65-6309. Licensure of clinical level social worker licensed in another jurisdiction; exemption from examination; temporary licensure; explanation required for license denial. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), an applicant shall be exempted from the requirement for any examination provided for herein if:

(1) The applicant proves to the board that the applicant is licensed or registered under the laws of a state or territory of the United States that imposes substantially the same requirements as this act as determined by the board; and

(2) pursuant to the laws of any such state or territory, the applicant has taken and passed an examination similar to that for which exemption is sought, as determined by the board.

(b) The board may issue a license to an individual who is currently licensed to practice social work at the clinical level in another jurisdiction if the board determines that:

(1) The standards for licensure to practice social work at the clinical level in the other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state for licensure at the clinical level; or

(2) the applicant demonstrates on forms provided by the board compliance with the following standards as adopted by the board:

(A) Licensure to practice social work at the clinical level for at least 60 of the last 66 months 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 licensing board or agency; and

(C) a master's or doctoral degree in social work from a regionally accredited university or college and from an accredited graduate social work program recognized and approved by the board pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board.

(c) Applicants for licensure as a clinical specialist social worker shall additionally demonstrate competence to diagnose and treat mental disorders through meeting the following requirements:

(1) Passing a national clinical examination approved by the board or, in the absence of the national examination, continuous licensure to practice as a clinical social worker during the 10 years immediately preceding the application; and

(2) three years of clinical practice with demonstrated experience in diagnosing or treating mental disorders.

(d) An applicant for a license under this section shall pay an application fee established by the board under K.S.A. 65-6314, and amendments thereto, if required by the board.

(e) Upon application, the board shall issue temporary licenses to persons who have submitted documentation and met all qualifications for licensure under provisions of this act, except passage of the required examination, and who have paid the required fee.

(f) Absent extenuating circumstances approved by the board, a temporary license issued by the board shall expire upon the date the board issues or denies a license to practice social work or six months after the date of issuance of the temporary license. No temporary license will be renewed or issued again on any subsequent applications for the same license level. The preceding provisions in no way limit the number of times an applicant may take the examination.

(g) No person may work under a temporary license except under the supervision of a licensed social worker.

(h) 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 temporary license.

(i) Any individual employed by a hospital and working in the area of hospital social services to patients of such hospital on July 1, 1974, is exempt from the provisions of this act.

History: L. 1974, ch. 372, § 9; L. 1980, ch. 242, § 19; L. 1986, ch. 340, § 3; L. 1989, ch. 276, § 4; L. 1990, ch. 237, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 129, § 3; L. 2006, ch. 61, § 2; L. 2016, ch. 92, § 40; July 1.