KANSAS STATUTES AND CODES

65-6306. Qualifications for licensure; baccalaureate social worker; master social worker; specialist clinical social worker; practice of licensed specialist clinical social worker; approval of college

65-6306

Chapter 65.--PUBLIC HEALTH Article 63.--SOCIAL WORKERS

65-6306. Qualifications for licensure; baccalaureatesocial worker;master social worker; specialist clinical social worker; practice of licensedspecialist clinical social worker; approval of colleges or universities,criteria.(a) The board shall issue a license as a baccalaureate social worker toan applicant who:

(1) Has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university,including completion of a social work program recognized and approved bythe board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(2) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(3) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who meritsthe public trust.

(b) The board shall issue a license as a master social worker to anapplicant who:

(1) Has a master's degree from an accredited college or university,including completion of a social work program recognized and approved bythe board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(2) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(3) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who meritsthe public trust.

(1) Has a master's or doctor's degree from an accredited graduate schoolof social work, including completion of a social work program recognizedand approved by the board, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by theboard;

(2) has had two years of full-time post-master's or post-doctor's degreeexperience under the supervision of a licensed social worker in the area ofthe specialty in which such applicant seeks to be licensed;

(3) has passed an examination approved by the board for this purpose; and

(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who meritsthe public trust.

(d) (1) The board shall issue a license as a specialist clinical socialworker toan applicant who:

(A) Has met the requirements of subsection (c);

(B) has completed 15 credit hours as part of or in addition to therequirements under subsection (c) supporting diagnosis or treatment of mentaldisorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnostic andstatistical manual, through identifiable study of the following content areas:Psychopathology, diagnostic assessment, interdisciplinary referral andcollaboration, treatment approaches and professional ethics;

(C) has completed a graduate level supervised clinical practicum ofsupervised professional experience including psychotherapy and assessment,integrating diagnosis and treatmentof mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association'sdiagnostic and statistical manual, with not less than 350 hours of directclient contact or additional postgraduatesupervised experience as determined by the board;

(D) has completed as part of or in addition to the requirements ofsubsection (c) not less than two years of postgraduate supervised professionalexperience in accordance with a clinical supervision plan approved by theboard of not less than 4,000 hours of supervised professional experienceincluding at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact conductingpsychotherapy and assessments with individuals, couples, families or groups andnot less than 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than75 hours of person-to-person individual supervision, integrating diagnosis andtreatment ofmental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's diagnosticand statistical manual;

(E) for persons earning a degree under subsection (c)prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the educationand training requirements under parts (B) and (C) of this subsection, hascompleted theeducation requirements for licensure as a specialist clinicalsocial worker in effect on the day immediatelypreceding the effective date of this act;

(F) for persons who apply for and are eligible for a temporary license topractice as a specialistclinical social worker on the day immediately preceding the effective date ofthis act, in lieu of the education and training requirements under parts (B),(C) and (D) of this subsection, has completed the education and trainingrequirements for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker in effect onthe 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.

(2) A licensed specialist clinical social worker may engage in the socialwork practiceand is authorized to diagnose and treat mental disorders specified in theeditionof the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the Americanpsychiatric association designated by the board by rules and regulations.When a client has symptoms of a mental disorder, a licensed specialistclinical social worker shall consult with the client's primary care physicianor psychiatrist to determine if there may be a medical condition or medicationthat may be causing or contributing to the client's symptoms of a mentaldisorder. A client may request in writing that such consultation be waived andsuch request shall be made a part of the client's record. A licensed specialistclinical social worker may continue to evaluate and treat the client until suchtime that the medical consultation is obtained or waived.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a licensed mastersocial worker who has provided to the board an acceptable clinical supervisionplan forlicensure as a specialist clinical social worker prior to the effective date ofthis act shall be licensed as a specialist clinical social worker under thisact upon completion of therequirements in effect for licensure as a specialist clinical social worker atthe time the acceptable training plan is submitted to the board.

(4) A person licensed as a specialist clinical social worker on the dayimmediately preceding the effective date of this act shall be deemed to be alicensed specialist clinical social worker under this act. Such person shallnot berequired to file an original application for licensure as a specialist clinicalsocialworker under this act.

(e) The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing thecriteria which a social work program of a college or university shallsatisfy to be recognized and approved by the board under this section. Theboard may send a questionnaire developed by the board to any college oruniversity conducting a social work program for which the board does nothave sufficient information to determine whether the program should berecognized and approved by the board and whether the program meets therules and regulations adopted under this section. The questionnaireproviding the necessary information shall be completed and returned to theboard in order for the program to be considered for recognition andapproval. The board may contract with investigative agencies, commissionsor consultants to assist the board in obtaining information about a socialwork program of a college or university. In entering such contracts theauthority to recognize and approve a social work program of a college oruniversity shall remain solely with the board.

History: L. 1974, ch. 372, § 6; L. 1980, ch. 242, § 17;L. 1981,ch. 352, § 1;L. 1988, ch. 243, § 17;L. 1989, ch. 276, § 3;L. 1994, ch. 164, § 2;L. 1999, ch. 117, § 12; July 1, 2000.