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CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS EXAM LATEST 2025
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
Standard of Care - (answers)The standard of care is defined as the quality of care
that a reasonable and cautious therapist would provide clients. Unprofessional
conduct can lead to BBS administrative action, criminal or civil suits, or
malpractice suits.
Scope of Practice - (answers)Scope of practice defines the kinds of practice that
members of a profession are permitted to engage in. Practicing outside of a
licensee's scope of practice is a violation of the BPC and can result in serious
professional and personal consequences for licensees.
Scope of competence - (answers)Refers to the level of preparation a therapist
must have in the specific services that the therapist is providing. Practitioners
must continually assess and ensure that all clinical issues for which the
practitioner offers treatment meet or exceed the scope of competence.
Therapeutic Duty - (answers)Is a legal concept that encompasses all of the legal
and ethical responsibilities imposed by California state law, case law, and
professional ethical standards.
Therapeutic Duty to Appropriately Assess - (answers)Gathering information
throughout the therapeutic relationship is important because it helps the
therapist form a clearer picture of a client and the presenting issues. Therapists
must assess clients as they enter therapy and throughout treatment.
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Therapeutic Duty to Appropriately Diagnose - (answers)This duty is based on the
standard of care which requires LCSW or LMFT to do the following:
1. Utilize legally acceptable diagnostic procedures
2. Properly evaluate diagnostic procedures
3. Make proper decisions in light of results of the diagnostic procedures
4. Effectively and accurately recognize symptoms.
When must California LCSWs and LMFTs disclose their fees? - (answers)Prior to
the commencement of treatment.
True/False: The standard of care requires LCSWs and LMFTs to possess the scope
of competence to treat presenting critical issues. - (answers)TRUE. A reasonably
careful clinician is not legally obliged to be competent in addressing all issues that
might arise in the course of therapy, but crises so commonly arise in therapy that
all therapists should have the training, education, and experience to address this
issue.
True/False. Therapeutic duty requires therapists to assess, diagnose, and treat
according to the standing of care. - (answers)TRUE
A psychotherapy client reveals that five years ago he murdered his adult mistress.
In this case, the therapist has a legal obligation to do what? - (answers)Keep the
information confidential. The Tarasoff duty applies only to anticipated danger, not
to dangerous behavior that has already occurred.
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Ethical decision-making is a process that is often complex. To ensure clinical
safety, therapists are wise to take what actions? - (answers)1. Consider
professional values, principles, and standards detailed in their professional code
of ethics.
2. Consider how the issues would be judged if reviewed by peers.
3. Consider state laws, case law, and agency policies and procedures.
Professional codes of ethics, state laws, case law, the opinions of professional
peers, and agency policies and procedures all contribute to defining what a
reasonably careful practitioner would do and should do.
Confidentiality - (answers)California practitioners must hold all client information
confidential unless a client gives written consent to release information or there is
a legal mandate or permission to breach confidentiality.
What are mandated breaches of confidentiality? - (answers)Tarasoff.
Reasonable suspicion of child abuse
Reasonable suspicion of elder or dependent adult abuse exists
What are permitted (not mandated) breaches of confidentiality? - (answers)1. A
client's mental or emotional condition is such that the client is a danger to self
(suicide), others, or the property of others (CA Evidence Code 1024). The therapist
may breach confidentiality to the extent necessary to create safety for a client
when the client's mental or emotional state presents a danger to self, others, or
the property of others.
CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS EXAM LATEST 2025
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
Standard of Care - (answers)The standard of care is defined as the quality of care
that a reasonable and cautious therapist would provide clients. Unprofessional
conduct can lead to BBS administrative action, criminal or civil suits, or
malpractice suits.
Scope of Practice - (answers)Scope of practice defines the kinds of practice that
members of a profession are permitted to engage in. Practicing outside of a
licensee's scope of practice is a violation of the BPC and can result in serious
professional and personal consequences for licensees.
Scope of competence - (answers)Refers to the level of preparation a therapist
must have in the specific services that the therapist is providing. Practitioners
must continually assess and ensure that all clinical issues for which the
practitioner offers treatment meet or exceed the scope of competence.
Therapeutic Duty - (answers)Is a legal concept that encompasses all of the legal
and ethical responsibilities imposed by California state law, case law, and
professional ethical standards.
Therapeutic Duty to Appropriately Assess - (answers)Gathering information
throughout the therapeutic relationship is important because it helps the
therapist form a clearer picture of a client and the presenting issues. Therapists
must assess clients as they enter therapy and throughout treatment.
,2|Page
Therapeutic Duty to Appropriately Diagnose - (answers)This duty is based on the
standard of care which requires LCSW or LMFT to do the following:
1. Utilize legally acceptable diagnostic procedures
2. Properly evaluate diagnostic procedures
3. Make proper decisions in light of results of the diagnostic procedures
4. Effectively and accurately recognize symptoms.
When must California LCSWs and LMFTs disclose their fees? - (answers)Prior to
the commencement of treatment.
True/False: The standard of care requires LCSWs and LMFTs to possess the scope
of competence to treat presenting critical issues. - (answers)TRUE. A reasonably
careful clinician is not legally obliged to be competent in addressing all issues that
might arise in the course of therapy, but crises so commonly arise in therapy that
all therapists should have the training, education, and experience to address this
issue.
True/False. Therapeutic duty requires therapists to assess, diagnose, and treat
according to the standing of care. - (answers)TRUE
A psychotherapy client reveals that five years ago he murdered his adult mistress.
In this case, the therapist has a legal obligation to do what? - (answers)Keep the
information confidential. The Tarasoff duty applies only to anticipated danger, not
to dangerous behavior that has already occurred.
, 3|Page
Ethical decision-making is a process that is often complex. To ensure clinical
safety, therapists are wise to take what actions? - (answers)1. Consider
professional values, principles, and standards detailed in their professional code
of ethics.
2. Consider how the issues would be judged if reviewed by peers.
3. Consider state laws, case law, and agency policies and procedures.
Professional codes of ethics, state laws, case law, the opinions of professional
peers, and agency policies and procedures all contribute to defining what a
reasonably careful practitioner would do and should do.
Confidentiality - (answers)California practitioners must hold all client information
confidential unless a client gives written consent to release information or there is
a legal mandate or permission to breach confidentiality.
What are mandated breaches of confidentiality? - (answers)Tarasoff.
Reasonable suspicion of child abuse
Reasonable suspicion of elder or dependent adult abuse exists
What are permitted (not mandated) breaches of confidentiality? - (answers)1. A
client's mental or emotional condition is such that the client is a danger to self
(suicide), others, or the property of others (CA Evidence Code 1024). The therapist
may breach confidentiality to the extent necessary to create safety for a client
when the client's mental or emotional state presents a danger to self, others, or
the property of others.
