65-6610. Application for licensure; requirements. (a) An applicant for licensure as an addiction counselor shall furnish evidence that the applicant:

(1) Has attained the age of 21;

(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; or

(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; or

(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; and

(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. 2016 Supp. 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 the age of 21;

(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; and

(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 fixed under K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 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 the age of 21; and

(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 4,000 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 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 50 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association; or has completed not less than one year of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 2,000 hours of supervised professional experience including at least 750 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 75 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 25 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, and such person has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field as approved by the board; 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 4,000 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 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 50 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association; or has completed not less than one year of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 2,000 hours of supervised professional experience including at least 750 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 75 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 25 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, and such person has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field as approved by the board; 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 4,000 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 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 50 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association; or has completed not less than one year of postgraduate supervised professional experience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by the board of not less than 2,000 hours of supervised professional experience including at least 750 hours of direct client contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 75 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 25 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association, and such person has a doctoral degree in addiction counseling or a related field as approved by the board; 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; and

(3) has passed an examination approved by the board; and

(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and

(5) has paid the application fee fixed under K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 65-6618, and amendments thereto.

(d) Prior to July 1, 2017, a person who was registered by the behavioral sciences regulatory board as an alcohol and other drug counselor or credentialed by the Kansas department for aging and disability services as an alcohol and drug credentialed counselor or credentialed by the Kansas association of addiction professionals as an alcohol and other drug abuse counselor in Kansas at any time prior to the effective date of this act, who was registered in Kansas as an alcohol and other drug counselor, an alcohol and drug credentialed counselor or a credentialed alcohol and other drug abuse counselor within three years prior to the effective date of this act and whose last registration or credential in Kansas prior to the effective date of this act was not suspended or revoked, upon application to the board, payment of fees and completion of applicable continuing education requirements, shall be licensed as a licensed addiction counselor by providing demonstration acceptable to the board of competence to perform the duties of an addiction counselor.

 (e) Prior to July 1, 2017, any person who was registered by the behavioral sciences regulatory board as an alcohol and other drug counselor or credentialed by the department of social and rehabilitation services as an alcohol and drug credentialed counselor or credentialed by the Kansas association of addiction professionals as an alcohol and other drug abuse counselor in Kansas at any time prior to the effective date of this act, and who is also licensed to practice independently as a mental health practitioner or person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and who was registered or credentialed in Kansas as an alcohol and other drug counselor within three years prior to the effective date of this act and whose last registration or credential in Kansas prior to the effective date of this act was not suspended or revoked, upon application to the board, payment of fees and completion of applicable continuing education requirements, shall be licensed as a licensed clinical addiction counselor and may engage in the independent practice of addiction counseling and is authorized to diagnose and treat substance use disorders specified in the edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association designated by the board by rules and regulations.

(f) Prior to July 1, 2017, any person who was credentialed by the department of social and rehabilitation services as an alcohol and drug counselor and has been actively engaged in the practice, supervision or administration of addiction counseling in Kansas for not less than four years and holds a master's degree in a related field from a college or university approved by the board and whose last registration or credential in Kansas prior to the effective date of this act was not suspended or revoked, upon application to the board, payment of fees and completion of applicable continuing education requirements, shall be licensed as a clinical addiction counselor and may engage in the independent practice of addiction counseling and is authorized to diagnose and treat substance use disorders specified in the edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American psychiatric association designated by the board by rules and regulations.

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; July 1.