To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois, you must complete specific supervised clinical experience requirements.

Licensed clinical Social Work

🧠 Supervised Clinical Experience Requirements

For Applicants with a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW):

  • Total Hours: 3,000 hours of supervised clinical professional experience.
  • Timeframe: These hours must be completed after receiving your MSW degree.
  • Supervision: You must meet with your supervisor for at least 4 hours each month to discuss client cases and treatment procedures.
  • Work Schedule:
    • Full-Time: A minimum of 30 hours per week but not more than 40 hours per week.
    • Part-Time: Not more than 29 hours per week.

For Applicants with a Doctoral Degree in Social Work (DSW):

  • Total Hours: 2,000 hours of supervised clinical professional experience.
  • Timeframe: These hours must be completed after receiving your DSW degree.
  • Supervision: You must meet with your supervisor for at least 4 hours each month to discuss client cases and treatment procedures.
  • Work Schedule:
    • Full-Time: A minimum of 30 hours per week but not more than 40 hours per week.
    • Part-Time: Not more than 29 hours per week.

👥 Supervisor Qualifications

  • Required Credentials: Only a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois can provide the required supervision.
  • Verification: Your supervisor must verify that your clinical experience was satisfactory.
  • Supervision Settings: Supervision can be provided within an agency of employment or outside the agency.
  • Supervision Format: Supervision may be on an individual or group basis. When group supervision is provided, the number of supervisees may not exceed five.

📄 Documentation and Application

  • Verification Form: Your supervisor must complete a verification form to confirm your supervised experience.
  • Application Submission: Submit your application to the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) along with the verification form and any required fees..

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Illinois Administrative Code Section 1470.20 or consult with the National Association of Social Workers – Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL).

Licensed clinicaL professional counselor

🧠 Supervised Clinical Experience Requirements

  • Total Hours: 3,360 hours of supervised clinical professional counseling experience.
  • Direct Client Service: At least 1,680 hours must be direct face-to-face service to clients.
  • Timeframe: These hours must be completed over a minimum of two years.
  • Weekly Supervision: Meet with your supervisor for at least one hour each week.
  • Supervision Mode: Supervision can be individual or group, with a maximum of five supervisees in a group session.
  • Supervision Location: If you are situated in Illinois, your supervisor must be licensed in Illinois.

👥 Qualified Supervisors

  • Your supervisor must be a licensed mental health professional, such as:
    • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
    • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
    • Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    • Licensed Psychiatrist
    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Illinois Administrative Code, Section 1375.130: Professional Experience for Licensure as a Clinical Professional Counselor.