Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Illinois

Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Illinois

Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University has two counseling programs: a school counseling program that prepares students to work in K-12 settings, and a clinical mental health counseling program that prepares students to work in a wide variety of settings where people need mental healthcare.

Both of WIU’s counseling master’s programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Department of Counselor Education’s programs were the first counselor education program accredited in Illinois in 1987, and the counselor education programs at Western Illinois University are the longest continually accredited counseling programs in the State of Illinois.

Students achieve a master of science in education (MSEd) in a specialty in counseling, with either specialty within that. Both programs require a minimum of 60 semester hours. Students should consult with their advisor regarding the proper sequencing of courses and specialization in either option.

The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to counseling skills; research and program evaluation; crisis and trauma counseling; marriage, family, and relationship counseling; lifestyles and career development; assessment techniques in counseling; counseling theories and applications; and professional, legal, and ethical issues in counseling.

• Location: Moline, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years, full-time
• Estimated Tuition: $317.18 per credit

Concordia University Chicago (Hybrid)

Concordia University Chicago is a private, liberal arts university with a Lutheran Christian outlook. Founded in 1864, the university is one of eight colleges and universities that are part of a nationwide Concordia University System.

Concordia’s clinical mental health counseling program teaches counseling through the lens of the Christian belief system. In the 2021-2022 academic year, there were 108 students enrolled in the clinical mental health counseling program, with a graduation rate of 78 percent and an NCE examination pass rate of 88 percent. Classes here are offered as a hybrid model (online and on-campus classes), in a more traditional brick-and-mortar format at Concordia’s Grayslake campus.

This master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling comprises 60 credits and includes courses such as introduction to the counseling profession; counseling theory and practice; counseling interventions and techniques; career counseling and education; counseling and human development; multicultural counseling; and clinical group counseling.

• Location: Forest, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: $16,148 full-time enrollment

University of Illinois – Springfield

Students in the human development counseling program at the University of Illinois can choose from three tracks of study for their master of arts: clinical mental health counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; and school counseling. Choosing from these tracks requires an additional four courses beyond the core curriculum of 49 credit hours for a total of 61 required credit hours. Notably, the school counseling program is approved annually by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which is required for licensure.

UIS was established in 1969 as a state university. In 1995 it became a campus of the University of Illinois. The campus is well-located—approximately 200 miles southwest of Chicago and 100 miles northeast of St. Louis.

The curriculum includes courses such as fundamental issues and ethics in counseling; theories of counseling; group counseling; multicultural counseling; developmental counseling; alcoholism and substance abuse; consultation and crisis intervention; appraisal techniques in counseling; and family dynamics.

• Location: Springfield, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: Illinois resident ($332.25 per credit); non-resident ($681.75 per credit)

Northern Illinois University – Department of Counseling and Higher Education

The master of science in education from NIU requires a 100-hour supervised practicum and 600 hours of internship. The clinical mental health counseling program averages 50 to 60 enrolled students. The school counseling program averages 40 to 50 enrolled students.

The school prides itself on being accessible to working professionals, by offering classes in late afternoons and evenings. Most classes are offered at the main campus in DeKalb, but some classes may be offered at satellite campuses in Rockford, Naperville, and Hoffman Estates. Northern Illinois University has a long history; it was first chartered in 1895.

The clinical mental health counseling program graduated 20 students in 2022 with a 100 percent completion rate. Approximately 92 percent of the school’s clinical mental health students pass their licensure examination and 94 percent find job placement after graduation.

The school counseling program graduated 19 students in 2022 with a 100 percent completion rate. Approximately 99 percent of school counseling students pass their licensure examination, and 94 percent find job placement after graduation. Because school counseling degree students are also eligible for mental health positions, graduates can also gain employment in non-school counseling positions.

This 60-credit program includes courses such as professional identity and ethics in counseling; diagnosis of mental health issues in counseling; counseling interventions across the lifespan; career counseling; counseling with children; theoretical foundations of family therapy; crisis intervention; and evidence-informed practices in professional counseling and counselor education.

