How to Become a Counselor in Illinois: From Student to Licensed Professional (LPC & LCPC)

Illinois is one of the top five states for counseling salaries. Marriage and family therapists earn approximately $69,900 annually. The state has 38,010 professionals working in counseling specialties of all types. This makes it an attractive destination for aspiring counselors.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees the licensing process for counselors. You can pursue two professional titles based on your education and clinical skills: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). To become an LPC in Illinois, you need a master’s degree in counseling with at least 48 semester hours. The process requires completing a one-year residency and achieving 1,680 hours of supervised experience. The LCPC path builds on these requirements with advanced clinical training. Your success depends on understanding Illinois’ counseling licensure requirements as you begin your professional path.

This detailed guide covers every step of the Illinois counseling licensure process. You’ll learn about choosing the right education program, preparing for the National Counselor Examination, and keeping your license current with 30 continuing education hours every two years.

Educational Requirements in Illinois

Your counseling career in Illinois starts with the right education. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) sets specific educational requirements that you need to follow for both LPC and LCPC paths.

To become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), you’ll need a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. Your program should have at least 48 semester hours with one 3-credit course in each of 13 key counseling areas. These areas include counseling theory, legal responsibilities, individual appraisal, substance abuse, maladaptive behavior, career development, cultural foundations, ethics, research methods, group dynamics, counseling techniques, human growth, and family dynamics.

The quickest way to meet Illinois counseling licensure requirements is to earn a degree from a program that the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited. These programs meet all educational requirements automatically. Illinois currently has 20 CACREP-accredited programs.

Students who choose programs outside CACREP accreditation must ensure their degree:

• Comes from an institution that a US Department of Education-recognized agency has accredited
• Bears a title in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or similar fields
• Takes at least two academic years with 48+ semester credits
• Has a practicum or internship component (minimum 3 semester credits)

You can also meet education requirements by showing proof of national certification through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRC) or the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential.

School counselors face additional requirements. K-12 positions need an Educator License from the Illinois State Board of Education, which requires a 60-semester hour program in school counseling.

Licensed counselors must continue their education. LPCs and LCPCs need 30 hours of continuing education each license cycle. This includes special training in ethics (3 hours), sexual harassment prevention (1 hour), implicit bias awareness (1 hour), and other required topics. Your first license renewal doesn’t require continuing education.

These educational standards create a strong foundation for your Illinois counseling career and prepare you for future steps like internships and examinations.

Top Counseling Programs in Illinois

Illinois has excellent counseling programs that will help you get licensed. Let’s look at five outstanding schools that have proven track records and complete curricula for preparing counselors.

Northeastern Illinois University offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that leads to both LPC and LCPC paths. This CACREP-accredited program needs 60 credit hours and focuses on multicultural skills – a huge plus in Chicago’s diverse communities. Students complete 700 clinical hours during their practicum experience.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s CACREP-accredited Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling keeps classes small with a 1:12 faculty-student ratio. Students need 61 credit hours and get specialized training in substance abuse counseling. The university’s on-campus clinical center gives students hands-on supervised experience.

Northern Illinois University’s Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program blends theory and practice really well. This 60-credit program focuses on trauma-informed care and evidence-based practices. NIU’s strong ties with local mental health centers help students find great internship spots.

The Chicago School has designed its Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with working professionals in mind, offering evening and weekend classes. The program excels at preparing students for the National Counselor Examination through dedicated test prep modules.

Adler University in Chicago offers a social justice-focused Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students complete 62 credit hours and learn Adlerian psychology principles. Adler’s graduates have an impressive 90% job placement rate in the counseling field.

All these programs meet Illinois’s counseling licensure requirements. Each school has different admission requirements, costs, and specialties. Take time to research each school to find the right fit for your career goals and personal situation as you work toward becoming an Illinois counselor.

Clinical Experience

Clinical experience under supervision plays a vital role in your path to becoming an Illinois counselor. This experience goes beyond academic education. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation carefully monitors and defines these post-degree requirements.

The LCPC status requires 3,360 total hours of supervised clinical experience. This includes 1,920 hours of direct face-to-face clinical work with clients. You need at least two years to complete this experience, though there’s no upper time limit. A year of experience equals 1,680 clock hours spread over 48 weeks or more.

