Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements in Kansas
A career in substance abuse counseling isn’t without its challenges. But for those with a passion for helping individuals and communities break free from the chains of substance abuse, the rewards are well-worth the bad days.
Whether they’re working in small neighborhood clinics and rehabilitation facilities in Kansas City and Overland Park, or teaming up with the social services community to reach deep into underserved rural enclaves in the heart of the state, addiction counselors here in Kansas are frontline heroes in the fight to save communities one person at a time. And with the right education and experience, you could be on the good side of the fight.
Substance abuse counselors in Kansas are regulated and credentialed by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board at three levels:
- Licensed Addiction Counselors (LACs) – Bachelor’s level credential; required to practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) if providing clinical services.
- Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC) – Master’s level credential; required to practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) if providing clinical services.
- Clinical Addiction Counselors (LCACs) – Master’s level credential with post-graduate clinical experience; qualified to provide clinical addiction counseling, including diagnosing and treating co-occurring mental health disorders
Select a Kansas Addiction Counselor Topic Below…
- Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements: Education
- Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC) Requirements: Education
- Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) Requirements: Education
- The Examination Process
- Application Process
- Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
- Additional Information
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Requirements: Education
To earn the LAC credential and become an addiction counselor in Kansas, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling or a related field. Your education must include the following courses (either as part of the degree or separate from it):
- Introduction to Addiction
- Methods of Individual Counseling
- Methods of Group Counseling
- Addiction Pharmacology
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Addiction Services Coordination
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Family and Community Studies
- Research
You must also:
- Complete an additional counseling experience (practicum) of at least 400 hours that is supervised at a rate of one hour for every ten hours of practice.
- Take and pass the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCAC II) exam.
Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC) Requirements: Education
To earn the LMAC credential, you must meet the requirements for the LAC credential AND earn a master’s degree in a related field that’s approved by the Board. Your education must include the following courses (either as part of the degree or separate from it):
- Addiction Recovery Services
- Advanced Methods of Individual and Group Counseling
- Advanced Pharmacology and Substance Use Disorders
- Integrative Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders
- Assessment and Diagnosis
- Professional Ethics and Practice
- Applied Research
- Practicum
- At least 6 semester credit hours of academic coursework that contributes to the development of advanced knowledge or skills in addiction counseling, supervision, or research
You must also complete an additional counseling experience (practicum) of at least 300 hours that is supervised at a rate of one hour for every ten hours of practice.
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC) Requirements: Education and Experience
To earn the LCAC credential, you must meet all requirements for the LMAC and then complete additional clinical requirements that include 4,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience, 1,500 of which must be spent in client assessment and treatment.
Of these, at least 100 hours must be spent under individual supervision. You must have at least two supervisory sessions each month. One hour of supervision must be provided for every 20 hours of direct client contact. You’ll be required to submit an LCAC Clinical Training Plan.
If you have a doctoral degree, you’ll be required to earn just 2,000 hours of post-degree experience.
You must also take and pass the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam.
The Examination Process
You must first apply to the Board and receive approval to take the required exam. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive notice from the Board with instructions for registering for the exam. The cost to take either the NCAC Level II or MAC exam is $150.
The Application Process
All application packets and related forms are available on the Board website. You’ll need to submit three references with your application. The application fee is $50.
Individuals Licensed in Other Professions
There is a separate simplified application process for professionals already licensed by BSRB in related fields. Application forms may be downloaded (https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/professions/addiction-counselors).
Out-of-State Addiction Counselors
An addiction counselor with an active license in another state may apply by reciprocity through one of two pathways: (1) demonstrate that the standards of licensing are equivalent to those of the Kansas Board; or (2) demonstrate five years of continuous practice. If you apply for reciprocity by experience, you must have earned a degree recognized by the Board and provide proof of the completion of specific coursework and part/full-time employment.
If you are applying for the LCAC credential, you must demonstrate competency in diagnosing and treating substance use disorders by (1) providing passing scores on a national examination or fifteen semester hours of graduate coursework; (2) providing the Board with an attestation of competence by a qualified professional; or (3) providing the Board with at least three years of qualifying clinical practice.
Additional Information
Questions? Contact the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (785) 296-3240, at [email protected] or through their online form.
The Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals serves as an excellent source of information regarding the profession and the practice of substance abuse counseling.