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Kansas licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Applicants generally complete a qualifying graduate degree, accrue post-degree supervised clinical experience, and pass a national examination. Verify current education, supervised-experience, examination, renewal, and continuing education requirements directly with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
A master's or doctoral degree in counseling of at least 60 graduate semester credit hours distributed across the required core areas, including a supervised practicum and clinical coursework in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders (per K.A.R. 102-3-3a; confirm the exact clinical-coursework breakdown). Verify current requirements with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) administered by NBCC for the clinical (LCPC) credential; no Kansas jurisprudence exam is required. Verify current requirements with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
3,000 hours of postgraduate supervised clinical professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact, completed in no less than 24 months, with one hour of clinical supervision per 15 hours of direct client contact and a minimum of 50 hours of individual supervision. Verify current requirements with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
Kansas participates in the Counseling Compact. It was enacted via 2023 HB 2288, effective July 1, 2023, though the Compact Commission is still building the infrastructure to issue privileges, so it is not yet fully operational. License portability is also available by endorsement. Verify current requirements with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in Kansas. Each links to its own full state guide — always verify current requirements with the relevant official board.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Counselor licensing laws, board rules, education and supervised-experience requirements, examinations, and renewal requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state counseling licensing board or applicable regulatory agency.