Social Work Licensure in Kansas

Kansas awards social work licenses at three levels: Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, and Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker. The Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) credentials are granted on the basis of education and examination. The Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential also requires a period of supervised practice. Social workers at all levels must demonstrate that they merit public trust.

A person can meet educational requirements by graduating from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or a program that is determined to be in compliance with Board standards (See: Master’s of Social Work Programs in Kansas). An approved program will be a dedicated social work program that is housed within a regionally accredited institution, utilizes qualified instructors, offers a practicum experience, and is otherwise eligible for approval under Kansas Administrative Regulation 102-2-6. The safest bet is CSWE accreditation; this accreditation is widely recognized around the nation.

The Board will make a determination only after an application has been submitted.

Additional Coursework and Practicum Requirements for Clinical Licensure

A prospective LSCSW is to have at least 15 credit hours of coursework that supports DSM-based diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder. One three credit hour course will be explicitly focused on psychopathology. The application packet includes a course grid to record clinical content. Students are exempted from this requirement if they have graduated from one of the in-state schools listed in the application; their curriculums have already been reviewed.

A prospective LSCSW should have a practicum that includes assessment and psychotherapy. The practicum is to include at least 350 direct client contact hours. A prospective LSCSW whose educational experience did not include a qualifying clinical practicum, though, may qualify through completion of an extra post-graduate experience. A qualifying post-graduate experience is at least 700 hours and includes at least 350 hours of client contact.

Social workers who earned their MSWs in the more distant past are not held to the same coursework standards.

The Examination Process

Kansas has adopted the licensing examinations of the Association of Social Work Boards (www.aswb.org). The ASWB has a licensing examination that corresponds to each of the three Kansas licensing levels.

Candidates need to secure the permission of the licensing agency before testing. The licensing agency can award a temporary license at the LBSW or LMSW level after determining that the applicant is qualified for examination.

Approved candidates register and pay fees to the ASWB. They receive ATTs which authorize scheduling; the exam is administered via computer.

The licensing board can accept score results for examinations already taken. State code notes that exam results can be accepted at the level of the license sought or at a higher level.

Supervised Experience for Clinical Licensure

The clinical license is awarded only after 4,000 hours of qualifying supervised practice. The social worker will need to be under clinical supervision for at least two years. He or she may work part time and take up to six years to meet requirements.

The requirement includes 2,000 hours that are to be distributed in specific ways. At least 1,500 are to be in the direct performance of psychotherapy and assessments. Up to 500 can be credited for various activities that are considered clinical services.

An individual who meets initial requirements in Kansas will hold the LMSW as a transitional license while working to meet requirements for the higher credential. Experience will take place under conditions set forth in a training plan. The training plan may be revised, but the Board is to be apprised of changes. Forms are available on the website of the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/social-workers). The trainee will have an experienced LSCSW as clinical supervisor.

The prospective LSCSW will need at least 150 hours of supervision across the supervision period. There are to be no less than 100 supervisory meetings. It is permissible for up to half of the supervision hours to take place in a group setting. The clinical supervisor will provide a summary of supervision for licensing purposes.

Experience hours accrued outside Kansas can be reviewed, but acceptance is not automatic.

The Application Process

A new graduate will first apply as an LBSW or LMSW, depending on degree level. He or she should be prepared to pay $100 at the time of application. Applications can be found on the website of the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/social-workers).

Transcripts will be required. The licensing agency also asks for a reference from the on-site field experience supervisor or, if this is not possible, from a person who has access to records of the field experience. The applicant will need two additional references. In most cases, they are to come from social workers who hold licensing at least at the level the applicant seeks. There may be circumstances where references from other professionals could be accepted.

The applicant will submit a license application for LSCSW after meeting all requirements except examination. The licensing agency will seek official job descriptions from positions the LMSW held. There is a requirement for references at this level, too. Supervisor attestations will be required. The licensing agency has explicit instructions for transmittal of third party documents; this assures that they are original and unbiased.

Licenses are renewed every other year.

Endorsement of Out-of-State Social Workers

The licensing agency will seek an out-of-state verification form if the applicant has ever been licensed in another state.

Out-of-state social workers can be licensed without examination at the LBSW or LMSW level if they are licensed in another state that has substantively similar standards. They will need to be in good status with their own board.

Out-of-state clinical social workers can qualify for LSCSW through either of two reciprocity methods: by demonstrating that licensing standards in their jurisdiction are substantively similar to those of Kansas or by demonstrating that they have been licensed and practicing for the requisite period of time.

A person who opts for the latter method will need to have been continuously credentialed for at least the prior five years and averaged at least 15 hours a week of professional experience during those five years. The requirements for clinical practice are not as high. The social worker is, however, expected to have had three years of clinical practice experience. The length of the licensing period will determine whether or not it is necessary to provide record of examination. Social workers who have been licensed ten years are not held to this standard.

Additional Information

Information is available from the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/social-workers). The Board can be reached at (785) 296-3240.