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Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2506
By Committee on Health and Human Services
Requested by Travis Lowe on behalf of Acadia Healthcare
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AN ACT concerning health and healthcare; relating to the behavioral
sciences; relating to the licensure and regulation of addiction
counselors; establishing an addiction counselor apprentice license and
setting fees for such license; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 65-6610 and
65-6618 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 65-6610 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 65-6610. (a) An applicant for licensure as an addiction counselor
shall furnish evidence that the applicant:
(1) Has attained 21 years of age;
(2) (A) has completed at least a baccalaureate degree from an
addiction counseling program that is part of a college or university
approved by the board;
(B) has completed at least a baccalaureate degree from a college or
university approved by the board. As part of, or in addition to, the
baccalaureate degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a
minimum number of semester hours of coursework on substance use
disorders as approved by the board;
(C) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed baccalaureate social
worker and has completed a minimum number of semester hours of
coursework on substance use disorders as approved by the board; or
(D) is currently licensed in Kansas by the board as a master social
worker, specialist clinical social worker, professional counselor, clinical
professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical marriage
and family therapist, master's level psychologist, clinical psychotherapist
or psychologist. Such licensees shall be eligible to take the examination as
required by paragraph (3);
(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) has paid the application fee established by the board under K.S.A.
65-6618, and amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board
that all eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee
established under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto.
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HB 2506 2
(b) Applications for licensure as a master's addiction counselor 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:
(1) (A) Has attained 21 years of age;
(B) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from an addiction
counseling program that is part of a college or university approved by the
board;
(ii) has completed at least a master's degree from a college or
university approved by the board. As part of or in addition to the master's
degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a minimum number
of semester hours of coursework supporting the diagnosis and treatment of
substance use disorders as approved by the board; or
(iii) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed master social
worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family
therapist or licensed master's level psychologist;
(C) has passed an examination approved by the board;
(D) has satisfied the board that the applicant is a person who merits
the public trust; and
(E) has paid the application fee set under K.S.A. 65-6618, and
amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board that all
eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee as
provided by K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto; or
(2) (A) has met the following requirements on or before July 1, 2016:
(i) Holds an active license by the board as an addiction counselor; and
(ii) has completed at least a master's degree in a related field from a
college or university approved by the board; and
(B) has completed six hours of continuing education in the diagnosis
and treatment of substance use disorders during the three years
immediately preceding the application date.
(c) Applications for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor 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:
(1) Has attained 21 years of age;
(2) (A) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from an addiction
counseling program that is part of a college or university approved by the
board; and
(ii) 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 3,000 hours of supervised
professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client
contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with
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HB 2506 3
individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of
face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and
regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision,
except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be
face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American
psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1/2 of the hours
required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in
addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who
completes the required 1/2 of the hours in not less than one year of
supervised professional experience; or
(B) (i) has completed at least a master's degree from a college or
university approved by the board. As part of or in addition to the master's
degree coursework, such applicant shall also complete a minimum number
of semester hours of coursework supporting the diagnosis and treatment of
substance use disorders as approved by the board; and
(ii) 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 3,000 hours of supervised
professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client
contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with
individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of
face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and
regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision,
except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be
face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American
psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1/2 of the hours
required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in
addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who
completes the required 1/2 of the hours in not less than one year of
supervised professional experience; or
(C) (i) has completed a master's degree from a college or university
approved by the board and is licensed by the board as a licensed master's
addiction counselor; and
(ii) 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 3,000 hours of supervised
professional experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client
contact conducting substance abuse assessments and treatment with
individuals, couples, families or groups and not less than 100 hours of
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HB 2506 4
face-to-face clinical supervision, as defined by the board in rules and
regulations, including not less than 50 hours of individual supervision,
except that the board may waive the requirement that such supervision be
face-to-face upon a finding of extenuating circumstances, integrating
diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders with use of the
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders of the American
psychiatric association, except that the board may waive 1/2 of the hours
required by this clause for an individual who has a doctoral degree in
addiction counseling or a related field approved by the board and who
completes the required 1/2 of the hours in not less than one year of
supervised professional experience; or
(D) is currently licensed in Kansas as a licensed psychologist,
licensed specialist clinical social worker, licensed clinical professional
counselor, licensed clinical psychotherapist or licensed clinical marriage
and family therapist and provides to the board an attestation from a
professional licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, or substance
use disorders, or both, in independent practice or licensed to practice
medicine and surgery stating that the applicant is competent to diagnose
and treat substance use disorders;
(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) has paid the application fee set under K.S.A. 65-6618, and
amendments thereto, and, upon notification from the board that all
eligibility requirements have been satisfied, paid the license fee
established under K.S.A. 65-6618, and amendments thereto.
