Advisory committee opens discussion on alternative pathways to licensure amid workforce concerns
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Summary
The board asked advisory committees to study whether Kansas should consider alternate licensure pathways — including standardized exam options or other models — to address workforce shortages and declining pass rates; no policy decisions were made.
The Marriage and Family Therapy advisory committee discussed a request from the board chair to research possible alternative licensure pathways to expand workforce capacity.
Executive Director David Fye framed the item as an open question for advisory committees to research and said the proposal was prompted by workforce concerns: more demand for services since 2020 and an increasing number of licensees overall. He noted potential trade-offs — for example, how divergence from common standards might affect reciprocity or eligibility under a future multistate compact — and asked the committee to consider risks and impacts.
Committee members raised issues including test anxiety, the predictive value of the current examination for safe practice, and differences in supervision and reimbursement that affect whether clinicians pursue independent licensure. Members suggested reviewing models used in other states, tracking pass-rate distributions so the committee could distinguish candidates who miss by a few points from those who score well below passing, and considering whether alternative pathways should include structured supervision or post-licensure oversight.
No motions or formal actions were taken. Staff committed to collect comparative information about other states’ approaches, pass-rate data, and examples of alternative pathways for discussion at a future meeting.