Chapter 65.—PUBLIC HEALTH
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS
65-6401. Citation of act.
65-6402. Definitions.
65-6403. Prohibited acts and representations; misdemeanor.
65-6404. Application for licensure; requirements; fees; practice of licensed clinical marriage and family
therapist.
65-6405. Temporary License.
65-6405a. Out of state temporary permit.
65-6406. Licensure of individual registered, certified or licensed in another jurisdiction; when authorized;
application fee.
65-6407. Licensure; expiration and renewal; continuing education; reinstatement of suspended or revoked
license.
65-6408. Refusal to grant, suspension, condition, limitation, qualification, restriction or revocation of license;
grounds.
65-6409. Construction of act.
65-6410. Limitations on disclosure of information.
65-6411. Fees.
65-6412. Administrative proceedings; judicial review.
65-6413. Disclosure.
65-6401. Citation of act.
K.S.A. 65-6401 through 65-6412, and amendments thereto, shall be known and may be cited as the marriage and family
therapists licensure act.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 16; Jan. 1, 1997.
65-6402. Definitions.
As used in the marriage and family therapists licensure act:
(a) "Board'' means the behavioral sciences regulatory board created under K.S.A. 74-7501 and amendments thereto.
(b) "Marriage and family therapy'' means the assessment and treatment of cognitive, affective or behavioral problems within
the context of marital and family systems and includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as authorized under the
marriage and family therapists licensure act.
(c) "Licensed marriage and family therapist'' means a person who engages in the practice of marriage and family therapy and
who is licensed under this act except that on and after January 1, 2002, such person shall engage in the practice of marriage
and family therapy only under the direction of a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, a licensed psychologist, a
person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or a person licensed to provide mental health services as an independent
practitioner and whose licensure allows for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
(d) "Licensed clinical marriage and family therapist'' means a person who engages in the independent practice of marriage
and family therapy including the diagnosis and treatment of 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 and is licensed under this act.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 2; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 17; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 18; July 1, 2000.
65-6403. Prohibited acts and representations; misdemeanor.
(a) No person shall engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy or represent that such person is a licensed
marriage and family therapist or a marriage and family therapist without having first obtained a license as a marriage and
family therapist under the marriage and family therapist licensure act.
(b) On and after the effective date of this act, no person shall engage in the practice of marriage and family therapy as a
clinical marriage and family therapist or represent that such person is a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist or is a
clinical marriage and family therapist without having first obtained a license as a clinical marriage and family therapist under
the marriage and family therapist licensure act.
(c) Violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 3; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 18; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 19; July 1, 2000.
65-6404. Application for licensure; requirements; fees; practice of licensed clinical marriage and family
therapist.
(a) An applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall furnish evidence that the applicant:
(1) Has attained the age of 21;
(2) (A) has completed a master's or doctoral degree from a marriage and family therapy program, in an educational
institution with standards consistent with those of the state universities of Kansas, approved by the board; or (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 clause (2)(A) of this paragraph 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; 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 clause (2)(B) of this paragraph;
(3) has passed an examination approved by the board;
(4) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits the public trust; and
(5) Each applicant has paid the application fee established by the board under K.S.A. 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 350 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 4,000 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 150 hours of clinical supervision, including not less than 50 hours of person-to-person individual
supervision, integrating diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders with use of the American psychiatric association's
diagnostic and statistical manual, except that one-half of the requirement of this part (D) may be waived for persons with a
doctor's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field acceptable to the board;
(E) for persons earning a degree under subsection (a) prior to July 1, 2003, in lieu of the education and training
requirements under parts (B) and (C) of this subsection, 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 parts
(B), (C) and (D) of this subsection, 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 fixed under K.S.A. 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 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.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 4; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 19; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 20; L. 2001, ch. 154, § 8; July 1.
65-6405. Temporary License.
(a) A person who is waiting to take the examination required by the board mayapply to the board for a temporary license to
practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist by (1) paying an application fee of no more than $150, and (2) meeting
the application requirements as stated in subsections (a)(1), (2) and (4) of K.S.A. 65-6404 and amendments thereto.
