65-6404. Application for licensure; requirements; fees; practice of licensed clinical marriage and family therapist. (a) An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall furnish evidence that the applicant:

(1) Has attained the age of 21;

(2) (A) has completed a master's or doctoral degree from a marriage and family therapy program, in an educational institution with standards approved by the board; or (B) has completed a master's or doctoral degree from an educational institution in a related field for which the course work is considered by the board to be equivalent to that provided in clause (2)(A) of this paragraph and consists of a minimum of nine semester hours in human development, nine semester hours in theories of marriage and family functioning, nine semester hours of marital and family assessment and therapy, three semester hours in professional studies and three semester hours in research; or (C) completed a master's or doctoral degree from an educational institution in a related field with additional work from an educational program in marriage and family therapy approved by the board and such degree program and additional work includes the course work requirements provided in clause (2)(B) of this paragraph;

(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) each applicant has paid the application fee established by the board under K.S.A. 65-6411, and amendments thereto.

(b) (1) Applications for licensure as a clinical marriage and family therapist 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:

(A) Is licensed by the board as a licensed marriage and family therapist or meets all requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist;

(B) has completed 15 credit hours as part of or in addition to the requirements under subsection (a) supporting diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual, through identifiable study of the following content areas: Psychopathology, diagnostic assessment, interdisciplinary referral and collaboration, treatment approaches and professional ethics;

(C) has completed a graduate level supervised clinical practicum of supervised professional experience including psychotherapy and assessment with individuals, couples, families or groups, integrating diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual, with not less than 350 hours of direct client contact or additional postgraduate supervised experience as determined by the board;

(D) 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 psychotherapy and assessments 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 mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual, except that one-half of the requirement of this part (D) may be waived for persons with a doctor's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field acceptable to the board;

(E) for persons earning a degree under subsection (a) prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the education and training requirements under parts (B) and (C) of this subsection, has completed the education requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in effect on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act;

(F) for persons who apply for and are eligible for a temporary permit to practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act, in lieu of the education and training requirements under parts (B), (C) and (D) of this subsection, has completed the education and training requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in effect on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act;

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

(H) has paid the application fee fixed under K.S.A. 65-6411, and amendments thereto.

(2) A person who was licensed or registered as a marriage and family therapist in Kansas at any time prior to the effective date of this act, who has been actively engaged in the practice of marriage and family therapy as a registered or licensed marriage and family therapist within five years prior to the effective date of this act and whose last license or registration 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 marriage and family therapist by providing demonstration of competence to diagnose and treat mental disorders through at least two of the following areas acceptable to the board:

(A) Either (i) graduate coursework or (ii) passing a national, clinical examination;

(B) either (i) three years of clinical practice in a community mental health center, its contracted affiliate or a state mental hospital or (ii) three years of clinical practice in other settings with demonstrated experience in diagnosing or treating mental disorders; or

(C) attestation from one professional licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders in independent practice or licensed to practice medicine and surgery that the applicant is competent to diagnose and treat mental disorders.

(3) A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist may engage in the independent practice of marriage and family therapy and is authorized to diagnose and treat mental 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. When a client has symptoms of a mental disorder, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist shall consult with the client's primary care physician or psychiatrist to determine if there may be a medical condition or medication that may be causing or contributing to the client's symptoms of a mental disorder. A client may request in writing that such consultation be waived and such request shall be made a part of the client's record. A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist may continue to evaluate and treat the client until such time that the medical consultation is obtained or waived.

(4) On and after January 1, 2002, a licensed marriage and family therapist may diagnose and treat mental disorders specified in the edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental 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 only under the direction of a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, licensed psychologist, person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or person licensed to provide mental health services as an independent practitioner and whose licensure allows for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. When a client has symptoms of a mental disorder, a licensed marriage and family therapist shall consult with the client's primary care physician or psychiatrist to determine if there may be a medical condition or medication that may be causing or contributing to the client's symptoms of a mental disorder. A client may request in writing that such consultation be waived and such request shall be made a part of the client's record. A licensed marriage and family therapist may continue to evaluate and treat the client until such time that the medical consultation is obtained or waived.

History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 4; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 19; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 20; L. 2001, ch. 154, § 8; L. 2009, ch. 135, § 1; May 28.