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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from California to Kansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) ↗

A counseling license transfers from California to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), verify your California license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. No exam is retaken. Kansas uses the NCMHCE for clinical (LCPC) licensure, but under K.S.A. 65-5807(b) a reciprocity applicant for the LCPC shows clinical competence through at least TWO of three areas. They are: (1) a passed national clinical exam approved by the board OR 15 graduate credit hours in diagnosis and treatment; (2) three years of clinical practice diagnosing or treating mental disorders; (3) an attestation of competence from an independently licensed professional. An exam score report is needed only if the exam is used and not already reported by the licensing state. Kansas requires no jurisprudence exam..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Neither state gives you a working compact route here: a state that has enacted the Counseling Compact but is not yet operational behaves like a non-member. The route is endorsement through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC): your California license is verified, your NCE or NCMHCE score is credited under Kansas's own exam rule, and Kansas applies any jurisprudence and background checks it requires. Check which Kansas tier corresponds to your California license before you file, because the titles do not map one to one.

What changes, California → Kansas

Side-by-side: California vs Kansas (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
California (current)Kansas (destination)
Counseling Compact statusLicensure by endorsementCounseling Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Application fee$125 (LPCC License Application fee under the Board's temporary 50% fee reduction for payments made 2026-07-01 through 2030-06-30 (statutory base in BPC 4999.120 is $250; applications paid before 2026-07-01 paid $250). Separate: initial license issuance fee $100 (reduced from $200), California Law and Ethics Exam fee $75 (reduced from $150), fingerprint (Live Scan / DOJ-FBI) fees not reduced and paid separately. California has not enacted the Counseling Compact, so no privilege route exists.)$50 (Reciprocity application fee per the BSRB reciprocity packet; nonrefundable. Under K.S.A. 65-5807(c), a separate license fee is due once eligibility is confirmed. Its amount (K.A.R. 102-3-2) could not be verified because the official regulation site (rules.ks.gov / sos.ks.gov) was not machine-readable or refused access. Other-state verification fees may apply. Kansas is not yet an operational Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies.)
Processing timethe Board's Path A guide gives no timeframe for the licensure application itself; it states only 'allow up to 30 days' for processing the Request for Initial License Issuance after the exam is passed. Board processing-time pages could not be read (bbs.ca.gov refused connections on 2026-09-27).4–7 weeks (BSRB reciprocity packet: 'Please allow 30 days for review of your complete application' (~4 weeks). K.S.A. 48-3406(c) requires the license within 45 days of a complete application (~6.4 weeks, rounded up to 7) for applicants who have established or intend to establish Kansas residency (15 days for military servicemembers and spouses).)
Licensing authorityCalifornia Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kansas sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Kansas's current requirements on the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold an active counselor license in another state, and either show that state's standards are substantially equivalent to Kansas's or show 12 months of licensure with a similar scope, no serious discipline and at least a master's degree in counseling or a related field.
  5. Demonstrate competence to diagnose and treat mental disorders through at least two of: national clinical exam or 15 graduate credit hours, three years of clinical practice, or a licensed-professional attestation.
  6. Have each licensing board send the License Verification (out-of-state clearance) form directly to the BSRB.
  7. Have transcripts sent directly to the BSRB when using the 15 graduate credit hours option.
  8. Submit the reciprocity application with the $50 application fee.
  9. Pay the fees ($50 (Reciprocity application fee per the BSRB reciprocity packet; nonrefundable. Under K.S.A. 65-5807(c), a separate license fee is due once eligibility is confirmed. Its amount (K.A.R. 102-3-2) could not be verified because the official regulation site (rules.ks.gov / sos.ks.gov) was not machine-readable or refused access. Other-state verification fees may apply. Kansas is not yet an operational Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies.)) and allow 4–7 weeks (BSRB reciprocity packet: 'Please allow 30 days for review of your complete application' (~4 weeks). K.S.A. 48-3406(c) requires the license within 45 days of a complete application (~6.4 weeks, rounded up to 7) for applicants who have established or intend to establish Kansas residency (15 days for military servicemembers and spouses).).

Official links

Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) ↗Kansas application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Kansas → CaliforniaCounseling in CaliforniaCounseling in KansasAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Kansas accept a California counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from California to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB): Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), verify your California license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. No exam is retaken. Kansas uses the NCMHCE for clinical (LCPC) licensure, but under K.S.A. 65-5807(b) a reciprocity applicant for the LCPC shows clinical competence through at least TWO of three areas. They are: (1) a passed national clinical exam approved by the board OR 15 graduate credit hours in diagnosis and treatment; (2) three years of clinical practice diagnosing or treating mental disorders; (3) an attestation of competence from an independently licensed professional. An exam score report is needed only if the exam is used and not already reported by the licensing state. Kansas requires no jurisprudence exam..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from California to Kansas?

No exam is retaken. Kansas uses the NCMHCE for clinical (LCPC) licensure, but under K.S.A. 65-5807(b) a reciprocity applicant for the LCPC shows clinical competence through at least TWO of three areas. They are: (1) a passed national clinical exam approved by the board OR 15 graduate credit hours in diagnosis and treatment; (2) three years of clinical practice diagnosing or treating mental disorders; (3) an attestation of competence from an independently licensed professional. An exam score report is needed only if the exam is used and not already reported by the licensing state. Kansas requires no jurisprudence exam.

What does the move cost?

$50 (Reciprocity application fee per the BSRB reciprocity packet; nonrefundable. Under K.S.A. 65-5807(c), a separate license fee is due once eligibility is confirmed. Its amount (K.A.R. 102-3-2) could not be verified because the official regulation site (rules.ks.gov / sos.ks.gov) was not machine-readable or refused access. Other-state verification fees may apply. Kansas is not yet an operational Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies.)

How long will it take?

4–7 weeks (BSRB reciprocity packet: 'Please allow 30 days for review of your complete application' (~4 weeks). K.S.A. 48-3406(c) requires the license within 45 days of a complete application (~6.4 weeks, rounded up to 7) for applicants who have established or intend to establish Kansas residency (15 days for military servicemembers and spouses).)

Kansas joined the Counseling Compact. Can I use a privilege there?

Not yet. Kansas had enacted the compact but was not issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so counseling clients located in Kansas takes Kansas's own authorization, normally a Kansas license.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]