Kansas Counselor and Therapist Licensure Renewal Dates and CE Requirements -

In Kansas, the credentialing and licensure requirements for counselors and therapists are managed by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB).

There are two main types of counseling licenses in the state: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Below is an outline of the credentialing process, licensure renewal details, and associated costs.

Credentialing Requirements for LPC and LCPC in Kansas

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Education: Must have a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a closely related field from an accredited institution. The program must include at least 60 graduate credit hours.
- Supervised Experience: A minimum of 350 hours of supervised practicum experience is required.
- Examination: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
- Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable).
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
- Education: An LPC credential is required, along with a graduate-level degree. The degree must include coursework specific to clinical practice.
- Supervised Experience: A minimum of 4,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical experience (over at least two years) is required.
- Examination: Must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
- Application Fee: $150 (non-refundable).

Licensure Renewal Details and Costs

Both LPC and LCPC licenses in Kansas must be renewed every two years. The renewal is tied to the counselor’s birthdate, and the state sends out renewal notices 45 days prior to the expiration date.

LPC License Renewal
- Fee: $150
- Continuing Education (CE): 30 hours of continuing education are required, which must include at least 6 hours in professional ethics.
LCPC License Renewal
- Fee: $180
- Continuing Education (CE): 30 hours of continuing education are required, with 6 hours focused on professional ethics. Additionally, LCPCs are encouraged to earn CE hours in clinical supervision if they supervise other professionals.

Additional Fees

Late Renewal Fee: $100 (in addition to the regular renewal fee)
License Reinstatement Fee: $200 if the license has lapsed.
Duplicate License: $25 for a duplicate license if the original is lost or damaged.
License Verification: $25 fee for the verification of licensure for transfer to another state.

Sources:

Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB), Kansas. “Licensed Professional Counselor Requirements.”
https://ksbsrb.ks.gov
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). “Kansas LPC & LCPC Requirements.”
https://www.nbcc.org

Agents of Change Continuing Education offers Unlimited Access to 150+ NBCC-approved CE courses for one low annual fee to meet Kansas requirements for Counselor and Therapist Continuing Education credits.

2) Kansas Counselor and Therapist Continuing Education Requirements

In Kansas, licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs) are required to fulfill specific continuing education (CE) requirements as part of their licensure renewal process.

These CE requirements are designed to ensure that counselors and therapists stay current with the latest knowledge, skills, and ethical standards in the field. Below is a detailed breakdown of the CE requirements for both LPCs and LCPCs.

General Continuing Education Requirements

Total CE Hours:
- Both LPCs and LCPCs must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period.
Ethics Requirement:
- Of the 30 CE hours, 6 hours must be focused on topics related to professional ethics. This requirement is mandatory for both LPCs and LCPCs and helps ensure that professionals remain aware of ethical guidelines and best practices in the counseling field.
Approval of CE Activities:
- CE activities must be provided by a board-approved entity, such as accredited universities, recognized professional organizations, or workshops/seminars relevant to counseling. Licensees can also obtain CE credit for publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals or presenting at professional conferences.
Record-Keeping:
- Counselors and therapists are responsible for maintaining documentation of their CE activities, which may include certificates of completion, attendance records, or transcripts. These records should be kept for at least 4 years in case the BSRB requests an audit. If selected for an audit, licensees must provide proof of CE hours.

Additional Requirements for LCPCs

Clinical Supervision CE (Recommended):
- While not mandatory, LCPCs who supervise other counseling professionals are encouraged to earn CE credits in clinical supervision. This helps ensure that supervisors are up-to-date on best practices for guiding supervisees in clinical settings.
Content Focus:
- LCPCs are encouraged to focus their CE hours on advanced clinical topics such as diagnosis, treatment planning, therapeutic interventions, and evidence-based practices. These areas of focus ensure that licensed clinical professionals maintain high levels of competency in providing therapeutic services.

Acceptable CE Activities

Kansas allows for a variety of ways to earn continuing education credits, providing flexibility for counselors to tailor their learning to their specific professional needs:

Workshops and Conferences: Attending professional workshops, conferences, or seminars is a common way to fulfill CE requirements.
Online Courses: Many counselors opt to complete CE hours through approved online platforms that offer courses in ethics, clinical skills, and other relevant topics like Agents of Change Continuing Education.
Graduate Coursework: Counselors can also earn CE credits by completing graduate-level coursework in counseling or a related field. One graduate semester credit hour typically equals 15 CE hours.
Publishing and Presenting: Writing articles for peer-reviewed journals or presenting original work at professional conferences can also count toward CE requirements.
Teaching: Teaching a counseling-related course at an accredited institution or leading professional workshops can count towards the CE requirement.

Carryover of Excess CE Hours

Counselors and therapists in Kansas are allowed to carry over excess CE hours into the next renewal period, but only up to 6 hours. This means if a professional earns more than the required 30 hours during one renewal cycle, they may apply up to 6 of those hours to their next cycle.

Continuing Education Extensions or Exemptions

In certain cases, Kansas allows counselors and therapists to request extensions or exemptions from CE requirements due to circumstances such as medical issues, family emergencies, or military service. These requests must be made in writing to the BSRB before the license renewal deadline.

Agents of Change Continuing Education is a great way to meet Kansas’ Counselor and Therapist CE requirements and track your completed CEs, with over 150 NBCC-approved courses that meet these requirements!

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.