At a Glance
Kansas issues two levels of professional counseling licensure through the Behavioral Science Regulatory Board (BSRB): the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for supervised practice and the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) for independent clinical work. Earning both requires at least 6 to 8 years of education and supervised experience, including 3,000 post-graduate supervised hours for the LCPC, plus passing two national exams administered by the NBCC.
Kansas has seen steady growth in demand for mental health services, and the state’s licensing structure reflects how seriously it treats clinical competence. The Kansas Behavioral Science Regulatory Board (BSRB) administers both credentials, and the path from initial licensure to full independent practice is well defined. If you’re planning a counseling career in Kansas, here’s exactly what you need to know.
LPC vs. LCPC: Understanding the Two License Levels
Kansas uses a two-tier counseling licensure system. The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is the entry-level credential, and the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) is the advanced, independent practice license. The table below shows the key differences.
| Credential |
Scope of Practice |
Key Requirement |
| Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) |
Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders under the supervision of a licensed independent mental health professional |
Master’s degree (60 credits), NCE exam, BSRB application |
| Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) |
Full independent clinical practice, including diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders without supervision |
LPC license + 3,000 supervised hours over 24 months + NCMHCE exam |
Steps Toward Counseling Licensure in Kansas
The path to LCPC licensure runs through the LPC credential first. These are the major milestones in order.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Graduate Degree
Complete a master’s degree in counseling or a related field totaling at least 60 graduate semester credits, including a supervised practicum or internship. Programs should meet CACREP standards or be accredited by a body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Step 2: Apply for LPC Licensure
Submit your LPC application packet and $50 fee to the BSRB, along with official transcripts and three professional references. The BSRB will notify the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) once your application is approved, clearing you to register for the NCE exam.
Step 3: Pass the NCE Exam
Register for and pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) through the NBCC’s ProCounselor portal. Once the BSRB receives notification of your passing score, it will issue your LPC license.
Step 4: Accrue Supervised Hours as an LPC
Submit a Clinical Supervision Training Plan (cosigned by a qualified LCPC supervisor) to the BSRB for approval before you begin accruing hours. You’ll need 3,000 post-graduate hours of supervised professional counseling experience over at least 24 months, including 1,500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of clinical supervision, at least 50 of which must be individual supervision.
Step 5: Apply for LCPC Licensure
Pass the NBCC’s National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), demonstrate your ability to diagnose and treat mental disorders, and submit the LCPC transfer application and applicable fees. The BSRB will issue your LCPC license once it has received your exam results.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Requirements
To apply for an LPC license in Kansas, you must meet these specific requirements set by the BSRB.
Step 1: Meet the Education Requirement
Earn a graduate degree in counseling or a related field with at least 60 semester credits. At least 45 credits must be distributed across ten core counseling areas, including counseling theory, group dynamics, human growth and development, and supervised practicum, with a minimum of two credits per area. Have your school send official transcripts directly to the BSRB.
Step 2: Secure Three Professional References
Find three licensed professionals familiar with your counseling work who will serve as references. At least one must be your on-site practicum or internship supervisor (or your program’s graduate director if the supervisor is unavailable). References must submit sealed envelopes with their signature across the seal, which you then include with your application.
Step 3: Submit Your LPC Application
Submit the LPC application packet to the BSRB with a $50 application fee. If you’ve met all requirements except passing the exam, you can request a six-month temporary LPC license to practice under supervision while you wait to test.
Step 4: Pass the NCE and Receive Your License
Once the BSRB approves your application and notifies the NBCC, register for the NCE through the ProCounselor portal. The BSRB will issue your LPC license after it receives confirmation that you’ve passed.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Requirements
Once you hold an LPC license and have fulfilled the supervised experience requirement, you can apply to transfer to an LCPC license.
Step 1: Complete the LCPC Education Requirement
In addition to your LPC-qualifying degree, you must complete 15 graduate semester credits covering the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders and finish an LCPC-qualifying clinical practicum that includes psychotherapy and assessment with individuals, families, couples, or groups, with at least 350 hours of direct client contact.
