Illinois Administrative Code › Title 68 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS › Part 1375 - PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSING AND PRACTICE ACT › Subpart A - LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR › Section 1375.45 - Required Education for Professional Counselor License

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) The educational requirements for licensure
				as a licensed professional counselor are as follows:
1) Certification of completion of a master's
				degree program or a doctoral degree program in counseling, psychology, or
				rehabilitation counseling from a college, university or school that is a
				regionally accredited institution of higher education and recognized by the
				U.S. Department of Education, or certification of education and an official
				transcript from a similar master's degree program or doctoral degree program in
				accordance with this Section;
2)
				The programs, wherever they may be administratively housed, must be clearly
				identified and labeled as offering counseling, rehabilitation counseling,
				psychology programs, or similar degree programs. Such a program must specify in
				institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train
				counselors;
3) The program is an
				organizational entity within the institution;
4) The program has an integrated, organized
				sequence of study;
5) The program
				must be at least 2 academic years in length and require an individual to
				graduate from a program with a minimum of 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours
				with a minimum of one course ("course" is defined as 3 semester hours or 4.5
				quarter hours equivalent) in each of the areas listed in this subsection
				(a)(5). The definition of a minimum of one course means that the objectives and
				content of one course cannot be used to meet the objectives and content of
				another course. (See Appendix A (Course Descriptions) for a definition of the
				subject content for each core area with examples of course titles that relate
				to each of the core content areas.)
A) Human
				Growth and Development
B)
				Counseling Theory
C) Counseling
				Techniques
D) Group Dynamics,
				Processing and Counseling
E)
				Appraisal of Individuals
F)
				Research and Evaluation
G)
				Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Relating to Professional
				Counseling
H) Social and Cultural
				Foundations
I) Lifestyle and Career
				Development
J)
				Practicum/Internship
K)
				Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior
L) Addictions
M) Family Dynamics;
6) Through June 30, 2026, individuals that
				graduated from a program that requires at least 39 semester hours but less than
				48 semester hours may take additional classes post-degree in a regionally
				accredited counseling program that issues degrees acceptable for licensure
				under this Part, or as approved by the Board. Programs that require less than
				39 semester hours of education to receive a degree will not be accepted for the
				purpose of licensure.
7) Beginning
				July 1, 2026, individuals applying for licensure shall graduate from a program
				with a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours with a minimum of one
				course ("course" is defined as a minimum of 3 semester hours or
				4.5 quarter hours equivalent) in
				each of the core areas listed in subsection (a)(5). Individuals graduating from
				a program that requires at least 39 semester hours but less than 60 semester
				hours may take additional classes post-degree in a regionally accredited
				counseling program that issues degrees acceptable for licensure under this
				Part, or as approved by the Board. Programs that require less than 39 semester
				hours of education to receive a degree shall not be acceptable for the purpose
				of licensure. Programs with evidence of fewer than 7 of the 13 required core
				areas listed in subsection (a)(5) will not be accepted for the purposes of
				licensure.
8) The program has
				faculty responsible for the program and has a sufficient number of full-time
				instructors to make certain that the educational obligations to the student are
				fulfilled;
9) The program has an
				identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a
				degree;
10) The program has a
				one-year residence. Residence requires completion of courses at a single
				institution's program. One year's residence is defined as 24 semester hours
				taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution accumulated within
				the time frame and course of study of the program. Beginning July 1, 2026, one
				year's residence semester hour requirement is 30 semester
				hours.