CHAPTER 6

Senate Bill No. 175

An Act concerning health and healthcare; relating to healthcare professions; updating the definition of athletic trainer; providing for an exception for those licensed in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country to practice in Kansas; amending K.S.A. 65-6902, 65-6906 and 65-6907 and repealing the existing sections.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

Section 1. K.S.A. 65-6902 is hereby amended to read as follows: 65-6902. As used in this act:

(a) “Board” means the state board of healing arts.

(b) “Athletic training” means the practice of injury prevention, physical evaluation, emergency care and referral or physical reconditioning relating to athletic activity, including, but not limited to, sports participation, exercise, fitness training, strength and conditioning work, recreational physical activities and competitive athletics. “Athletic training” encompasses wellness promotion, risk management, immediate or emergency care, examination, assessment and therapeutic intervention or rehabilitation of athletic injury and illness. Athletic training also means making clinical decisions to determine if consultation or referrals are necessary, healthcare administration, professional responsibility, performance of athletic training research and educating and consulting with the public regarding safe participation in athletic activities and proper training methods.

(c) “Athletic trainer” means a person licensed under this act.

Sec. 2. K.S.A. 65-6906 is hereby amended to read as follows: 65-6906. (a) Applications for licensure as an athletic trainer shall be made in writing to the board on a form and in the manner prescribed by the board. Each application shall be accompanied by the required fee, which shall not be refundable. Each application shall contain such information necessary to enable the board to judge the qualifications of the applicant for licensure.

(b) The applicant is entitled to licensure as an athletic trainer if the applicant possesses the qualifications set forth under K.S.A. 65-6907, and amendments thereto, pays the licensure fee established by the board and has not committed an act which that constitutes ground for denial of licensure.

(c) The board may issue a license as an athletic trainer without examination to an applicant:

(1) Who presents evidence satisfactory to the board of being licensed, registered or certified in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country and of having passed an examination in athletic training before a similarly lawfully authorized examining board in athletic training of another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country if the standards for the examination and for licensure, registration or certification in athletic training in such other state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country are determined by the board to be at least equivalent to those of this state; or

(2) who presents evidence satisfactory to the board of having been engaged in the practice of athletic training in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country and passed an examination in athletic training by the national athletic trainers’ association board of certification, inc. or other recognized national voluntary credentialing body, which examination the board finds is at least equivalent to the examination approved by the board under K.S.A. 65-6907, and amendments thereto, and who is certified by the national athletic trainers’ association board of certification, inc. or other recognized national voluntary credentialing body, which certification the board finds was issued based on standards at least equivalent to the standards for licensure as an athletic trainer in this state; and

(3) who, at the time of making such application has not been subject to discipline or does not have a disciplinary action pending resulting from the practice of athletic training in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country; and

(4) who, at the time of making such application, pays to the board a fee as prescribed, no part of which shall be returned.

(d) As a condition of performing the functions and duties of an athletic trainer in this state, each licensed athletic trainer shall file a practice protocol with the board. The practice protocol shall be signed by each person licensed by the board to practice the healing arts who will delegate to the athletic trainer acts which constitute athletic training and shall contain such information as required by rules and regulations adopted by the board.

(e) The board may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure as an athletic trainer who meets the requirements for licensure as an athletic trainer as required by K.S.A. 65-6907, and amendments thereto, or who meets all the requirements for licensure except examination and who pays to the board the temporary permit fee as required under K.S.A. 65-6910, and amendments thereto. Such temporary permit shall expire six months from the date of issue or on the date that the board approves or denies the application for licensure, whichever occurs first. No more than one such temporary permit shall be granted to any one person.

(f) An individual who accompanies an athletic team or organization from another state or jurisdiction and provides the services of an athletic trainer in Kansas is exempt from the licensure requirements of the Kansas athletic trainers licensure act, provided that the person is:

(1) Licensed and able to practice as an athletic trainer in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country; and

(2) limited to providing the services of an athletic trainer to members of the athletic team or organization that traveled to Kansas.

Sec. 3. K.S.A. 65-6907 is hereby amended to read as follows: 65-6907. An applicant for licensure as an athletic trainer shall give proof that the applicant has:

(a) Received a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree with a major course of study in an athletic training curriculumGraduated after successful completion of the curriculum requirements of an accredited athletic training education program at an accredited college or university approved by the board; and

(b) passed an examination in athletic training approved by the board.

Sec. 4. K.S.A. 65-6902, 65-6906 and 65-6907 are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.

Approved March 21, 2025.