§ 65-6610 — Application for licensure; addiction counselor; master's addiction counselor; clinical addiction counselor; requirements

(a) An applicant for licensure as an addiction counselor shall furnish evidence that the applicant:
(1) Has attained 21 years of age;
(2) (A) has completed at least a baccalaureate degree from an addiction counseling program that is part of a college or university approved by the board;
(B) has completed at least a baccalaureate degree from a college or university approved by the board. As part of, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a minimum number of semester hours of coursework on substance use disorders as approved by the board;
(C) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed baccalaureate social worker and has completed a minimum number of semester hours of coursework on substance use disorders as approved by the board; or
(D) is currently licensed in Kansas by the board as a master social worker, specialist clinical social worker, professional counselor, clinical professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical marriage and family therapist, master's level psychologist, clinical psychotherapist or psychologist. Such licensees shall be eligible to take the examination as required by paragraph (3);
(3) has passed an examination approved by the board;
(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and
(5) has paid the application fee established by the board under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board that all eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee established under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto.
(b) Applications for licensure as a master's addiction counselor shall be made to the board on a form and in the manner prescribed by the board. Each applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(1) (A) Has attained 21 years of age;
(B) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from an addiction counseling program that is part of a college or university approved by the board;
(ii) has completed at least a master's degree from a college or university approved by the board. As part of or in addition to the master's degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a minimum number of semester hours of coursework supporting the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders as approved by the board; or
(iii) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed master social worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed master's level psychologist;
(C) has passed an examination approved by the board;
(D) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and
(E) has paid the application fee set under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board that all eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee as provided by K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto; or
(2) (A) has met the following requirements on or before July 1, 2016:
(i) Holds an active license by the board as an addiction counselor; and
(ii) has completed at least a master's degree in a related field from a college or university approved by the board; and
(B) has completed six hours of continuing education in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders during the three years immediately preceding the application date.
(c) Applications for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor shall be made to the board on a form and in the manner prescribed by the board. Each applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant:
(1) Has attained 21 years of age;
(2) (A) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from an addiction counseling program that is part of a college or university approved by the board; and
(ii) has completed not less than two years of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision, except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1 / 2 of the hours required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who completes the required 1 / 2 of the hours in not less than one year of supervised professional experience; or
(B) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from a college or university approved by the board. As part of or in addition to the master's degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a minimum number of semester hours of coursework supporting the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders as approved by the board; and
(ii) has completed not less than two years of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision, except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1 / 2 of the hours required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who completes the required 1 / 2 of the hours in not less than one year of supervised professional experience; or
(C) (i) has completed a master's degree from a college or university approved by the board and is licensed by the board as a licensed master's addiction counselor; and
(ii) has completed not less than two years of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision, except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1 / 2 of the hours required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who completes the required 1 / 2 of the hours in not less than one year of supervised professional experience; or
(D) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed psychologist, licensed specialist clinical social worker, licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical psychotherapist or licensed clinical marriage and family therapist and provides to the board an attestation from a professional licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, or substance use disorders, or both, in independent practice or licensed to practice medicine and surgery stating that the applicant is competent to diagnose and treat substance use disorders;
(3) has passed an examination approved by the board;
(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and
(5) has paid the application fee set under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board that all eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee established under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto.

Legislative History

L. 2010, ch. 45, § 4; L. 2011, ch. 114, § 12; L. 2012, ch. 58, § 2; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 281; L. 2016, ch. 92, § 54; L. 2018, ch. 71, § 39; L. 2021, ch. 88, § 25; L. 2022, ch. 77, § 4; L. 2023, ch. 90, § 22; July 1.