• Location: DeKalb, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: Domestic ($369.24 per credit); international ($738.48 per credit)

Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern’s Department of Counselor Education has been one of the leading providers of master of arts in counseling programs for more than 40 years, and one reason is the variety of programs they offer. Unlike other schools that may offer two or three program specializations, Northeastern offers eight: a 60-credit master’s of arts in clinical mental health counseling; couple and family counseling; school counseling; or rehabilitation counseling. They also offer an 18-credit certificate in couple and family counseling; a 21-credit addiction counseling certificate; an 18-credit certificate in trauma-informed counseling; and a 30-credit certificate in rehabilitation counseling.

The non-degree school counselor endorsement is an option open to individuals who have completed a graduate degree in counseling or a closely-related field and are seeking to meet the academic and clinical requirements to be eligible for endorsement as a school counselor in the State of Illinois.

For those who want to be in the biggest city in the state, Northeastern is well-located on the 67-acre main campus in an attractive area on Chicago’s northwest side. Northeastern prides itself on diversity and says it is regarded as the most diverse public comprehensive university in the Midwest. Additionally, Northeastern is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

The curriculum includes courses such as developmental counseling; theories of counseling; assessment and evaluation in counseling; individual counseling skills; group counseling; advanced clinical mental health counseling; children and youth in school and family systems; and advanced couple and family counseling.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
• Estimated Tuition: In-state ($463.53 per credit); out-of-state ($927.0 per credit)

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

Southern Illinois University is located five hours south of the big city of Chicago and is the largest in the Southern Illinois University system of schools. At the master’s level, SIU offers a master of science in education with an emphasis on clinical mental health counseling. Graduates of the program may sit for the National Counseling Examination and may apply for licensure with the state of Illinois as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Supervised post-master’s degree clinical experience is required for licensure as a Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois (LCPC).

SIU has a Rehabilitation Institute that offers a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. This program is the oldest of its type in the country and SIU says it has been continuously ranked among the top 5 percent of the nation’s rehabilitation education programs since its inception in the 1950s.

Most of SIU’s graduate-level courses are taught in the late afternoon and evenings, to be more accessible to working professionals seeking to upgrade their skills and education. In 2019, SIU Carbondale’s rehabilitation counseling program earned a No. 12 ranking from the U.S. News & World Report on the list of best rehabilitation counseling programs.

The program’s core coursework for either program includes classes in introduction to substance use disorders & behavioral addictions; development & sexuality across the lifespan; counseling theory; career development procedures & practices; assessment & testing; crisis & counseling; and diagnosis & treatment in counseling.

• Location: Carbondale, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: Resident ($469.50 per credit); non-resident ($1,173.75 per credit)

Lincoln Christian University (Hybrid)

Lincoln Christian University offers a 60-hour clinical mental health counseling degree with instruction centered around a Biblical worldview. As one progresses through the program with a cohort, they can prepare for the NCE and state licensure exams while also studying theology and scripture. Lincoln Christian has two locations: Lincoln and Bloomington.

Lincoln caters to working adults with a hybrid approach to coursework, which allows some to be taken online. Most courses are taken in an eight-week block, one evening a week, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Additional opportunities are available for online week-long intensive courses. No more than 15 to 20 students are in a class, which allows for a rich emphasis on face-to-face learning.

Some of the courses in the curriculum are research and evaluation in counseling; psychopathology; developmental psychology perspectives for counseling; tests and measures for counseling; neuroscience and counseling; family systems counseling; and substance abuse and addictions counseling.

• Location: Lincoln, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: $580 per credit

Bradley University

Bradley University, a top-ranked private, small university in Peoria, offers both a traditional and an online model for their clinical mental health counseling program. Bradley University also offers an on-campus master’s degree in professional school counseling, which is a nine-term (including summer) blend of courses and a practicum experience.

The on-campus master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling is a nine-term (including summer) progression of courses and a supervised practicum. Students can take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam and the National Counselor Exam to become eligible for licensure during their final semester. The online master’s program is the same nine terms, with the addition of two, one-week residencies at the Bradley campus, which is three hours southwest of Chicago.

The curriculum includes courses such as loss and grief counseling; substance abuse counseling; counseling diverse populations; career and life planning across the lifespan; theories and techniques of counseling; principles of group counseling; diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; and assessment in counseling.

• Location: Peoria, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years; one year for the certificate
• Estimated Tuition: $990 per credit

Chicago State University

Chicago State’s CACREP-certified counseling graduate program, which is part of the psychology department, offers a master of arts degree in counseling. Graduates of the program are eligible to work as counselors in schools and a variety of community settings, thanks to the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling tracks. A certificate of endorsement in school counseling is available for students who already possess a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field.

