Resources · Path to Licensure
Step-by-step licensure pathways in Illinois.
Illinois licenses its mental and behavioral health professions through the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Counseling and social work both follow a distinct two-tier ladder — a supervised-practice license (LPC, LSW) followed by an independent-practice clinical license (LCPC, LCSW). Marriage and family therapy uses a non-renewable Associate license (ALMFT) leading to the LMFT, psychology is a single doctoral-level Licensed Clinical Psychologist credential, and as of 2024–2025 Illinois newly licenses behavior analysts (LBA). Addictions counseling is not a state license in Illinois; it is a voluntary certification ladder (CADC and the IC&RC CRADC/CSADC/CAADC levels) issued by the Illinois Certification Board (ICB/IAODAPCA). Illinois does NOT require a separate state jurisprudence exam for any of these professions.
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis
Professional Counseling
Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Required exam: NCE (National Counselor Examination) OR CRCE (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination); the NCMHCE is NOT accepted for the LPC
Scope: Supervised-practice counseling license permitting the provision of professional counseling under no post-degree supervision mandate but as the pre-clinical tier of the Illinois counselor ladder.
- EducationGraduate (Master’s or Doctorate) degree in counseling or a closely related field, at least 2 academic years and at least 48 semester hours (rising to 60 semester hours for programs beginning July 1, 2026); must cover the 13 required core areas per 68 IAC 1375.45.
- Supervision / experienceNo post-degree supervised clinical experience is required for the Illinois LPC — it is the supervised-practice entry tier.
- ExamPass the NBCC National Counselor Examination (NCE) OR the CRCC Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRCE). IDFPR provides NCE exam approval upon submission of the LPC application.
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR’s CORE online system with proof of education (ED-PC forms or NCC certification) and official exam score verification sent directly from NBCC/CRCC; application is active for 3 years.
LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Required exam: CRCE OR BOTH the NCE AND the NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination)
Scope: Independent-practice clinical counseling license authorizing autonomous diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
- EducationSame graduate counseling degree as the LPC (Master’s or Doctorate, ≥48 semester hours, 13 core areas per 68 IAC 1375.45); an active Illinois LPC may serve as proof of education.
- Supervision / experienceAt least 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) supervised experience after the degree — 3,360 total hours (1,680 hours/year), at least 50% in direct client service, with an average of 4+ hours/month of supervision by an LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, LCP, or psychiatrist (68 IAC 1375.130).
- ExamPass the CRCE, OR pass BOTH the NCE and the NCMHCE. An applicant who has passed only one of the NCE/NCMHCE must complete the other on the path to LCPC.
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR CORE with proof of education, VE-LCPC supervised-experience verification forms (one per site/supervisor), and official score verification from NBCC/CRCC.
Addiction & Substance Use Counseling
Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →CADC
Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination (scored 200–800, 500 to pass)
Scope: Entry-level voluntary ICB certification (not a state license) for counselors providing direct alcohol and other drug (AOD) counseling.
- EducationHigh school diploma/GED plus 225 clock hours of training, including 100 AOD-specific hours (with 15 hours on AOD services for women/families, 15 hours for adolescents/families), 6 hours professional ethics, 10 hours race & equity, and 109 hours in the four performance domains.
- Supervision / experience1 year (2,000 hours) of paid AOD-qualified work experience in the past four years (51%+ direct AOD counseling), plus 150 hours of supervised practical experience across the 12 core skill areas (no single area under 10 hours).
- ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination (150 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours) administered through ICB’s testing vendor.
- ApplicationApply online through Certemy with the 2025 CADC (Counselor) Model requirements, official transcripts/training certificates, signed job description, and a notarized ICB Code of Ethics; $100 application + $225 exam + $170 biennial certification fees.
CRADC
Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) Examination
Scope: IC&RC reciprocal-level AOD counselor certification recognized across participating jurisdictions nationwide.
- EducationHigh school/GED plus 300 clock hours of training (160 AOD-specific, including 30 hours women/families and 30 hours adolescents/families, 6 hours ethics, 134 hours performance domains).
- Supervision / experience3 years (6,000 hours) of paid AOD-qualified work experience in the past five years, plus supervised practical experience that scales by degree (300 hours with a high-school diploma, down to 100 hours with a Master’s).
- ExamPass the IC&RC Reciprocal ADC examination.
- ApplicationApply online via Certemy under the 2025 IC&RC Counselor Model; $100 application + $225 exam + $190 biennial CRADC fee.
CSADC
Certified Supervisor Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC Reciprocal ADC Examination AND the IC&RC Clinical Supervisor (CS) Examination
Scope: Advanced supervisory-level IC&RC certification for AOD counselors who clinically supervise other counselors.
- EducationMust first hold and maintain the CRADC; plus 350 clock hours of training (190 AOD-specific incl. 45 hours women/families and 45 hours adolescents/families, 6 hours ethics, 30 hours clinical supervision, 124 hours performance domains).
- Supervision / experience5 years (10,000 hours) of paid AOD-qualified work experience in the past seven years, 2 of those years as a clinical supervisor of AOD counselors, plus 300 hours of supervised practical experience.
- ExamPass the IC&RC Reciprocal ADC examination and the IC&RC Clinical Supervisor (CS) examination (applicants need not retake the ADC if already passed).
