How to Become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Kansas
Kansas issues two counseling credentials through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), for supervised practice, and the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), for independent clinical work including diagnosis and treatment. Unlike many states, Kansas doesn't use a separate associate or intern license; LPC itself is the starting credential.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Master's Degree
You need an approved master's degree of at least 60 semester hours in counseling or a related field, from a CACREP-accredited program or one meeting equivalent BSRB standards, with specific coursework in areas including human growth and development, counseling theories, group dynamics, career development, appraisal, research, and professional ethics. Your program should include a supervised practicum of at least 280 hours of direct client contact.
Step 2: Apply for Your LPC License
Submit your LPC application with the $100 application fee. A temporary license, if needed, runs $150.
Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Experience
LCPC licensure requires 4,000 hours of supervised postgraduate professional counseling experience over at least two years, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact, under a BSRB-approved supervisor with at least two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
Step 4: Pass the NCMHCE
LCPC applicants must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, not the NCE used at the LPC level.
Step 5: Apply for Full LCPC Licensure
Submit your LCPC application with the $100 application fee, your supervised experience documentation, and your NCMHCE score report.
Apply for Your License
Start or continue your application directly with Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB), the official licensing authority. Applications submitted anywhere else won't be processed.
A Note on Accuracy
This post reflects information from the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Licensing rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify current requirements directly with the BSRB at ksbsrb.ks.gov before making any licensure decision.
Kansas's 4,000-hour LCPC requirement is higher than the 3,000-hour standard many neighboring states use, so budget more time for this stage if you're comparing timelines across states.
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