IllinoisLicensed Professional Counselor / Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Requirements

CACREP accreditation accepted but not required; programs must be from regionally accredited institutions and include required content areas

Required Coursework Areas

All states require a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. The number of required credit hours varies — some states require 48 semester hours while others require 60. CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation is increasingly required or preferred.

Accepted Exams

Retake Policy

90-day waiting period between attempts

Most states require passing the NCE (National Counselor Examination) or NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination). Some states accept either exam, while others specify one. A jurisprudence exam on state laws and ethics may also be required.

Supervisor Qualifications

LCPC or equivalent clinical supervisor approved by the Department

Supervision Ratio

Individual or group supervision; at least 1 hour per week during active practice

After completing a master’s degree, aspiring counselors must accumulate supervised clinical experience (typically 2,000–4,000 hours) before qualifying for full licensure. Most states offer an associate or provisional license during this period. Supervision must be provided by a board-approved supervisor.

Treatment Modalities

LPC: non-clinical counseling including individual, group, and family counseling. LCPC: full clinical counseling including diagnosis, treatment of mental and emotional disorders, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and assessment.

Restricted Activities

LPC cannot independently diagnose or treat mental and emotional disorders (must obtain LCPC for clinical practice). Cannot prescribe medication. Cannot perform psychological testing reserved for psychologists.

Licensed professional counselors provide mental health services including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Scope varies by state — some allow independent diagnosis while others restrict certain activities. Counselors do not prescribe medication.

Required CE Topics

Regulatory Board

Counselor licenses must be renewed on schedule, typically every 2 years. Continuing education requirements vary by state but commonly include ethics, cultural competency, and clinical topics. Some states require specific hours in ethics or supervision.

Endorsement Requirements

• •Active equivalent license in another state in good standing
• •Verification of licensure
• •Official transcripts showing equivalent education
• •NCE or NCMHCE score verification
• •Criminal background check

The Counseling Compact is an interstate agreement that allows licensed counselors to practice across state lines. Member states participate in this compact to improve access to mental health services. Endorsement processes for non-compact states vary in their requirements.