Experience and Supervision

Required Experience - LPC

Do I Have to Get My LPC License?

The LPC License is not required to become a LCPC. A applicant can skip becoming a LPC and when qualified apply to be a LCPC. You are still however required to take and pass both the NCE and NCMHCE exams to become an LCPC.

When Can I Start Getting Experience?

All experience post counseling masters degree will be counted.
- The start date is determined by when you complete all course work including internships not the date the degree is conferred.

What Counts For Experience?

You must earn the experience in no less than 2 years.
- You can earn the experience in any number of years just not less than two. There is no outer limit of years.
You can earn the experience at one location or job or any number of locations.
One year of experience shall be a maximum of 1680 clock hours obtained in not less than 48 weeks, including at least 50% of clock hours of direct face to face service to clients. Part time experience shall be counted toward the experience requirement. Rule
Total experience required:
- 3,360 hours of clinical experience total
- At least 50% (1,680 hours) of face to face clinical services
Volunteer experience can be counted if you have a LPC license during the volunteer experience. Rule

Who Can Supervise Me?

A qualified supervisor means any person who is a licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed psychiatrist;
A qualified supervisor may be provided at the applicant's place of work or may be hired by the applicant to provide supervision. Rule

Qualified Supervisor Title	Abbreviation
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor	LCPC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker	LCSW
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist	LMFT
Licensed Psychiatrist

How Often do I Need Supervision?

The supervisor shall have met with the applicant at least one hour each week. The supervision means the review of counseling and case management. Part time work also needs supervision of one hour each week. Rule
The experience shall have been evaluated by the supervisor as satisfactory or better.
Acceptable modes for supervision of direct client contact are as follows:
- Individual supervision: the supervisory session is conducted by an approved supervisor with one or two counselors present.
- Group supervision: the supervisory session is conducted by an approved supervisor with no more than 5 counselors present.
Live face to face supervision does not include mail, email, telefax or phone, but can include online supervision if it is live and synchronous. Rule

What If I Was Not Living in Illinois During My Supervision?

If your supervision took place outside of Illinois, then there are specific requirements that supervisor must meet:
1. The supervisor shall be a master's level or doctoral level counselor.
2. They must be engaged in clinical professional counseling, clinical social work, clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, or be a psychiatrist.
3. The supervisor shall hold an active license if the jurisdiction in which the supervisor practices requires licensure.

If I Live in Illinois Can I Get Supervision Out of State?

NO, the updated licensure rules for 2024 state that if you are living in Illinois then you must get supervision from an Illinois Licensed qualified supervisor:
Supervised experience obtained while applicant is situated in Illinois must be supervised by an Illinois licensed qualified supervisor. An Illinois licensed clinical professional counselor must complete the supervision CE required in Section 1375.220 to be a qualified supervisor. If applicant is providing supervised services out of state via telehealth while situated in Illinois, the supervisor must be licensed in Illinois.

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