You can start gaining supervised experience right after completing your coursework and internships. The degree doesn’t need to be officially awarded yet. These hours can be accumulated at one place or multiple locations.

Your supervisor must be one of these qualified professionals:

• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Psychiatrist

The supervisor needs to meet with you at least one hour every week face-to-face. Group supervision works too, but groups can’t have more than five supervisees.

Your educational program must include practical training before this post-graduate experience. CACREP-accredited programs typically need a 100-hour practicum with 40 direct service hours. They also require a 600-hour internship with 240 direct service hours. School counseling programs usually need 400 clock hours of internship in K-12 settings.

Volunteer hours count toward your requirements only if you have an LPC license during that time. Many professionals get their LPC first, finish their supervised experience, and then pursue LCPC status.

Remember that you must work as your qualified supervisor’s employee or designee – not as an independent contractor.

Examinations

Your Illinois counseling licensure path requires passing standardized examinations. Each credential type needs different exam qualifications.

The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is required to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRCE) can serve as an alternative. The NCE’s structure consists of 200 multiple-choice questions that test core counseling knowledge and skills. The exam scores 160 questions while 40 serve as unscored field-test items.

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) candidates must pass both the NCE and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). The NCMHCE presents 11 case studies, and all but one of these cases are scored. Each case contains 9-15 multiple-choice questions that add up to 100 scored items.

The NCE’s six key domains are:

• Professional Practice and Ethics (12% of exam)
• Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (12%)
• Areas of Clinical Focus (29%)
• Treatment Planning (9%)
• Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%)
• Core Counseling Attributes (8%)

Students at many Illinois universities can take the NCE before graduation. Wheaton College’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program lets students take the NCE. Their students achieved a 100% pass rate in 2024 with a mean score of 129.7, surpassing the nationwide mean of 112.5.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation should receive your official score reports directly. Failed candidates can retake an exam after 30 days. IDFPR approval and NBCC registration with a $150 fee are required first. Each NBCC application allows three attempts within its two-year validity.

Students can complete their exams at a Pearson VUE test center or through the OnVUE platform from any secure location.

Licensing Fees

Your career planning in Illinois must include understanding the costs of counseling licensure. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) maintains a clear fee structure that’s 30 years old.

Both LPC and LCPC applications need a $150.00 application fee. This applies to new applicants and those seeking licensure from another state. Your credentials need regular renewals. LPC renewal fees cost $60.00 and LCPC renewal fees cost $80.00 every two years.

The path to reinstatement depends on how long your license stays inactive. You’ll need to pay $300.00 to restore an expired license. This higher fee covers the extra work to process these applications.

Your budget should also include examination costs. The National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) cost $275.00 each. New LPC applicants only need to pass the NCE. LCPC candidates must complete both examinations as mentioned earlier.

The complete cost breakdown to become a licensed LCPC in Illinois has:

• Master’s degree tuition (varies by institution)
• NCE examination fee: $275.00
• NCMHCE examination fee: $275.00
• Initial LPC application: $150.00
• Initial LCPC application: $150.00

IDFPR gives you several payment options. You can submit fees through the IDFPR Online Services Portal for online applications. Paper applications require payment by check or money order—cash payments are not accepted.

Illinois counseling licenses expire every two years on March 31st of odd-numbered years. This fixed date helps you track when to complete 30 continuing education hours and renew your license.

The state gives new licensees a break. You don’t need continuing education credits for your first renewal period.

Salaries in Illinois

Once you complete your licensing trip, you’ll want to know how much you can earn as a counselor in Illinois. Your potential earnings depend on your specialty, experience, and where you work in the state.

Illinois mental health counselors earn a median yearly salary of $63,450, which beats the national median of $59,190. Also, you can earn more with advanced credentials and specialization. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors make better money, with experienced LCPCs taking home between $60,000 and $75,000 per year.

Where you practice makes a big difference in your pay. Counselors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area earn the highest wages statewide, with mean yearly earnings of $53,310. Those working in southern Illinois tend to earn less.

Your counseling specialty shapes your earning potential:

• School counselors in Illinois average $65,480 yearly
• Rehabilitation counselors make about $47,890 per year
• Substance abuse counselors earn around $63,450
• Marriage and family therapists pull in roughly $54,620

Your experience level drives your income growth. New counselors usually start at $40,000, but with 5-10 years of experience, you can earn 20-30% more. Private practice counselors often make more than those working in community mental health centers or schools.

The counseling field in Illinois shows strong growth potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects mental health counselor jobs to grow 22% through 2031, which outpaces most other jobs. This strong job market creates about 1,800 openings yearly in counseling specialties throughout Illinois.

Money shouldn’t be your only reason to become a counselor. However, knowing your earning potential helps you plan your career path in Illinois better.

Counseling Organizations in Illinois

Professional organizations strengthen your counseling career in Illinois through valuable resources, support systems, and networking opportunities. These associations help develop your career from student years through licensed practice.

The Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) leads the state’s counseling profession. This American Counseling Association affiliate features specialized divisions that cover mental health, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. Members gain access to continuing education events, professional liability insurance options, and legislative support that shapes Illinois counseling practices.

Clinical mental health specialists will find the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA) particularly helpful. The organization champions Illinois counseling licensure issues and runs regular workshops to address clinical practitioners’ unique challenges.

The Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA) serves school counselors with resources designed for educational settings. Members receive guidance on IDFPR requirements and school-specific credentials.

Several national organizations have active Illinois chapters that provide local support:

• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

These organizations offer multiple benefits to aspiring Illinois counselors. Student members can access exclusive scholarship opportunities. Regular networking events help connect you with potential supervisors—crucial for meeting Illinois’s LCPC requirements. Members also enjoy discounted continuing education programs that satisfy biennial renewal requirements.

These professional networks support your entire career journey. From working through LPC requirements to maintaining clinical credentials, they provide mentorship, guidance, and political advocacy that protect counseling practice standards throughout the state.

Counseling Scholarships in Illinois

Getting financial support for your counseling education plays a vital role in your journey toward Illinois licensure. Good news – aspiring counselors in the state can access many scholarship opportunities.

The Illinois Counseling Foundation (ICF) gives out multiple scholarships each year to graduate students in counseling programs. These merit-based awards range from $1,000 to $3,000. You’ll need active membership in the Illinois Counseling Association and a strong personal statement about your counseling philosophy.

Illinois universities have their own funding programs. Northeastern Illinois University gives the Counselor Education Leadership Scholarship just for students in their Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers fellowship positions that cover tuition and provide a modest stipend for outstanding counseling students.

Here are some additional funding sources you should look into:

• Chi Sigma Iota chapters across Illinois give member scholarships between $500-$2,000
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling provides the James Alexander Newcomer Scholarship ($1,000) for future school counselors
• National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation sets aside several scholarships for Illinois residents who want to serve rural or underserved communities

These opportunities are highly competitive. Your best strategy is to apply for multiple funding sources at once. Many Illinois counseling programs also offer graduate assistantships that include tuition waivers and modest stipends in exchange for teaching or research help.

School counselors working in shortage areas can benefit from loan forgiveness through the Illinois Teachers Loan Repayment Program. Mental health counselors practicing in underserved Illinois communities can get up to $50,000 in loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Success in getting funding usually means applying for scholarships 6-8 months before your program starts. Make sure your personal statement shows your dedication to helping with Illinois’ mental health needs.

Become a Counselor in Illinois Today

The path to becoming a counselor in Illinois follows a clear roadmap that needs dedication, education, and hands-on experience. You’ve learned about the key steps in this piece – from getting your master’s degree with specific courses to building supervised clinical experience and clearing national exams. Without doubt, this experience needs commitment, but the chance to change clients’ lives makes it all worth it.

Money matters need careful thought in this career path. The original costs include education, exam fees, and getting licensed. But the future looks bright with good pay, especially if you become an LCPC or focus on areas like marriage and family therapy where professionals are in high demand. On top of that, many scholarships and professional groups will support you every step of the way.

Illinois gives counselors of all specialties a strong professional setting. The state’s network of professional organizations will give you vital resources for ongoing education, advocacy, and networking. Starting relationships with these communities early can help you handle license requirements better and build lasting professional connections.

Moving from student to licensed counselor might look tough at first. Breaking down the process into smaller steps makes it easier to handle. Each part builds on what came before – from education to supervised work, exams, and keeping your license current. This step-by-step growth, plus the rising need for mental health services, makes counseling a rewarding and lasting career choice in Illinois.