(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Accreditation” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-32,163, and amendments thereto;

(2) “accredited educational institution” means an educational institution that has achieved and maintained accreditation;

(3) “applicant” means a person who entered into military service and separated from such military service under conditions other than dishonorable;

(4) “community college” means any community college established under the laws of this state;

(5) “distance education course” means a course consisting solely or primarily of instruction provided online or in other computer-assisted formats, or by correspondence, audiotape, videotape or other media;

(6) “educational institution” means any postsecondary educational institution, private postsecondary educational institution and out-of-state postsecondary educational institution;

(7) “institute of technology” or “Washburn institute of technology” means the institute of technology at Washburn university;

(8) “licensing body” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-146, and amendments thereto;

(9) “military service” means the army, navy, marine corps, air force, air or army national guard of any state, coast guard or any branch of the military reserves of the United States;

(10) “municipal university” means Washburn university of Topeka or any other municipal university established under the laws of this state;

(11) “out-of-state postsecondary educational institution” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-32,163, and amendments thereto;

(12) “postsecondary educational institution” means any state educational institution, municipal university, community college, technical college and institute of technology, and includes any entity resulting from the consolidation or affiliation of any two or more of such postsecondary educational institutions;

(13) “private postsecondary educational institution” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-32,163, and amendments thereto;

(14) “state educational institution” means any state educational institution, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 76-711, and amendments thereto; and

(15) “technical college” means any technical college established under the laws of this state.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensing body may authorize any educational requirements for certification or licensure in this state to be waived if an applicant provides satisfactory evidence of completion of a distance education course. To qualify for such a waiver, the distance education course must be:

(1) Provided by an accredited educational institution; and

(2) substantially equivalent to the educational standards required for certification or licensure in this state.

(c) Each licensing body may adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this section.

(d) This section shall not apply to the practice of law or the regulation of attorneys pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 7-103, and amendments thereto.