Step 2: Complete Supervised Experience
Fulfill 3,000 post-graduate hours of supervised professional counseling experience over at least 24 months. This must include at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact, 100 hours of clinical supervision, and at least 50 of those supervision hours must be individual, person-to-person supervision. Doctoral degree holders may apply for a 50% waiver of this requirement. Your supervisor will complete Section 2 of the LCPC application packet to verify your hours.
Step 3: Demonstrate Clinical Competency
Prove your ability to diagnose and treat mental disorders by passing the NCMHCE and meeting one of two options: complete three years of practice in a clinical or community mental health setting (Option One), or obtain an attestation of clinical competency from a licensed LCPC, licensed independent mental health professional, or physician (Option Two).
Step 4: Submit the LCPC Transfer Application
Submit the LPC-to-LCPC transfer application and applicable fees to the BSRB. The BSRB lists a $50 application fee and a separate original license fee; confirm the current amounts directly with the BSRB before submitting. The BSRB will notify the NBCC to clear you for the NCMHCE, then issue your LCPC license once it receives your exam results.
Required Education and Degrees
Both the LPC and LCPC require a graduate degree with at least 60 semester credits. The 45 core credits must cover these ten areas, with a minimum of two credits in each:
- Counseling practice and theory
- The helping relationship
- Group dynamics, processes, counseling approaches, and techniques
- Human growth and development
- Lifestyle foundations and career development
- Appraisal of individuals
- Social and cultural foundations
- Evaluation and research
- Professional orientation
- Supervised practical experience
For the LCPC, you’ll also need 15 additional semester credits covering the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
The BSRB accepts degrees from programs that meet the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or are accredited by a regionally recognized body with substantially similar standards. Use CACREP’s online directory to verify current Kansas program listings before you apply, as accreditation status and program counts can change. Counseling and social work are separate licensing tracks under the BSRB. If you’re weighing the two paths, the Kansas social work license requirements are covered separately.
Required Exams
Kansas requires two national exams administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) through its Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE).
The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is required for LPC licensure. It’s a 200-question multiple-choice exam with a minimum testing window of three hours. The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is required for LCPC licensure. It uses a clinical case-simulation format to assess your ability to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Confirm the current NCMHCE exam format directly with the NBCC before registering, as exam specifications are updated periodically. Both exams are computer-based and administered at testing centers through the NBCC’s ProCounselor portal after the BSRB clears you to test.
Practicums and Internships
Your graduate program must include supervised practical experience in a field setting. A practicum, internship, or laboratory training component gives you the chance to apply classroom knowledge to real client situations under a licensed professional’s oversight.
For LCPC licensure specifically, your clinical practicum must include psychotherapy and assessment with individuals, families, couples, or groups. It must integrate the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and include at least 350 hours of direct client contact. If your practicum doesn’t meet that threshold, additional post-graduate supervised experience can make up the difference.
Renewing Your License
Both the LPC and LCPC licenses expire every two years. To renew, you must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each renewal cycle. Renewal fees are $100 for the LPC and $125 for the LCPC.
LCPCs who are approved supervisors have an additional requirement: at least three hours of their continuing education must relate to supervision skills, including one hour on supervision ethics. To become an approved supervisor as an LCPC, you need at least two years of active licensure in good standing, plus one semester credit of supervision coursework or 15 hours of continuing education in supervision.
Reciprocity
If you hold a counseling license in another state that’s equivalent to the LPC or LCPC in Kansas, and your state’s licensing standards were substantially similar to Kansas’, you may qualify for licensure by reciprocity. Under the five-year pathway, LPC applicants must document five continuous years of active licensure and professional practice immediately preceding the application. LCPC applicants under this pathway must also document competence to diagnose and treat mental disorders, typically demonstrated through at least three years of clinical practice that included diagnosis and treatment work.
Use the BSRB’s reciprocity application packet and include Attachment A, the Out-of-State Clearance Form, for your current licensing board to complete and return directly to the BSRB.
Salary and Career Outlook
Mental health counseling is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS estimates about 48,300 openings in this field annually over the decade. The national median annual wage for this occupation was $59,190 in May 2024. Kansas-specific employment projections are available from Projections Central.