Chicago State was founded as a teacher training school in 1867. Today, the university is a fully accredited public institution located on 161 acres on Chicago’s Southside.

The curriculum includes courses such as principles of clinical mental health counseling; counseling theories and ethics; micro counseling; advanced lifespan development; principles and techniques of group counseling; multicultural issues in counseling; lifestyle and career development; techniques of assessment and diagnosis; and treatment interventions for urban youth and families.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years; one year for the certificate
• Estimated Tuition: Resident ($332 per credit); non-resident ($643 per credit)

National Louis University (Online)

National Louis University’s completely online master of science in clinical mental health counseling program is designed for students who want a university experience but are unable to attend a traditional on-campus program. The school also offers a traditional on-campus clinical mental health counseling program for those who live in Illinois.

The online program is a distance learning format that combines real-time instruction with online coursework. Students meet each week for a real-time video conference classroom experience. Courses are in the evenings, usually from 6 to 8 p.m., to accommodate working students. The traditional on-campus program allows students to choose from a master of science in counseling, with an emphasis on school counseling or clinical mental health counseling. A school counseling emphasis is available for those who already have a professional educator license.

As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as fundamentals of counseling; clinical techniques of counseling; clinical assessment and diagnosis; theories of counseling; professional practice and ethics in counseling; theories and techniques of group counseling; counseling for career development; introduction to clinical mental health counseling; and trauma and crisis intervention theory, response models and techniques.

Finally, NLU offers an EdD in counselor education and supervision for those interested in a doctoral degree.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Three years
• Estimated Tuition: $759 per credit

Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Illinois: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	Counselors must earn a license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who must work under supervision, and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), who can work independently, in order to practice in Illinois. Requirements for licensure as an LPC are: $150 fee Official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling, psychology or rehabilitation counseling from a regionally accredited institution An NCE, NCMHCE, or CRCE exam score In lieu of transcripts and test scores, counselors may submit a National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification Completed application and related forms In order to become an LCPC, candidates must meet the above requirements and: Complete two full years of supervised work experience. Each year must be no less than 1,680 hours, of which 960 must be direct client contact Send a completed application and related forms	Counseling licenses in Illinois expire every two years on the 31st of March of odd-numbered years. Applicants must complete 30 hours of continuing education in order to renew.

School Counseling Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois State Board of Education	The Illinois State Board of Education issues a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Support Personnel Endorsement for School Counselors. The requirements for this license and endorsement are: Have a master’s degree or higher in school counseling from a regionally accredited institution Complete a 100-hour counseling practicum with at least 40 hours of direct service Complete a 600-hour internship with 240 hours of direct service work with school-age individuals and groups Pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System School Counselor Exam (minimum score: 181) Complete an application online in the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) Pay $10 for license registration for each region where the counselor plans to work	PEL licenses issued in Illinois are valid for five years. To renew, school counselors must: Pay $10 for license registration for each region where counselor plans to work Complete the renewal application online in the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) Complete continuing education requirements (one of the following: an advanced degree or eight semesters of graduate coursework or 24 continuing education units [CEUs] or 120 continuing professional development units [CPDUs] or any combination of CEUs and CPDUs equivalent to 120 CPDUs)

