Board votes to begin rulemaking to adopt AMFTRB national exam as California MFT clinical test

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences on Aug. 22 authorized staff to begin the regulatory process to designate the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) national exam as the state—s clinical exam for licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs).

The board framed the action as the first formal step in a transition the board has discussed since 2022; staff described it as a start to a process that could take 12–18 months to implement if regulatory language is approved and statutory changes take effect. Steve Sodergren, executive officer for the board, said the national exam would "increase license portability for California MFTs" and could reduce administrative barriers for licensees and staff while preserving consumer protections.

Board members and a range of stakeholders urged caution and asked staff to secure additional information before full implementation. Justin Huff, a board member, and others pressed for data on pass rates, demographic breakdowns, and how AMFTRB would expand test delivery to meet California demand. Several board members requested a fuller briefing and opportunities for closed-session review of some confidential examination materials before the rulemaking proceeds.

Stakeholder speakers at the meeting supported adoption but stressed conditions. Ben Caldwell, MFT and exam critic in public comment, said, "It is a fundamental principle of fairness in testing. The exam needs have a right to know what they're gonna be tested on and how they're going to be tested." Kathy Atkins of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and other organizational representatives offered support for the transition and volunteered to help gather data and disseminate information to practitioners.

Lois Bergen, executive director of AMFTRB, joined by phone and…