Kansas BSRB advisory committee discusses background-check requirement, CEbroker uptake and training gaps

The Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board's (BSRB) master's-level psychology and licensed clinical psychotherapy advisory committee on Aug. 6 heard that the board intends to begin requiring fingerprint-based background checks for some licensure actions and discussed several operational and workforce issues raised by a new licensee survey.

David Fye, executive director of the BSRB, told the advisory committee that the board is preparing to require Kansas applicants seeking initial licensure or reinstatement to undergo criminal-background checks and is coordinating with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to implement the process. "There's a standard fee for the background check, which I believe is $57, and that money would all go directly to KBI," Fye said, noting staff are working through logistical and training details before going live.

The background-check proposal grew from Kansas' recent adoption of multistate licensure compacts for several professions regulated by the BSRB. Fye said the compacts include background checks as a condition of practicing under the compact and that the board supported adding a background-check requirement so Kansas licensees will be eligible for interstate practice. "While it is not a requirement in Kansas for licensure, the standard set by those compacts is that background checks would be a requirement of licensure for people wanting to practice under those compacts," he said.

Why it matters: The board flagged the change as necessary to preserve licensees' eligibility for multistate compacts and to support the board's public-protection mission. Fye told members staff will provide more information to licensees before the requirement is implemented.

Operational updates and CEbroker uptake

Fye also reported two operational items: recognition of the BSRB…