(a) An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall furnish evidence that the applicant has:

(1) Attained 21 years of age;

(2) (A) completed a master’s or doctoral degree from a marriage and family therapy program, in an educational institution with standards approved by the board; (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 subparagraph (A) 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 and has completed an academically supervised practicum in the master’s degree program with at least 300 hours of direct client contact or a combined 300 hours of direct client contact and additional postgraduate supervised experience; 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 subparagraph (B);

(3) passed an examination approved by the board;

(4) satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and

(5) paid the application fee established by the board under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 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 300 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, except that the board may waive 1/2 of the hours required by this subparagraph for an individual who has a doctor’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field acceptable to the board and who completes the required 1/2 of the hours in not less than one year of supervised professional experience;

(E) for persons who earned a degree under subsection (a) prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the education and training requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C), 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 subparagraphs (B), (C) and (D), 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 set under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 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 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.

(c) (1) An individual may apply to the board for a community-based marriage and family therapist license to practice marriage and family therapy 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 Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-7402, and amendments thereto, a psychiatric residential treatment facility as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 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 marriage and family therapist 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 marriage and family therapist license.

(3) (A) Absent extenuating circumstances approved by the board, a community-based marriage and family therapist license issued by the board shall expire:

(i) Upon the date the board issues or denies a license to practice marriage and family therapy; or

(ii) 24 months after the date of issuance of the community-based marriage and family therapist license.

(B) No community-based marriage and family therapist 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 marriage and family therapy with a community-based marriage and family therapist license may use the title “licensed marriage and family therapist” or the initials “LMFT” independently.

(5) No person may practice marriage and family therapy under a community-based marriage and family therapist license except under the supervision of a person licensed by the board to practice at the independent level.

(6) The board shall not issue a community-based marriage and family therapist license or temporary marriage and family therapist license to an individual who has previously been issued a community-based marriage and family therapist license or temporary marriage and family therapist license.