California and the MFT National Exam: Which LMFT Exams You Take Now and Where the Switch Stands

The two California exams an LMFT license requires today

AMFTRB's roadmap names California as the only exception among states that require its national exam for an LMFT license. As of October 27, 2026, the Board of Behavioral Sciences' LMFT applicant page lists two California exams, and neither is the national exam:

• California Law and Ethics Exam. BBS says associates (AMFTs) must take it every year to renew their registration until they pass, and must pass it to receive a subsequent registration number.
• LMFT Clinical Exam. You become eligible only after BBS approves your Application for Licensure and you've passed the Law and Ethics Exam. The Clinical Exam page says Pearson VUE administers it, that re-exam eligibility isn't released until 90 days after your last attempt, and that you must retake within one year of a failed attempt to keep your licensing file open.

BBS also requires 3,000 supervised hours over at least 104 weeks before licensure. None of this involves AMFTRB, PTC or Prometric. AMFTRB's FAQ says PTC holds no records of California exam scores, so questions about them go to BBS.

How California's clinical exam differs from the national exam

A BBS staff memo of April 28, 2026 compared the two exams side by side. Its table, with the national exam details updated from the 2027 handbook:

The memo adds that California also offers its own language accommodation (ESL), while AMFTRB offers extra time for English language learners (ELL). The difference that matters most to many California candidates is the last row: a California exam score doesn't travel.

Where California's switch to the national exam stands

BBS has been working toward using the AMFTRB exam as California's clinical exam for two years. The official record, in order:

Two points stand out. The California Law and Ethics Exam stays a state requirement; the April memo says it "will not be part of the clinical examination consideration." And nothing changes until the regulations are adopted: the November 2025 memo says the transition can't occur before then.

What BBS hasn't decided yet

As of October 27, 2026, BBS hasn't published a final regulation, a confirmed start date, the last date for its own clinical exam, or rules for candidates who are partway through. The outcome of the August 2026 closed session hasn't been made public. The November 2025 plan (national exam from January 2027) has been overtaken, so pages that still repeat it are out of date. BBS's Clinical Exam page gives no end date for the California exam.

Until BBS announces a date, plan for the exams on the BBS page. If your Clinical Exam eligibility falls in 2027, check the Board Meetings page after each meeting. Full prep planned for launch is built for the AMFTRB exam's six domains, not for California's Law and Ethics or Clinical exams, so it helps only once the national exam applies to you.

Taking the national exam while you live in California

You can, but not through BBS. AMFTRB's FAQ says the California board "cannot issue the approval codes necessary for registering for the national exam," so you need another state's board to approve you and send a code. AMFTRB doesn't recommend a board, but suggests trying nearby states.

What that means in practice:

• You must qualify in that state. Its board checks your degree, supervised hours and any other requirements before it issues a code. AMFTRB's Moving to a New State page answers a California licensee who wants to take the national exam before choosing a state with "No": you must apply through a state, because states are the licensing bodies.
• You can test in California. Once approved, you can book any Prometric center in the United States, its territories or Canada, including one in California.
• Your score goes to that state. PTC sends it to the board that issued your code. Sending it elsewhere later is a paid score transfer.
• No online option. AMFTRB's FAQ says the exam is given only at Prometric test centers, never remotely.

The registration steps after you have a code are the same as for anyone else; the registration guide covers the PTC application, fees and booking. If you're timing a move, the planned 180-day access option at launch leaves room if your test date moves.

Moving out of California, or into it

Licensed in California and moving. AMFTRB's Moving page says your new state may not accept California exam scores and may require the national exam. You apply to the new state's board, which decides whether you're eligible and then sends the approval code. Ask that board early, because its other requirements, such as coursework or supervised hours, may also differ. The score transfer guide covers what happens once you have a national score.

Moving into California. The same page says to check with BBS. The BBS LMFT page has separate application routes and guides for out-of-state and out-of-country applicants, and California's Law and Ethics Exam applies to you too.

Your next step in California

If the national exam is in your future, the 20 free MFT practice questions show how its couple and family items read, and the MFT exam dates guide lists every window through 2027. Full prep planned for launch adds original couple and family scenarios for each domain, each with an explanation.