(a) Any person who desires to be licensed under this act shall apply to the board in writing, on forms prepared and furnished by the board. Each application shall contain appropriate documentation of the particular qualifications required by the board and shall be accompanied by the required fee.

(b) The board shall license as a licensed master’s level psychologist any applicant for licensure who pays the fee prescribed by the board under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-5365, and amendments thereto, which shall not be refunded, who has satisfied the board as to such applicant’s training and who complies with the provisions of this subsection. An applicant for licensure also shall submit evidence satisfactory to the board that such applicant:

(1) Is at least 21 years of age;

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

(3) has received at least 60 graduate hours including a master’s degree in psychology based on a program of studies in psychology from an educational institution having a graduate program in psychology consistent with state universities of Kansas; or until July 1, 2003, has received at least a master’s degree in psychology and during such master’s or post-master’s coursework completed a minimum of 12 semester hours or its equivalent in psychological foundation courses such as, but not limited to, philosophy of psychology, psychology of perception, learning theory, history of psychology, motivation, and statistics and 24 semester hours or its equivalent in professional core courses such as, but not limited to, two courses in psychological testing, psychopathology, two courses in psychotherapy, personality theories, developmental psychology, research methods, social psychology; or has passed comprehensive examinations or equivalent final examinations in a doctoral program in psychology and during such graduate program completed a minimum of 12 semester hours or its equivalent in psychological foundation courses such as, but not limited to, philosophy of psychology, psychology of perception, learning theory, history of psychology, motivation and statistics and 24 semester hours or its equivalent in professional core courses such as, but not limited to, two courses in psychological testing, psychopathology, two courses in psychotherapy, personality theories, developmental psychology, research methods, social psychology;

(4) has completed 750 clock hours of academically supervised practicum in the master’s degree program or 1,500 clock hours of postgraduate supervised work experience; and

(5) has passed an examination approved by the board with a minimum score set by the board by rules and regulations.

(c) (1) Applications for licensure as a clinical psychotherapist 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 master’s level psychologist or meets all requirements for licensure as a master’s level psychologist;

(B) has completed 15 credit hours as part of or in addition to the requirements under subsection (b) supporting diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association’s diagnostic and statistical manual, through identifiable study of: 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 3,000 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 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 mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association’s diagnostic and statistical manual;

(E) for persons earning a degree under subsection (b) prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the education requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C), has completed the education requirements for licensure as a licensed master’s level psychologist 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 master’s level psychology license to practice as a licensed master’s level psychologist on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act, in lieu of the education and training requirements under subparagraphs (B), (C) and (D), has completed the education and training requirements for licensure as a master’s level psychologist in effect on the day immediately preceding the effective date of this act;

(G) has passed an examination approved by the board with the same minimum passing score as that set by the board for licensed psychologists; and

(H) has paid the application fee if required by the board and, upon notification from the board that all eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee.

(2) A person who was licensed or registered as a master’s level psychologist in Kansas at any time prior to the effective date of this act, who has been actively engaged in the practice of master’s level psychology as a registered or licensed master’s level psychologist 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 psychotherapist 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 psychotherapist may engage in the independent practice of master’s level psychology 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 psychotherapist 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 psychotherapist may continue to evaluate and treat the client until such time that the medical consultation is obtained or waived.

(d) The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing the criteria that an educational institution shall satisfy in meeting the requirements established under subsection (b)(3). The board may send a questionnaire developed by the board to any educational institution for which the board does not have sufficient information to determine whether the educational institution meets the requirements of subsection (b)(3) and rules and regulations adopted under this section. The questionnaire providing the necessary information shall be completed and returned to the board in order for the educational institution to be considered for approval. The board may contract with investigative agencies, commissions or consultants to assist the board in obtaining information about educational institutions. In entering such contracts the authority to approve educational institutions shall remain solely with the board.

(e) (1) An individual may apply to the board for a community-based master’s level psychologist license to practice master’s level psychology in the scope of employment by a community mental health center, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 39-2002, and amendments thereto, a federally qualified health center as defined in KSA 65-7402, and amendments thereto, a psychiatric residential treatment facility as defined in KSA 39-2002, and amendments thereto, or a private treatment facility as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 59-29b46, and amendments thereto.

(2) A community-based master’s level psychologist license may be issued by the board after the board reviews and approves the application and the applicant has paid the fee set by the board for issuance of a community-based master’s level psychologist license.

(3) (A) Absent extenuating circumstances approved by the board, a community-based master’s level psychologist license issued by the board shall expire:

(i) Upon the date the board issues or denies a license to practice master’s level psychology; or

(ii) 24 months after the date of issuance of the community-based master’s level psychologist license.

(B) No community-based master’s level psychologist license shall be renewed or issued again on any subsequent application for the same license level. This paragraph shall not be construed to limit the number of times an applicant may take the examination.

(4) A person practicing master’s level psychology with a community-based master’s level psychologist license may use the title “licensed master’s level psychologist” or the initials “LMLP” independently.

(5) No person may practice master’s level psychology under a community-based master’s level psychologist license except under the supervision of a person licensed to practice psychology or master’s level psychology in Kansas.

(6) The board shall adopt rules and regulations to set the fee, if required by the board, for the issuance of a community-based master’s level psychologist license in an amount not to exceed $100.

(7) The board shall not issue a community-based master’s level psychologist license or temporary master’s level psychologist license to an individual who has previously been issued a community-based master’s level psychologist license or temporary master’s level psychologist license.