(b) (1) A temporary license may be issued by the board after the application has been reviewed and approved by the board
and the applicant has paid the appropriate fee set by the board for issuance of new licenses.
(2) Absent extenuating circumstances approved by the board,a temporary license issued by the board shallexpire upon the
date the board issues or denies the person a license to practice marriage and family therapy or 12 monthsafter the date of
issuance of the temporary license.
(3) A temporary licensee shall take the license examination within six months subsequent to the date of issuance of the
temporary license unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by the board or if the temporary licensee does not
take the license examination within six months subsequent to the date of issuance of the temporary license and no extenuating
circumstances have been approved by the board, the temporary license will expire after the first six months.
(4) No temporary license will be renewed or issued again on any subsequent application for the same license level. The
preceding provision in no way limits the number of times an applicant may take the examination.
(c) A person practicing marriage and family therapy with a temporary license may not use the title ‘‘licensed marriage and
family therapist’’ or the initials ‘‘LMFT’’ independently. The word ‘‘licensed’’ may be used only when followed by the
words ‘‘by temporary license’’ such as licensed marriage and family therapist by temporary license, or marriage and family
therapist, temporarily licensed.
(d) No person may practice marriage and family therapy under a temporary license except under the supervision of a
person licensed by the behavioral sciences regulatory board at the independent level.
(e)Nothing in this section shall affect any temporary license to practice issued under this section prior to the effective date of
this act and in effect on the effective date of this act. Such temporary license shall be subject to the provisions of this section
in effect at the time of its issuance and shall continue to be effective until the date of expiration of the license as provided
under this section at the time of issuance of such license.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 5; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 20; L. 1999, ch. 108, § 4; L. 2001, ch. 154, § 9; July 1; L. 2006, ch.
61 § 3; July 1.
65-6405a. Out of state temporary permit.
(a) Upon written application and board approval, an individual who is licensed to engage in the independent clinical practice
of marriage and family therapy at the clinical level in another jurisdiction and who is in good standing in that other jurisdiction
may engage in the independent practice of clinical marriage and family therapy as provided by K.S.A. 65-6401 et seq., and
amendments thereto, in this state for no more than 15 days per year upon receipt of a temporary permit to practice issued by
the board.
(b) Any clinical marriage and family therapy services rendered within any 24-hour period shall count as one entire day of
clinical marriage and family therapy services.
(c) The temporary permit to practice shall be effective on the date of approval by the board and shall expire December 31
of that year. Upon written application and for good cause shown, the board may extend the temporary permit to practice no
more than 15 additional days.
(d) The board may charge a fee of a maximum of $200 for a temporary permit to practice and a fee of a maximum of $200
for an extension of a temporary permit to practice as established by rules and regulations of the board.
(e) A person who holds a temporary permit to practice clinical marriage and family therapy in this state shall be deemed to
have submitted to the jurisdiction of the board and shall be bound by the statutes and regulations that govern the practice of
clinical marriage and family therapy in this state.
(f) In accordance with the Kansas administrative procedures act, the board may issue a cease and desist order or assess a
fine of up to $1,000 per day, or both, against a person licensed in another jurisdiction who engages in the independent
practice of clinical marriage and family therapy in this state without complying with the provisions of this section.
(g) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the marriage and family therapists licensure act.
65-6406. Licensure of individual registered, certified or licensed in another jurisdiction; when authorized;
application fee.
(a) The board may issue a license to an individual who is currently registered, certified or licensed to practice marriage and
family therapy in another jurisdiction if the board determines that:
(1) the standards for registration, certification or licensure to practice marriage and family therapy in the other jurisdiction
are substantially the equivalent of the requirements of the marriage and family therapists licensure act and rules and regulations
of the board.
