How to start a private practice in Kansas

Use your exact license title, "Licensed Professional Counselor" or "Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor," in your marketing.

• Only licensed people may call themselves licensed professional counselors.
• At the start of treatment, tell each client your training, your titles and licenses, and your degree level.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule that says your license number must appear in ads. Check with the board.

K.S.A. 65-5803, 65-5817

Keep ads honest, and don't guarantee results or claim you're better than other providers.

• No dishonesty, fraud or misleading statements in advertising or billing.
• Don't claim superiority you can't prove.
• Don't promise satisfaction or a cure.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on testimonials or on the word "specialist." Ask the board before using either.

K.A.R. 102-3-12a(b)(23), (31), (32)

Use your exact license title, "Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist," in your marketing.

• Only licensed people may call themselves licensed marriage and family therapists.
• At the start of treatment, tell each client your training, titles and licenses, and your degree level.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule that says your license number must appear in ads. Check with the board.

K.S.A. 65-6403, 65-6413

Keep ads honest, and don't guarantee results or claim you're better than other providers.

• No dishonesty, fraud or misleading statements in advertising or billing.
• Don't claim superiority you can't prove.
• Don't promise satisfaction or a cure.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on testimonials or on the word "specialist." Ask the board before using either.

K.A.R. 102-5-12(23), (31), (32)

Use your board-approved title, "Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker," or its approved abbreviation, in your marketing.

• Nobody else may use the title or abbreviation.
• At the start of treatment, tell each client your training, titles and licenses, and your degree level.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule that says your license number must appear in ads. Check with the board.

K.S.A. 65-6307, 65-6320

Keep ads honest, and don't guarantee results or claim you're better than other providers.

• No dishonesty, fraud or misleading statements in advertising or billing.
• Don't claim superiority you can't prove.
• Don't promise satisfaction or a cure.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on testimonials or on the word "specialist." Ask the board before using either.

K.A.R. 102-2-7(w), (ee), (ff)

Call yourself a "Licensed Psychologist" in your marketing.

• Only licensed people may represent themselves as psychologists in Kansas.
• At the start of treatment, tell each client your training, titles and licenses, and your degree level.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule that says your license number must appear in ads. Check with the board.

K.S.A. 74-5340, 74-5350

Keep ads honest, and don't guarantee results or claim you're better than other providers.

• No knowingly fraudulent or misleading advertising.
• Don't claim superiority you can't prove.
• Don't promise satisfaction or a cure.
• Don't misrepresent your fees.

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on testimonials or on the word "specialist." Ask the board before using either.

K.A.R. 102-1-10a(h), (i)

Explain your services, fees and the limits of confidentiality at the start, and get written consent for recording, observers and releases.

• Cover rights and duties, what clients can expect, fees, billing and schedule.
• Tell clients about known risks if the treatment is experimental.
• Share your training, titles and degree. If you aren't an MD, say you can't prescribe and suggest a physician check for medical causes.
• Write the disclosures in the client's record.

K.A.R. 102-3-12a(b)(13)-(20), K.S.A. 65-5817

Keep records at least 5 years after your last contact with a client.

• Include identification, reason for services, condition, treatment, progress, dates and how the relationship ended.
• Write so another practitioner can read it.
• Other laws (insurers, HIPAA) may require longer.

Not yet confirmed: We found no separate rule for minors' records. Ask the board if you see children.

K.A.R. 102-3-12a(b)(35), (43)

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

Not yet confirmed: No Kansas rule we found tells you to give clients the board's complaint information. Listing the BSRB in your consent form is a good habit. Check with the board.

Explain your services, fees and the limits of confidentiality at the start, and get written consent for recording, observers and releases.

• Cover rights and duties, what clients can expect, fees, billing and schedule.
• Tell clients about known risks of the proposed treatment.
• Share your training, titles and degree. If you aren't an MD, say you can't prescribe and suggest a physician check for medical causes.
• Write the disclosures in the client's record.

Not yet confirmed: For couples and families, the rules we found don't say how to handle each person's consent. Ask the board.

K.A.R. 102-5-12, K.S.A. 65-6413

Keep records at least 6 years after your last contact with a client.

• For a minor: until 2 years past the age of majority or 6 years after the last contact, whichever is later.
• Records must include identification, dates, services, assessment, plan and session notes.
• Other laws (insurers, HIPAA) may require longer.

K.A.R. 102-5-16(c)

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

Not yet confirmed: No Kansas rule we found tells you to give clients the board's complaint information. Listing the BSRB in your consent form is a good habit. Check with the board.

Explain your services, fees and the limits of confidentiality at the start, and get written consent for recording, observers and releases.

• Cover rights and duties, what clients can expect, fees, billing and schedule.
• Tell clients about known risks of the proposed treatment.
• Share your training, titles and degree. If you aren't an MD, say you can't prescribe and suggest a physician check for medical causes.
• Write the disclosures in the client's record.

K.A.R. 102-2-7(m)-(t), K.S.A. 65-6320

Keep records at least 2 years after your last contact with a client.

• This is the shortest period of the four Kansas licenses.
• Other laws (insurers, HIPAA) may require longer.

Not yet confirmed: We found no separate rule for minors. Many practitioners keep records longer. Check with the board.

K.A.R. 102-2-7(qq)

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

Not yet confirmed: No Kansas rule we found tells you to give clients the board's complaint information. Listing the BSRB in your consent form is a good habit. Check with the board.

Get and document informed consent before starting services, unless it's an emergency.

• Cover known risks, what clients can expect in services, fees, billing and collection.
• Say so when a treatment is experimental.
• Explain the limits of confidentiality.
• Share your training, titles and degree. If you aren't an MD, say you can't prescribe.

K.A.R. 102-1-10a(e), (g), K.S.A. 74-5350

Keep records at least 5 years after your last contact with a client.

• For a minor: until 2 years past the age of majority or 5 years after the last contact, whichever is later.
• Records must include identification, dates, services, assessment, plan and session notes.
• Other laws (insurers, HIPAA) may require longer.

K.A.R. 102-1-20(c)

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

Not yet confirmed: No Kansas rule we found tells you to give clients the board's complaint information. Listing the BSRB in your consent form is a good habit. Check with the board.