- ApplicationApply/transition online via Certemy under the 2025 IC&RC Counselor Model; $100 application (or $40 transition) + $225 exam + $210 biennial CSADC fee.
CAADC
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) Examination
Scope: Master’s-level advanced IC&RC AOD counselor certification reflecting the highest clinical tier of the Illinois addictions ladder.
- EducationMinimum of a Master’s degree in a behavioral science (with clinical application) from an accredited college/university, with at least 12 semester hours specific to AOD topics; plus 180 clock hours of AOD-specific training (incl. 6 hours ethics, 45 hours women/families, 45 hours adolescents/families).
- Supervision / experience1 year (2,000 hours) of paid supervised AOD-specific work experience in the past four years, plus 300 hours of supervised practical experience.
- ExamPass the IC&RC Advanced AADC examination.
- ApplicationApply online via Certemy under the 2025 IC&RC Counselor Model (a CRADC may apply directly for CAADC); $100 application + $225 exam + $220 biennial CAADC fee.
Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources
Marriage & Family Therapy
Prep for the National MFT Exam →ALMFT
Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Required exam: No examination is required for the Associate license itself; issuance grants approval to register for the National MFT Examination.
Scope: Entry-level, non-renewable associate license that authorizes supervised practice and approval to sit for the national MFT exam while accruing experience toward the LMFT.
- EducationA graduate-level MFT education as described in 68 IAC 1283.30 (COAMFTE- or CACREP-accredited degree, or equivalent coursework documented by ED form, transcript, and course descriptions).
- Supervision / experienceNo experience is required to obtain the Associate license.
- ExamNone required for the Associate license; IDFPR provides approval to sit for the AMFTRB National MFT Examination once the ALMFT is issued.
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR CORE with proof of MFT education (transcript/ED form) or AAMFT Clinical Membership. The Associate license is one-time-only and non-renewable, expiring 5 years after issuance.
LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Required exam: AMFTRB National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination
Scope: Independent-practice license authorizing autonomous diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders within a relational/family-systems framework.
- EducationA graduate-level MFT degree per 68 IAC 1283.30 (COAMFTE/CACREP-accredited or equivalent documented coursework); an Illinois ALMFT license satisfies the education proof.
- Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 total hours of post-degree experience, including at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact (with at least 350 hours individual therapy and at least 350 hours conjoint therapy), plus at least 200 hours of supervision (up to 100 may be earned during the graduate degree; at least 100 must be under a qualified MFT Supervisor).
- ExamPass the AMFTRB National MFT Examination; arrange for an official score report to be sent to IDFPR (or apply pre-exam and receive registration instructions).
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR CORE with proof of education (transcript/ED form, or AAMFT Clinical Membership), SR-MFT supervisor reports documenting experience, and official AMFTRB exam scores.
Psychology
Prep for the EPPP →LCP
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Required exam: EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology)
Scope: Doctoral-level independent-practice license authorizing the full scope of clinical psychological services including assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy.
- EducationA doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology; education requirements are detailed in 68 IAC 1400.100 (official transcripts, syllabi, or APA-accredited program evidence).
- Supervision / experienceTwo years of supervised professional experience in clinical, school, or counseling psychology — at least one year an internship and at least one year postdoctoral. A year equals 1,750 hours over not less than 50 weeks at 35+ hours/week (full-time in a single setting for 6+ months; part-time/internship counts only at 18+ hours/week for 9+ months), under the responsibility of a licensed clinical psychologist (68 IAC 1400.110).
- ExamPass the EPPP; arrange for an official EPPP score report to be sent directly to IDFPR from the ASPPB.
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR CORE with ED form, official transcripts/syllabi, two VE-PSY verification forms (internship and postdoctoral), and EPPP scores; a CPQ or National Register HSP credential may substitute for some documentation.
Behavior Analysis
Prep for the BCBA exam →LBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst
Required exam: BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Certification Examination of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
Scope: Illinois state license (new under the Behavior Analyst and Assistant Behavior Analyst Licensing Act; enforcement began April 2025) authorizing independent practice of applied behavior analysis.
- EducationA BACB-approved education experience as required by 68 IAC 1376.15 (documented by official transcripts/ED forms), OR evidence of current/active BCBA certification.
- Supervision / experienceThe supervised fieldwork experience is satisfied through the BACB’s BCBA-certification requirements; Illinois recognizes active BCBA certification in lieu of separately documenting education and exam.
- ExamPass the BACB’s BCBA Certification Examination (or hold current/active BCBA certification).
- ApplicationApply via IDFPR CORE with evidence of active BCBA certification OR transcripts plus proof of passing the BCBA exam; a fingerprint background check (ISP/FBI, ORI code IL922015Z, prints <60 days old) is required.
All licenses
Illinois licensing portals & background checks.
How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Illinois license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.
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Social Work
Prep for the ASWB exam →Licensed Social Worker
Required exam: No licensing examination is required for the LSW (the ASWB Master’s exam was dropped effective January 1, 2022 under PA 102-0326).
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Required exam: ASWB Clinical Examination OR the Illinois Exam Alternative (3,000 hours of additional supervised professional experience under PA 103-433)
Official Social Work resources
IDFPR — Social Work profession page →IDFPR — LSW Qualifications for Licensure (150) →IDFPR — LCSW Qualifications for Licensure (149) →IDFPR — LCSW Exam Alternative Notice (PA 103-433) →IDFPR — Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board →