(a) Qualification. An applicant for a license to practice as a mental health technician shall:

(1) Have graduated from a high school accredited by the appropriate legal accrediting agency or have obtained the equivalent of a high school education, as determined by the state department of education;

(2) have satisfactorily completed an approved course of mental health technology; and

(3) file with the board a written application for a license.

(b) The board may issue a license to an applicant to practice as a mental health technician who has:

(1) Met the qualifications set forth in subsection (a);

(2) passed a written examination in mental health technology as prescribed by the board; and

(3) no disqualifying factors under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-4209, and amendments thereto.

(c) Licensure examination within 24 months of graduation. (1) Persons who do not take the licensure examination within 24 months after graduation shall petition the board for permission prior to taking the licensure examination. The board may require the applicant to submit and complete a plan of study prior to taking the licensure examination.

(2) Persons who are unsuccessful in passing the licensure examination within 24 months after graduation shall petition the board for permission prior to subsequent attempts. The board may require the applicant to submit and complete a plan of study prior to taking the licensure examination a subsequent time. The study plan shall contain subjects related to deficiencies identified on the failed examination profiles.

(d) An application for initial licensure will be held awaiting completion of meeting qualifications for a time period specified in rules and regulations.

(e) Refresher course. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), an applicant for a license to practice as a mental health technician who has not been licensed to practice as a mental health technician for five years preceding application shall be required to successfully complete a refresher course as defined by the board in rules and regulations.

(f) The board may issue a one-time temporary permit to practice as a mental health technician for a period not to exceed 120 days when a reinstatement application has been made.

(g) Exempt license. The board may issue an exempt license to any licensee as defined in rules and regulations who makes written application for such license on a form provided by the board, who remits a fee as established pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-4208, and amendments thereto, and who is not regularly engaged in mental health technician practice in Kansas but volunteers mental health technician service or is a charitable health care provider as defined by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6102, and amendments thereto. Each exempt licensee shall be subject to all provisions of the mental health technician act, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e). Each exempt license may be renewed biennially subject to the provisions of this section. The holder of the exempt license shall not be required to submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education for renewal. To convert an exempt license to an active license, the exempt licensee shall meet all the requirements of subsection (b) or Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-4205, and amendments thereto. The board shall have authority to write rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

(h) The board may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to administer the mental health technician’s licensure act.