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA)	The Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) certifies 20 different professions, including Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC), Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors (CRADC), Certified Supervisor Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CSADC), and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADC). Requirements for CADC certification include: A high school diploma or GED Two years (or 4,000 hours) of paid qualified work experience in the past four years (one year or 2,000 hours of work experience may be waived with a bachelor’s degree including 18 semester hours of substance abuse specific topics; six months or 1,000 hours of work experience is waived with an associate degree including 12 semester credits of substance abuse specific topics) 225 hours of continuing education hours, including 100 hours of substance abuse specific coursework, 15 hours substance abuse treatment services for women and/or their families, 15 hours substance abuse treatment services for adolescents and families, six hours of ethics, and the remaining 119 hours in IC&RC Performance Domains Proof of supervision of at least 10 hours in each of the 12 core skill areas in counseling Signed ICB Code of Ethics $85 application fee and $175 exam fee Passing score on the CADC Illinois Exam CRADC requirements include: A high school diploma or GED Three years (or 6,000 hours) of paid qualified work experience in the past four years (one year or 2,000 hours of work experience may be waived with a bachelor’s degree including 18 semester hours of substance abuse specific topics; six months or 1,000 hours of work experience is waived with an associate degree including 12 semester credits of substance abuse specific topics) 300 hours of supervised work experience if applying with a high school diploma, 250 hours if applying with an associate’s degree in a relevant field, 200 hours if applying with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, 100 hours if applying with a master’s degree or higher in a relevant field 300 hours of training and education, including 160 hours of substance abuse specific coursework, 30 hours of treatment services for women and families, 30 hours of treatment services for adolescents, six hours professional ethics and responsibility, and the final 134 hours in IC&RC Performance Domains Signed ICB Code of Ethics $85 application fee and $175 exam fee Passing score on the IC&RC ADC exam CSACD requirements include holding a CRACD, as well as: An additional 50 hours of training and education; there must be an additional 15 hours in both treatment services for women and families and treatment services for adolescents, and 30 hours of training in clinical supervision Five years (or 10,000 hours) of paid substance abuse qualified work experience in the past seven years (two of those five years must be in clinical supervision) CAADC requirements include: A master’s degree in behavioral science with a clinical component from a regionally accredited institution One year (or 2,000 hours) of paid substance abuse qualified work experience in the past four years 300 hours of supervision 45 hours of treatment services for women and families, 45 hours of treatment services for adolescents, and six hours professional ethics and responsibility Signed ICB Code of Ethics $85 application fee and $175 exam fee Passing score on the IC&RC AADC exam	Renewals for IAODAPCA certifications are due biennially. All certifications expire two years from the date of issue. Renewal fees are $160 for the CRADC, $180 for the CSADC, $190 for the CAADC, and $140 for the CADC. Counselors must also complete 40 hours of continuing education every renewal period. Fifteen of those hours must be specific to alcohol and other drugs.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	Rehabilitation counselors in Illinois must earn a license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who must work under supervision, and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), who can work independently, in order to practice in Illinois. Requirements for licensure as an LPC are: $150 fee Official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling, psychology or rehabilitation counseling from a regionally accredited institution An NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam score In lieu of transcripts and test scores, counselors may submit a National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification Completed application and related forms In order to become an LCPC, candidates must meet the above requirements and: Complete two full years of supervised work experience. Each year must be no less than 1,680 hours, of which 960 must be direct client contact Send a completed application and related forms	Counseling licenses in Illinois expire every two years on the 31st of March of odd-numbered years. Applicants must complete 30 hours of continuing education in order to renew.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification	Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Illinois. However, holding a BCBA certification and maintaining membership with the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis can help with employment opportunities or job advancement.

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issues Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist licenses. Requirements for an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist license are: Pay a $100 fee Submit official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited institution Completed application and related forms To become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a candidate must meet the above requirements and: Pay $100 application fee Complete 3,000 hours of work experience (at least 200 hours of supervision and 1,000 hours of clinical experience) Pass the AMFTRB exam Complete the application and related forms	Marriage and family therapist licenses in Illinois expire every two years on the 28th of February of odd-numbered years. Applicants must complete 30 hours of continuing education to renew. Renewals cost $60.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Illinois

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation	Child therapists must earn a license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who must work under supervision and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), who can work independently, to practice in Illinois. Requirements for licensure as an LPC are: $150 fee Official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling, psychology or rehabilitation counseling from a regionally accredited institution An NCE, NCMHCE, or CRCE exam score In lieu of transcripts and test scores, counselors may submit a National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certification Completed application and related forms To become an LCPC, candidates must meet the above requirements and: Complete two full years of supervised work experience. Each year must be no less than 1,680 hours, of which 960 must be direct client contact Send a completed application and related forms	Counseling licenses in Illinois expire every two years on the 31st of March of odd-numbered years and cost $60 per year to renew. Applicants must complete 30 hours of continuing education to renew.

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Illinois

• Illinois Counseling Association
• Illinois School Counselor Association
• American Counseling Association – Midwest Region
• Illinois Mental Health Counselors
• Schultz Foundation For Advancing Counseling
• Illinois Association for Couples and Family Counseling
• Coalition of Illinois Counselor Organizations
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling

Counseling Schools & Licensure in Nearby States

• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin