Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · Illinois · regulated by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) — optional |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | Equivalent of 2 years full-time supervised experience; one year = 1680 clock hours in not less than 48 weeks (IDFPR: 3360 total hours) |
| Direct client contact | At least 50% of hours direct face-to-face service to clients (synchronous audio-visual telehealth counts) |
| Minimum time | Each 1680-hour year obtained in not less than 48 weeks |
| Exams | NCE and NCMHCE (NBCC), or CRCC Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam |
Supervision
- How often: Supervisor met face-to-face with applicant at least one hour each week (IDFPR guide says average 4 hours/month)
- Group supervision: Individual or group allowed; group may not exceed five supervisees
- Who may supervise: LCPC (with supervision CE), LCSW, licensed clinical psychologist, LMFT, or psychiatrist; must be Illinois-licensed if supervisee is in Illinois
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Master's: all after degree (may begin on completion of degree requirements). Doctorate: at least 1 year post-degree; doctoral internships may count
- Paperwork: VE-LCPC (Verification of Experience), completed by supervisor; one per site, supervisor and experience
Can you be supervised remotely in Illinois?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: Statute and rule define face-to-face supervision as live, interactive and visual; synchronous video with verbal and visual interaction counts. Weekly 1 h face-to-face (video OK); individual or group.
- Phone only: not allowed (supervision must be visual)
- In-person minimum: none (weekly face-to-face may be by synchronous video)
- Supervisor licensed in Illinois? required when the associate is physically located in Illinois (even for out-of-state telehealth clients); if the associate is outside Illinois, supervisor needs an active license only where their own jurisdiction requires it
- Supervisor credential: No board registration; Illinois LCPC supervisors must first complete the supervision CE in 1375.220 (LCSW, clinical psychologist, LMFT, psychiatrist also qualify)
- Supervisee cap: Group supervision limited to 5 supervisees; no overall caseload cap
- If you live outside Illinois: Rule keys supervisor licensure to where the associate is physically located (Illinois location = Illinois-licensed supervisor); silent on an out-of-state associate treating Illinois clients
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
Counseling degree minimum rises to 60 semester hours from July 1, 2026 (IDFPR guide). P.A. 104-178 (eff. 1-1-26) added practice-pending-licensure (§47).
In the board’s own words
“One year of supervised clinical professional counseling experience shall be 1680 clock hours obtained in not less than 48 weeks.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(d)✓ matched in the source
“The supervisor shall have met face-to-face, as defined in Section 10 of the Act, with the applicant at least one hour each week.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(e)(1)✓ matched in the source
“1680 clock hours obtained in not less than 48 weeks” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(d)✓ matched in the source
“At least 50% of those hours must consist of direct face to face service to clients” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(d)✓ matched in the source
“Video is considered face-to-face if the session is synchronous and involves verbal and visual interaction during supervision.” — 225 ILCS 107/10 (Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, definitions: face-to-face, qualified supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“Video supervision is considered clinical supervision if the session is synchronous and permits verbal and visual interaction during supervision.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
“"Face-to-face" means the session is live, interactive, and visual.” — 225 ILCS 107/10 (Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act, definitions: face-to-face, qualified supervisor)✓ matched in the source
“The supervisor shall have met face-to-face, as defined in Section 10 of the Act, with the applicant at least one hour each week.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
“When a clinical counseling applicant is obtaining supervised experience while physically located in Illinois, the qualified supervisor must be licensed in Illinois” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
“even if the services are being provided to persons located outside of Illinois via telehealth” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
“The supervisor shall hold an active license if the jurisdiction in which the supervisor practices requires licensure.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
“An Illinois licensed clinical professional counselor must complete the supervision CE required in Section 1375.220 to be a qualified supervisor.” — 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10 (definitions) and 1375.130(c)-(l) (professional experience for LCPC)✓ matched in the source
5 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Illinois
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Illinois licenses · every state
Sources
- 225 ILCS 107/45(b) (Qualifications — clinical professional counselor)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(a)-(l) (Professional Experience for LCPC)
- IDFPR Qualifications for Licensure: LCPC (180), eff. 05/2025, pp.1-3
Checked against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.