(a) All licenses issued shall be effective upon the date issued and shall expire at the end of 24 months from the date of issuance.

(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6311, and amendments thereto, a license may be renewed by the payment of the renewal fee set forth in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6314, and amendments thereto, and the execution and submission of a signed statement, on a form to be provided by the board, attesting that the applicant’s license has been neither revoked nor currently suspended and that applicant has met the requirements for continuing education established by the board including not less than three continuing education hours of professional ethics.

(2) Prior to July 1, 2025, an applicant for renewal of a license as a master social worker or a specialist clinical social worker, as part of such continuing education, shall complete not less than six continuing education hours relating to diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. On and after July 1, 2025, such applicant shall complete not less than three continuing education hours relating to diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

(3) An applicant for first time licensure renewal as a baccalaureate social worker, master social worker or specialist clinical social worker, as part of such continuing education, shall complete not less than six hours of social worker safety awareness training. If the applicant for first time licensure renewal has already taken such training, as part of a previous level of social work licensure renewal, then the applicant is not required to complete an additional six hours of social worker safety training.

(c) The application for renewal shall be made on or before the date of the expiration of the license or on or before the date of the termination of the period of suspension.

(d) (1) A licensee who is unable to complete the required continuing education hours for renewal may request additional time to complete any remaining continuing education hours. Such request shall be made to the board not later than 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of the license and shall include:

(A) The licensee’s reason for requesting additional time, showing extenuating circumstances for why the hours could not be completed during the license period; and

(B) a plan outlining the manner in which the licensee intends to complete the remaining continuing education hours.

(2) The board may grant a licensee up to three additional months beyond the license expiration date to complete the required continuing education hours.

(3) A licensee who receives additional time to complete continuing education hours under this subsection shall:

(A) Renew the license prior to the license expiration date and report to the board the number of continuing education hours completed on such date;

(B) notify the board upon completing the remaining continuing education hours; and

(C) be subject to an audit by the board of the total number of continuing education hours completed for the applicable license period.

(4) Continuing education hours completed during additional time granted under this subsection shall be credited only toward the requirements for the license period for which additional time is granted.

(5) A licensee shall not be approved for additional time to complete continuing education requirements in consecutive license periods.

(e) (1) A person whose license has expired may make written application to the board requesting reinstatement of the license in a manner prescribed by the board, and such application shall be accompanied by:

(A) The renewal fee established under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6314, and amendments thereto, and, for any person whose license has been expired for one year or less, an additional fee equal to the renewal fee; and

(B) evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has completed during the previous 24 months the continuing education requirements for one license period.

(2) A person requesting to reinstate a license that has been expired for longer than one year who has not completed the necessary continuing education hours for reinstatement may submit an application for a six-month reinstatement temporary license in a manner prescribed by the board, and such application shall be accompanied by the fee established under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6314, and amendments thereto. A licensee practicing under a six-month reinstatement temporary license shall complete the continuing education requirements required for a permanent license prior to the expiration of the temporary license and notify the board upon such completion. A six-month reinstatement temporary license shall not be extended or renewed.

(f) In case of a lost or destroyed license, and upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction thereof, the board may issue a duplicate license and shall charge a fee as set forth in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6314, and amendments thereto, for such duplicate license.

(g) Within 30 days after any change of permanent address, a licensee shall notify the board of such change.