36 hours of knowledge
California law mandates reporting suspected child abuse within 36
hours.
12. Confidentiality regarding HIV status is protected under:
A. FERPA
B. California State Law
C. HIPAA only
D. No law
LCSWs, Exam Questions With Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is required by law regarding client records?
A. Destroy records immediately after the client terminates
B. Retain records for at least 7 years after termination
C. Only keep records for minors
D. No retention is required
B. Retain records for at least 7 years after termination
California law mandates that clinical social workers maintain client
records for a minimum of 7 years after the termination of services.
2. A client requests access to their records. The LCSW may:
A. Refuse access under all circumstances
B. Provide access unless it would cause harm to the client or
others
C. Only provide summaries
D. Charge an unreasonable fee
B. Provide access unless it would cause harm to the client or others
Clients generally have the right to access their records; exceptions are
limited to situations where disclosure would be detrimental.
3. Dual relationships are considered:
A. Always acceptable
, B. Sometimes unavoidable and must be managed to prevent
exploitation
C. Encouraged to enhance rapport
D. Never addressed in law
B. Sometimes unavoidable and must be managed to prevent
exploitation
Ethical standards caution against dual relationships, but if unavoidable,
the therapist must prevent harm or exploitation.
4. Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California established:
A. Right to refuse clients
B. Duty to warn identifiable victims of threats
C. Client confidentiality is absolute
D. Mandatory reporting of child abuse
B. Duty to warn identifiable victims of threats
This landmark case clarified that therapists must warn identifiable third
parties if a client poses a serious risk of violence.
5. If a client reports past abuse of a dependent adult, an LCSW must:
A. Ignore if the abuse is not current
B. Report to the appropriate agency immediately
C. Only discuss in supervision
D. Wait for client consent
B. Report to the appropriate agency immediately
Mandated reporting laws require immediate reporting of suspected
abuse of dependent adults.
6. Confidentiality may be legally broken in all EXCEPT:
A. Court subpoena
, B. Client threatens self-harm
C. Client requests disclosure to a friend
D. Suspected child abuse
C. Client requests disclosure to a friend
Client permission to share is ethical but not a legal exception; disclosure
without proper consent is not mandatory.
7. Informed consent must include:
A. Fees, services, and limits of confidentiality
B. Only fees
C. Only the treatment plan
D. Therapist’s personal beliefs
A. Fees, services, and limits of confidentiality
Clients must understand the scope of services, fees, and confidentiality
before starting treatment.
8. An LCSW discovers a colleague is practicing unethically. The LCSW
should:
A. Ignore it
B. Confront publicly
C. Report to the Board or follow agency protocol
D. Immediately terminate the colleague’s license
C. Report to the Board or follow agency protocol
Ethical responsibility includes addressing colleague misconduct
appropriately, usually through reporting channels.
9. Which scenario is considered a dual relationship?
A. Treating a neighbor as a client
B. Treating a stranger
, C. Both A and working with a family member
D. Treating a client in an office setting
C. Both A and working with a family member
Dual relationships occur when multiple roles exist that could impair
professional judgment.
10. When can a social worker refuse a client?
A. If providing services would violate the worker’s values
B. Always
C. Never
D. Only if the client is rude
A. If providing services would violate the worker’s values
Refusal is permitted when accepting a client would compromise ethical
standards or professional judgment.
11. Child abuse reports must be made:
A. Within 24 hours
B. Within 36 hours of knowledge
C. Within a week
D. Only when the child asks
B. Within 36 hours of knowledge
California law mandates reporting suspected child abuse within 36
hours.
12. Confidentiality regarding HIV status is protected under:
A. FERPA
B. California State Law
C. HIPAA only
D. No law