(2) the applicant demonstrates on forms provided by the board compliance with the following standards as adopted by
the board;
(A)Continuous registration, certification or licensure to practice marriage and family therapy during the five years
immediately preceding the application with at least the minimum professional experience as established by rules and
regulations of the board;
(B) the absence of disciplinary actions of a serious nature brought by a registration, certification or licensing board or
agency; and
(C) completion of a masters degree in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited university.
(b) Applicants for licensure as a clinical marriage and family therapist shall additionally demonstrate competence to diagnose
and treat mental disorders through meeting the requirements of either paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) and at least two
of the following areas acceptable to the board;
(1) Either graduate coursework as established by rules and regulations of the board or passing a national clinical
examination approved by the board;
(2) three years of clinical practice with demonstrated experience in diagnosing or treating mental disorders; or
(3) attestation from a professional licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders in independent practice or licensed to
practice medicine and surgery stating that the applicant is competent to diagnosis and treat mental disorders.
(c) an applicant for a license under this section shall pay an application fee established by the board under K.S.A. 65-6411
and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 6; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 21; L. 2002, ch. 59, § 1; July 1, L. 2003, ch. 129, § 4; July 1.
65-6407. Licensure; expiration and renewal; continuing education; reinstatement of suspended or revoked
license.
(a) An applicant who meets the requirements for licensure pursuant to this act, has paid the license fee provided for by
K.S.A. 65-6411 and amendments thereto and has otherwise complied with the provisions of this act shall be licensed by the
board.
(b) Licenses issued pursuant to this act shall expire 24 months from the date of issuance unless revoked prior to that time. A
license may be renewed upon application and payment of the fee provided for by K.S.A. 65-6411 and amendments thereto.
The application for renewal shall be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has completed
during the previous 24 months the continuing education required by rules and regulations of the board. As part of such
continuing education, the applicant shall complete not less than six continuing education hours relating to diagnosis and
treatment of mental disorders and not less than three continuing educationhours of professional ethics.
(c) A person whose license has been suspended or revoked may make written application to the board requesting
reinstatement of the license upon termination of the period of suspension or revocation in a manner prescribed by the board,
which application shall be accompanied by the fee provided for by K.S.A. 65-6411 and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 7; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 22; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 22; July 1, 2000.
65-6408. Refusal to grant, suspension, condition, limitation, qualification, restriction or revocation of license;
grounds.
The board may refuse to grant licensure to, or may suspend, revoke, condition, limit, qualify or restrict the licensure of any
individual who the board, after a hearing, determines:
(1) Is incompetent to practice marriage and family therapy, or is found to engage in the practice of marriage and family
therapy in a manner harmful or dangerous to a client or to the public;
(2) is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a crime that the board determines is of a nature to render the
convicted person unfit to practice marriage and family therapy;
(3) has violated a provision of the marriage and family therapists licensure act or one or more of the rules and regulations of
the board;
(4) has obtained or attempted to obtain a license or license renewal by bribery or fraudulent representation;
(5) has knowingly made a false statement on a form required by the board for license or license renewal;
(6) has failed to obtain continuing education credits required by rules and regulations of the board;
(7) has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined by rules and regulations established by the board; or
(8) has had a registration, license or certificate as a marriage and family therapist revoked, suspended or limited, or has had
other disciplinary action taken, or an application for registration, license or certificate denied, by the proper regulatory
authority of another state, territory, District of Columbia or another country, a certified copy of the record of the action of the
other jurisdiction being conclusive evidence thereof.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 8; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 23; Jan. 1, 1997.
65-6409. Construction of act.
