As a former Oral Examiner and Subject Matter Expert for California’s licensing board, I saw firsthand how Oral Exams were the most reliable tool for ensuring that only truly competent therapists were licensed. Since their elimination over the past two decades, the profession has steadily declined. Poorly trained and ethically unprepared therapists are now causing harm to vulnerable individuals. This is personal to me—I dedicated my career to healing the public, and I cannot remain silent while our standards and integrity deteriorate.

Reinstating Oral Exams as a national requirement for mental health licensure is imperative. These exams uniquely evaluate a candidate’s real-time clinical judgment, ethical reasoning, communication skills, and emotional maturity—qualities that written tests alone cannot measure.  As Oral Examiners, we used to shudder when we would consider what would happen if the roughly 60%+ of the candidates who did not pass the oral exam, some of whom were classified as dangerous, were to have become licensed.

The distinction between a capable therapist and an underqualified one can profoundly affect a client’s life. Inadequate assessment has led to the licensing of a growing number of unfit therapists, eroding public trust and putting mental health care at risk. This reform is urgent. While broader educational reform is needed, halting the flow of incompetent and dangerous therapists must take immediate priority.

Oral Exams also serve as a safeguard against ideological malpractice, helping to ensure that therapists provide balanced, evidence-based care rather than impose personal or political agendas on vulnerable clients.

We must act now to restore excellence and accountability in mental health care. Join us in calling for the reinstatement of Oral Exams in the licensure process. Together, we can uphold the highest standards of clinical practice and protect the individuals and families who depend on it. Sign the petition and be part of the solution.