The table below shows national median annual wages and job outlook figures for counseling-related roles tracked by the BLS as of May 2024. These are national figures, and actual wages in Kansas may vary.
| Counseling Occupation |
National Median Annual Wage (May 2024) |
Job Outlook 2024–34 |
| School and Career Counselors and Advisors |
$65,140 |
+4% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists |
$63,780 |
+13% |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$59,190 |
+17% |
| Rehabilitation Counselors |
$46,110 |
+1% |
Career Opportunities
Kansas counselors work across a broad range of public, nonprofit, and community settings. A few of the prominent employers in the state include:
Kansas Behavioral Health Services Commission: Part of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, this agency provides behavioral health services statewide through 26 community mental health centers and a range of addiction and prevention programs.
Sedgwick County COMCARE: The largest of Kansas’s community mental health centers, serving over 19,000 clients annually with a full range of substance abuse and mental health services.
Valeo Behavioral Health Care: This Topeka-based nonprofit has provided substance use and mental health recovery services since 1967. Its team of 360 professionals includes counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, and peer support specialists.
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center: A Lawrence-based organization serving Douglas County residents since 1950, offering programs for adults, children, families, and community support.
Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition: Based in Overland Park, this organization focuses on transparent collaboration in mental health service delivery and education for the surrounding community.
Resources
Kansas Counseling Association (KCA): A nonprofit that serves members and the profession through focus committees covering development, aging, counselor education, supervision, multiculturalism, and group work.
Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA): Promotes the school counseling profession through conferences, leadership development, and legislative advocacy.
Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas (MHASCK) has served youths, families, and adults since 1957 through 32 programs covering job training, smoking cessation, addiction recovery, and more.
Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals (KAAP): An advocacy and support organization for addiction professionals, it was instrumental in shaping Kansas’s counselor licensing legislation in 2011.
Kansas Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (KAIMH): A statewide organization founded in 1995, serving professionals working in early childhood mental health, with annual conferences and professional resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a licensed counselor in Kansas?
Earning an LPC takes at least six years: four years for a bachelor’s degree and two years for a master’s in counseling. Moving from LPC to LCPC requires at least two additional years of supervised post-graduate experience, bringing the total to at least eight years from the start of your undergraduate education.
What’s the difference between an LPC and an LCPC in Kansas?
An LPC can diagnose and treat mental disorders but must practice under the supervision of a licensed independent mental health professional. An LCPC has completed an additional 3,000 post-graduate supervised hours over at least 24 months, passed the NCMHCE clinical exam, and can practice independently, open a private practice, and supervise LPCs seeking their LCPC credential.
What exams do I need to become a licensed counselor in Kansas?
Kansas requires two exams, both administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is required for LPC licensure and is a 200-question multiple-choice exam. The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is required for LCPC licensure. It uses a clinical case-simulation format to assess your ability to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Confirm the current NCMHCE format with NBCC before registering.
Does Kansas offer reciprocity for out-of-state counselors?
Yes. Kansas grants reciprocal licensure to counselors from states with substantially equivalent licensing standards. Under the five-year pathway, LPC applicants must document five continuous years of active licensure and practice. LCPC applicants must also demonstrate competence in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, typically through at least three years of qualifying clinical practice.
Do I need a CACREP-accredited degree to get licensed in Kansas?
Not strictly, but your program must meet standards at least equivalent to CACREP’s. The BSRB also accepts degrees from programs accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), provided the standards are substantially similar to CACREP’s. Attending a CACREP-accredited program is the safest path to meeting this requirement without additional review.
Key Takeaways
- Kansas issues two counseling credentials through the BSRB: the LPC for supervised clinical practice and the LCPC for full independent practice, including the ability to supervise others.
- LPC licensure requires a 60-credit master’s degree and passing the NCE. The LCPC requires 3,000 post-graduate supervised hours over at least 24 months (including 1,500 direct client contact and 100 supervision hours) and passing the NCMHCE.
- Graduate programs must meet CACREP standards or the equivalent. Use CACREP’s online directory to verify current Kansas program listings before applying.
- Both licenses renew every two years, with 30 hours of continuing education required each cycle.
- Employment of mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 48,300 openings expected per year. Kansas-specific projections are available at projectionscentral.org.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Rehabilitation Counselors, and School and Career Counselors and Advisors represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
