About the Board

The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, created in 1957, is the licensing and regulatory Board for many health care providers in Kansas. The Board is comprised of 15 members:

Professional Councils were established by statute for each of the allied health care professions licensed and regulated by this agency. These Councils are typically comprised of members of the respective profession, a licensed physician, and a member of the Board. Their role is to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of their practice act.

Mission Statement: Safeguard the public through licensure, education and discipline of those who practice the healing arts in Kansas.”

Agency Philosophy: Safeguarding the public is the Board's primary responsibility. The Board and its staff approach their responsibilities in a balanced and efficient manner so regulation can be performed aggressively, but fairly for the benefit of every patron of the State of Kansas.

We license and regulate 16 different health care professions. Those health care professions include:

• Athletic Trainers (A.T.)
• Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.)
• Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery (D.O.)
• Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.)
• Radiologic Technologists (L.R.T.)
• Doctors of Medicine & Surgery (M.D.)
• Naturopathic Doctors (N.D.)
• Occupational Therapists (O.T.)
• Occupational Therapy Assistants (O.T.A.)
• Physician Assistants (P.A.)
• Physical Therapists (P.T.)
• Physical Therapist Assistants (P.T.A.)
• Respiratory Therapists (R.T.)
• Acupuncturists (L.Ac.)
• Independent Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM-I)
• Contact Lens Distributors

We also approve the business name and certify the professional licenses for the formation of certain professional corporations. We do not regulate institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes, or other medical professionals such as nurses or optometrists.

Kansas is a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. For information regarding the IMLC, please visit their website at https://www.imlcc.org.

In 1957, the legislature passes the Healing Arts Act (K.S.A. 65-2801 et seq), creating the State Board of Healing Arts and abolishing three separate state agencies:

• The Board of Medical Registration and Examination (created in 1901)
• The Board of Osteopathic Examination and Registration (created in 1913)
• The Board of Chiropractic Examinations (created in 1913)

The composite Board created was unique in 1957 and remains so today: The KSBHA is one of only three boards in the country that regulate medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, and chiropractic doctors under one Board.

The Healing Arts Act forms the bedrock of the Board’s mission - to safeguard the public through licensure, education, and discipline of those who practice the healing arts in Kansas.

“Recognizing that the practice of the healing arts is a privilege granted by legislative authority and is not a natural right of individuals, it is deemed necessary as a matter of policy in the interests of public health, safety and welfare, to provide laws and provisions covering the granting of that privilege and its subsequent use, control and regulation to the end that the public shall be properly protected against unprofessional, improper, unauthorized and unqualified practice of the healing arts and from unprofessional conduct by persons licensed to practice under this act.” [L. 1957, ch. 343, § 1; July 1.]

In 1963, the legislature passes the Physical Therapy practice act (K.S.A. 65-2901 et seq), creating the registration of Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

In 1973, the legislature provides for the registry of Physician Assistants, merely requiring that the Board maintain a registry of PAs. However, changes were made in both 1975 and 1978 expanding the Board’s responsibility in the the licensing and regulation of this profession.

In 1975, the State Podiatry Board of Examiners is abolished, and the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the State Board of Healing Arts (K.S.A. 74-2806).

In 1986, the legislature authorizes the registration of Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, and Respiratory Therapists by the State Board of Healing Arts, and directs registration to begin on July 1, 1987 (K.S.A. 65-5401 et seq; K.S.A. 65-5501 et seq).

In 1995, the legislature enacts the Athletic Trainers’ Registration Act under the State Board of Healing Arts, calling for registration by July 1, 1996 (K.S.A. 65-6901 et seq).

In 2003, the legislature enacts Naturopathic Doctor registration under the State Board of Healing Arts, becoming effective January 1, 2003 (K.S.A. 65-7201 et seq).

In 2003, the legislature also enacts the Patient’s Contact Lens Prescription Release Act, authorizing the KSBHA to license Contact Lens Distributors (CLD) (K.S.A. 65-4965 et seq).

In 2004, the legislature enacts the Radiologic Technologists Practice Act, directing the Board to license radiologic technologists by July 1, 2005 (K.S.A. 65-7301 et seq).

In 2016, the legislature enacts the independent practice of midwifery act, requiring that the Board license Independent Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM-I) by January 1, 2017 (K.S.A. 65-28b01 et seq).

In 2016, the legislature enacts the Acupuncture Practice Act, authorizing the Board to license and regulate Acupuncture providers (L.Ac) in Kansas (K.S.A. 65-7601 et seq).

In 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature authorizes the Board to issue Telemedicine Waivers to out-of-state healthcare providers. This helps improve access to care while promoting responsible practice of the professions regulated by the Board (K.S.A. 65-28,135).

In 2023, the legislature authorizes the Board to issue a sports waiver, allowing certain healthcare professionals licensed in another state and traveling with a sports team to practice on a limited basis during sporting events (K.S.A. 65-28,136).