Free CPLEE Practice Questions

Question 1

During a session, a 16-year-old says a stepfather struck the client's 8-year-old sibling with a belt the night before, leaving visible welts. The psychologist has the child's name and address and reasonably suspects abuse. What must the psychologist do?

Accepted Answer

Telephone an authorized agency as soon as practicable and submit the written follow-up within 36 hours

Answer

First interview the sibling or alleged perpetrator, because secondhand information cannot establish reasonable suspicion

Answer

Notify the clinic director and wait for confirmation that the director will assume the psychologist's individual reporting duty

Answer

File the written report within 36 hours and call only if the agency later asks

Question 2

A psychotherapy client says, "Tomorrow at 6 p.m. I am going to shoot Dana Ruiz in the accounting office. The loaded gun is in my car." Dana is a readily identifiable former supervisor. Which action most directly discharges the psychologist's California duty to protect?

Accepted Answer

Make reasonable efforts to notify Dana Ruiz and a law enforcement agency

Answer

Increase session frequency and preserve confidentiality unless the client repeats the threat outside treatment

Answer

Arrange an involuntary evaluation and delay any warning until another clinician independently confirms intent

Answer

Notify only the employer's security office because the threatened person is at a workplace

Question 3

A mature 14-year-old seeks outpatient counseling for anxiety and family conflict. The psychologist finds the minor able to participate intelligently. There is no suspected abuse and no danger to self or others. Under current California law, which statement is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The minor may consent; involve a parent unless that is inappropriate after consulting the minor, and document contact efforts or the reason for no contact

Answer

Parental consent remains required because the minor is neither abused nor dangerous, the conditions historically required for self-consent

Answer

Only an emancipated minor may consent to counseling provided by a private psychologist rather than a public agency

Answer

The minor may consent, but a parent must be notified before treatment and receives unrestricted access to every clinical note

Question 4

A private-practice psychologist who is not designated by the county evaluates a client reporting brief thoughts that life is not worth living. The client denies intent, planning, preparatory behavior, and prior attempts; identifies strong protective factors; can provide for food, clothing, and shelter; and agrees to same-day voluntary safety planning and follow-up. Which plan is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Proceed with documented voluntary safety planning and close follow-up; seek an authorized evaluator if risk escalates

Answer

Arrange a 72-hour detention because any passive wish for death establishes danger to self

Answer

Terminate outpatient treatment and disclose the entire record to family members as a protective measure

Answer

Take no further action because denying a suicide plan eliminates clinically meaningful risk

Question 5

A patient was born on March 20, 2014, and was discharged from a psychologist's care on July 1, 2025, while still a minor. Under California's psychologist record-retention statute, through at least which date must the record be retained?

Accepted Answer

March 20, 2039

Answer

July 1, 2032

Answer

March 20, 2032

Answer

July 1, 2039

Question 6

An adult former client submits a written request for an electronic copy of an ordinary clinical record that is maintained electronically and offers to pay lawful copying costs. The client owes an unpaid treatment balance, and there is no clinical basis for withholding access. How should the psychologist handle the request?

Accepted Answer

Provide the electronic copy within 15 days; an unpaid treatment bill is not a basis for withholding it

Answer

Withhold the record until the balance is paid, then release it within 30 days of payment

Answer

Offer inspection within five working days but decline to provide copies because the client is no longer in treatment

Answer

Provide a treatment summary instead of the requested record unless the client obtains a court order

Question 7

An established in-person client agrees to use video for today's session, the first telehealth contact in the treatment. Before the session proceeds, which step is required?

Accepted Answer

Inform the client about telehealth, obtain verbal or written consent, and document it

Answer

Obtain a notarized written consent identifying the platform vendor and every person with potential system access

Answer

Proceed under the original treatment consent because the therapeutic relationship began face to face

Answer

Complete the session first and obtain consent only before scheduling another telehealth appointment

Question 8

A court appoints a psychologist to evaluate a parent in a contested custody matter. The parent says, "I will not sign a treatment consent, so you cannot evaluate me." Which opening explanation is ethically appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Explain that the evaluation is court ordered, its purpose and recipients, the limits of confidentiality, and consequences of participation or nonparticipation

Answer

Promise full confidentiality unless the parent later authorizes disclosure, as in ordinary treatment

Answer

Describe the service as treatment and tell the parent that all findings will be released only at the parent's direction

Answer

Cancel the evaluation because every court-ordered examinee must voluntarily consent before any assessment can occur

Question 9

An adult client cannot understand the material risks and benefits of a proposed nonemergency treatment. A court-authorized conservator may consent, while the client can understand a simple explanation and express a preference. Which combination best respects the client's rights?

Accepted Answer

Obtain the conservator's permission, explain the treatment appropriately, and seek the client's assent

Answer

Rely on the client's signature because an adult's legal status alone establishes capacity for every treatment decision

Answer

Explain the proposal only to the conservator, not to the client

Answer

Begin treatment without the conservator's permission because the client's assent is legally equivalent to informed consent

Question 10

A former adult therapy client instructs a psychologist not to disclose treatment communications. Opposing counsel then serves an attorney-issued subpoena, but the client has not waived privilege and no judge has ruled on disclosure. What should the psychologist do before making any disclosure?

Accepted Answer

Claim the privilege and withhold disclosure unless the client waives it or a court orders otherwise

Answer

Produce the complete file immediately because service of any subpoena automatically waives the client's psychotherapist-patient privilege

Answer

Produce only progress notes because privilege protects psychotherapy notes but not ordinary treatment communications

Answer

Ignore the subpoena entirely because no response is required unless a judge personally signs it

Free CPLEE Practice Questions

Domain 1: Informed Consent, Confidentiality, and Privilege 20% of exam

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Domain 2: Psychotherapeutic Relationships 13% of exam

Question 4

Domain 4: Assessments, Evaluation, and Intervention 20% of exam

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Domain 5: Records 11% of exam

Question 9

Question 10

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