(d) (1) An individual may apply to the board for an addiction
counselor apprentice license in the scope of employment by a community
mental health center as defined in K.S.A. 39-2002, and amendments
thereto, a federally qualified health center as defined in K.S.A. 65-7402,
and amendments thereto, a psychiatric residential treatment facility as
defined in K.S.A. 39-2002, and amendments thereto, a private treatment
facility as defined in K.S.A. 59-29b46, and amendments thereto, or a
facility licensed under article 40 of chapter 65 of the Kansas Statutes
Annotated, and amendments thereto.
(2) An addiction counselor apprentice license shall be issued by the
board if the board reviews and approves the application and the applicant
has paid the fee set by the board for issuance of an addiction counselor
apprentice license.
(3) (A) Absent extenuating circumstances approved by the board, an
addiction counselor apprentice license issued by the board shall expire:
(i) Upon the date the board issues or denies a license to practice as
an addiction counselor; or
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HB 2506 5
(ii) 60 months after the date of issuance of the addiction counselor
apprentice license.
(B) An addiction counselor apprentice license shall not be renewed
or issued again on any subsequent application for the same license level.
This subparagraph shall not be construed to limit the number of times an
applicant may take the examination.
(4) An individual shall not practice addiction counseling under an
addiction counselor apprentice license unless such individual is under the
direct supervision of an indiviudal licensed by the board to practice at the
independent level.
(A) The supervisor shall provide a minimum of one hour of individual
supervision each week, during which the supervisor and apprentice shall
review the apprentice's activities during the period.
(B) The supervisor and apprentice shall jointly fill out the required
six-month report and notify the board in writing of any change in
supervision status within five calendar days after any such change.
(5) The scope of practice for an addiction counselor apprentice shall
include:
(A) Client screening, assessment, evaluation and referral;
(B) development of treatment plans with client input;
(C) case management services;
(D) individual, group and family counseling services;
(E) documentation of client treatment progress in the clinical record;
(F) crisis intervention services;
(G) development and submission of official, written documentation of
treatment progress and recommendations for court purposes;
(H) adherence to confidentiality requirements for client records and
information; and
(I) adherence to ethical standards of conduct for addiction
counselors.
(6) The board shall not issue an addiction counselor apprentice
license to an individual who has previously been issued an addiction
counselor apprentice license or temporary addiction counselor license.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 65-6618 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 65-6618. (a) The board may collect the following fees, and any
such fees shall be established by rules and regulations adopted by the
board:
(1) For application for licensure as an addiction counselor, not to
exceed $150;
(2) for original licensure as an addiction counselor, not to exceed
$150;
(3) for renewal for licensure as an addiction counselor, not to exceed
$150;
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HB 2506 6
(4) for a temporary license as an addiction counselor, not to exceed
$100;
(5) for a six-month reinstatement temporary license as an addiction
counselor, not to exceed $50;
(6) for a student temporary addiction counselor license, not to exceed
$100;
(7) for renewal for a student temporary addiction counselor license,
not to exceed $100;
(8) for an addiction counselor apprentice license, not to exceed $100;
(9) for application for licensure as a master's addiction counselor, not
to exceed $150;
(9)(10) for original licensure as a master's addiction counselor, not to
exceed $150;
(10)(11) for renewal for licensure as a master's addiction counselor,
not to exceed $150;
(11)(12) for a temporary license as a master's addiction counselor, not
to exceed $100;
(12)(13) for a six-month reinstatement temporary license as a master's
addiction counselor, not to exceed $50;
(13)(14) for application for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor,
not to exceed $150;
(14)(15) for original licensure as a clinical addiction counselor, not to
exceed $150;
(15)(16) for renewal for licensure as a clinical addiction counselor,
not to exceed $150;
(16)(17) for a six-month reinstatement temporary license as a clinical
addiction counselor, not to exceed $50;
(17)(18) for a temporary permit to practice clinical addiction
counseling, not to exceed $200;
(18)(19) for extension of a temporary permit to practice clinical
addiction counseling, not to exceed $200;
(19)(20) for reinstatement of a license, not to exceed $150;
(20)(21) for replacement of a license, not to exceed $20;
(21)(22) for late renewal penalty, an amount equal to the fee for
renewal; and
(22)(23) for a wallet license, not more than $5.
(b) The board shall require that fees paid for any examination under
the addiction counselor licensure act be paid directly to the examination
services by the person taking the examination.
(c) Fees paid to the board are not refundable.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 65-6610 and 65-6618 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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