Advisory committee reviews licensee survey, plans outreach and supervision templates

The Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board’s Professional Counselor Advisory Committee spent significant time Dec. 4 reviewing survey responses from licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs) and identifying practical follow-ups for 2026.

Executive Director David Fye summarized the survey process and results, saying the board solicited feedback across seven professions and is converting draft survey reports to final reports this month. He noted that, for some survey questions about additional ways the board could protect consumers, more than half of respondents answered that they had no recommendations; among responses that did suggest change, common themes included requests for faster license processing, clearer communication about licensure pathways, more continuing-education opportunities (including the planned free Jurisprudence Live hour), improved complaint-process information, and guidance on artificial intelligence and telehealth.

Committee members proposed practical steps. Members agreed to form a supervision subcommittee (Amanda Wade, Vanessa Perez and Masha Mancuti) to consider templates and standardized consent language; staff agreed to vet any templates with legal counsel to avoid implying a new regulatory requirement. The committee also supported enhancing timely communications — including FAQs on the BSRB website and a proposed newsletter — to make licensees aware of available resources such as CE Broker and changes to temporary-license provisions.

Fye highlighted several operational items that will affect licensees: free CE Broker accounts to streamline audit responses; a Jurisprudence Live training intended to roll out for free CE credit; standardized two-year temporary licenses at $50; and other measures intended to simplify pathways to permanent licensure.

The committee agreed to continue studying survey narratives into 2026 and to revisit questions 16 and 17 (LPC) and 17 and 18 (LCPC) at a future meeting.