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 various 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 the longest continually accredited counseling programs in the State of Illinois.

Students achieve a master of science in education (MSEd) with a specialty in counseling, with either specialty within that. Both programs require a minimum of 60 semester hours, or they may select a specialization in clinical mental health counseling, which requires a minimum of 60 semester hours. Students should consult with their advisor regarding proper sequencing of courses and specialization in either option.

• Location: Moline, Illinois
• Duration: Three years, full-time
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

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. 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.

• Location: Forest, Illinois
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)

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 to 51 credit hours for a total of 61 to 65 required credits.

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.

• Location: Springfield, Illinois
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Northern Illinois University – Department of Counseling and Higher Education

The masters of science in education from NIU requires a 100-hour supervised practicum and 600 hours of internship. The school reports strong student outcomes with nearly all graduating, passing their licensure exams, and finding employment after graduating.

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 13 students in 2023 with a 92 percent completion rate. 100 percent of the school’s clinical mental health students pass their licensure examination and 100 percent find job placement after graduation.

The school counseling program graduated 4 students in 2023 with a 100 percent completion rate. Approximately 98 percent of the school counseling students pass their licensure examination, and 100 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.

• Location: DeKalb, Illinois
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Northeastern Illinois University 

Northeastern’s Department of Counselor Education has been one of the leading providers of master’s 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 six: a master’s of arts in clinical mental health counseling, couple and family counseling, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. They also offer an 18-credit certificate in couple and family counseling and a 21-credit addiction counseling certificate.

In addition, NIU offers a graduate certificate in trauma-informed counseling that meets the educational requirements of Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) certification standards, and a certificate in rehabilitation counseling for applicants who already possess a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or related fields.

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 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. 

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Duration: Two to three years, 48 (rehabilitation counseling) or 60 credits (CMHC, family, and school)
• Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs-certified (CACREP)

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 in 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). The program also prepares graduates to apply as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. 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 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 2023, the program earned national recognition from U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-2024 “Best Graduate School Rankings,” ranked 12th among the “Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs.”

• Location: Carbondale, Illinois
• Duration: 64 credits
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

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 coursework approach, allowing 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. Class sizes tend to run about 12 students per class, which allows for a rich emphasis on face-to-face learning. Lincoln reports a 100 percent pass rate for graduates taking the National Counselor Examination, with 100 percent of those graduates who responded to the survey actively seeking jobs now employed in counseling.

• Location: Lincoln, Illinois; Bloomington, Illinois
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

Bradley University

Bradley University, a top-ranked private, small university in Peoria, offers a traditional and an online model for their clinical mental health counseling program. They also offer a 12-credit certificate program that can be completed in one year.

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

• Location: Peoria, Illinois
• Duration: Three years; one year for the certificate; 60 total credit hours
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Chicago State University

Chicago State’s CACREP-certified counseling graduate program, part of the psychology department, offers a master of arts degree in counseling. Thanks to the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling tracks, program graduates are eligible to work as counselors in schools and various community settings. A certificate of endorsement in school counseling is available for students with 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.

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Duration: Three years; one year for the certificate; 60 total credit hours
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

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 combining real-time instruction and online coursework. The program’s Live Virtual classroom sessions occur once weekly in the evening, usually 6 or 8 p.m. EST, to accommodate working students. Choose from a master of science in counseling, emphasizing school counseling or clinical mental health counseling. A school counseling emphasis is available for those with a professional educator license.

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Duration: Three years, 68 semester hours
• Accreditation: Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)

How Much Do Counselors Make in Illinois?

These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of September 2024.

Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries

	United States	Illinois
Number employed	63,340	800
Average annual salary (mean)	$68,730	$54,620
10th percentile	$39,090	$40,950
50th percentile (median)	$58,510	$49,710
90th percentile	$104,710	$74,380

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries

	United States	Illinois
Number employed	397,880	14,710
Average annual salary (mean)	$60,080	$63,450
10th percentile	$36,700	$39,440
50th percentile (median)	$53,710	$57,500
90th percentile	$89,920	$98,920

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries

	United States	Illinois
Number employed	327,660	12,770
Average annual salary (mean)	$66,990	$65,480
10th percentile	$40,140	$39,820
50th percentile (median)	$61,710	$59,970
90th percentile	$100,050	$101,220

Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries

	United States	Illinois
Number employed	84,750	3,720
Average annual salary (mean)	$48,430	$47,890
10th percentile	$31,390	$30,870
50th percentile (median)	$44,040	$45,810
90th percentile	$73,710	$66,780

All Other Counselors

	United States	Illinois
Number employed	35,580	1,770
Average annual salary (mean)	$52,360	$52,090
10th percentile	$33,330	$36,860
50th percentile (median)	$46,130	$47,760
90th percentile	$79,880	$70,910

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Illinois

• Illinois Counseling Association  
• Illinois School Counselor Association
• American Counseling Association – Midwest Region
• Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association
• Schultz Foundation For Advancing Counseling
• Illinois Association for Couples and Family Counseling
• Northern Illinois University Counseling Association

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
Illinois Division of Professional Regulation	In 2022 Illinois passed the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. As of May 2024, they are awaiting the rule making process to start, so behavior analysts cannot obtain a license yet.

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 Schools & Licensure in Nearby States

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