Nothing in the marriage and family therapists licensure act shall be construed:
(a) To prevent marriage and family therapy practice by students or interns or individuals preparing for the practice of
marriage and family therapy to practice under qualified supervision of a professional, recognized and approved by the board,
in an educational institution or agency so long as they are designated by titles such as “student,” “trainee,” “intern” or other
titles clearly indicating training status;
(b) to authorize the practice of psychology, medicine and surgery, professional counseling, masters level psychology or
licensed social work;
(c) to apply to the activities and services of a rabbi, priest, minister, clergy person or organized ministry of any religious
denomination or sect, including a Christian-Science practitioner, unless such person or individual who is a part of the
organized ministry is a licensed marriage and family therapist; or
(d) to apply to the activities and services of qualified members of other professional groups including, but not limited to,
attorneys, physicians, psychologists, masters level psychologists, professional counselors, registered nurses or social workers
performing services consistent with the laws of this state, their training and the code of ethics of their profession, so long as
they do not represent themselves as being a marriage and family therapist; or
(e) to prevent qualified persons from doing work within the standards and ethics of their respective professions and callings
provided they do not hold themselves out to the public by any title or description of services as being a marriage and family
therapist.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 9; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 24; Jan. 1, 1997.
65-6410. Limitations on disclosure of information.
(a) A person licensed under the marriage and family therapists licensure act and employees and professional associates of
the person shall not be required to disclose any information that the person, employee or associate may have acquired in
rendering marriage and family therapy services, unless:
(1) Disclosure is required by other state laws;
(2) failure to disclose the information presents a clear and present danger to the health or safety of an individual;
(3) the person, employee or associate is a party defendant to a civil, criminal or disciplinary action arising from the therapy,
in which case a waiver of the privilege accorded by this section is limited to that action;
(4) the client is a defendant in a criminal proceeding and the use of the privilege would violate the defendant's right to a
compulsory process or the right to present testimony and witnesses in that person's behalf; or
(5) a client agrees to a waiver of the privilege accorded by this section, and in circumstances where more than one person in
a family is receiving therapy, each such family member agrees to the waiver. Absent a waiver from each family member, a
marriage and family therapist shall not disclose information received from a family member.
(b) Nothing in this section or in this act shall be construed to prohibit any person licensed under the marriage and family
therapist licensure act from testifying in court hearings concerning matters of adult abuse, adoption, child abuse, child neglect,
or other matters pertaining to the welfare of children or from seeking collaboration or consultation with professional
colleagues or administrative superiors, or both, on behalf of a client. There is no privilege under this section for information
which is required to be reported to a public official.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 10; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 25; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 23; July 1, 2000.
65-6411. Fees.
(a) The board shall fix by rules and regulations and shall collect the following fees:
(1) For application for licensure, not to exceed $150;
(2) for original licensure, not to exceed $175;
(3) for examination, not to exceed $275;
(4) for renewal of a license, not to exceed $175;
(5) for application for licensure as a clinical marriage and family therapist, not to exceed $175;
(6) for renewal for licensure as a clinical marriage and family therapist, not to exceed $175;
(7) for reinstatement of a license, not to exceed $175;
(8) for replacement of a license, not to exceed $20; and
(9) for late charges, not to exceed $5 for each 30 days of delay beyond the date the renewal application was to be made.
(b) Fees paid to the board are not refundable.
65-6412. Administrative proceedings; judicial review.
Proceedings under the marriage and family therapists licensure act shall be conducted in accordance with the Kansas
administrative procedure act. Judicial review and civil enforcement of agency actions under the marriage and family therapists
licensure act shall be in accordance with the act for judicial review and civil enforcement of agency actions.
History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 12; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 28; Jan. 1, 1997.
65-6413. Disclosure.
A licensee under the marriage and family therapists licensure act, at the beginning of a client-therapist relationship, shall inform
the client of the level of such licensee's training and the title or titles and license or licenses of such licensee. As a part of such
obligation, such licensee shall disclose whether such licensee has a master's degree or a doctoral degree. If such licensee has
a doctoral degree, such licensee shall disclose whether or not such doctoral degree is a doctor of medicine degree or some
other doctoral degree. If such licensee does not have a medical doctor's degree, such licensee shall disclose that the licensee
is not authorized to practice medicine and surgery and is not authorized to prescribe drugs. As a part of such disclosure, such
licensee shall advise the client that certain mental disorders can have medical or biological origins, and that the client should
consult with a physician. Documentation of such disclosures to a client shall be made in the client's record.
History: L. 1999, ch. 117, § 21; July 1, 2000.
Amended July 2007