Illinois clinical supervision rules for therapists
Supervising LPCs toward the LCPC, or offering peer consultation in Illinois? Here are the Illinois rules in plain words, from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) counselor rules.
Who can supervise.
An LCPC, LCSW, licensed clinical psychologist, LMFT or licensed psychiatrist. Illinois LCPCs also complete 9 hours of clinical supervision training CE.
One hour a week.
At least one hour of face-to-face supervision each week. Live, two-way video counts.
Groups of five or fewer.
Supervision can be individual or group, with no more than five supervisees in a group.
Illinois supervision rules for LPCs and LCPCs
From 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375, the IDFPR rules for the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act (225 ILCS 107). Section numbers are in brackets.
- Who can supervise: a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed psychiatrist. (1375.130(c))
- Supervisor training for LCPCs: an Illinois LCPC must complete the supervision CE in Section 1375.220 to be a qualified supervisor. At the second LCPC renewal, 9 of the 30 CE hours must be in clinical supervision training. It is a one-time (lifetime) requirement. (1375.130(c), 1375.220(a)(3))
- Illinois license required when the counselor is in Illinois: if the counselor earning hours is physically in Illinois, the supervisor must be licensed in Illinois, even when clients are outside Illinois by telehealth. (1375.130(c))
- Weekly supervision: the supervisor meets face-to-face with the counselor at least one hour each week, reviewing counseling and case management. (1375.130(e)(1))
- Video counts: video supervision is clinical supervision when the session is synchronous and allows verbal and visual interaction. (1375.10)
- Group size: supervision may be individual or group. A group may not have more than five supervisees. (1375.130(f))
- Hours toward the LCPC: the equivalent of 2 years of full-time supervised experience after the master’s degree. One year is 1,680 clock hours in no less than 48 weeks, and at least half must be direct face-to-face client service (synchronous audio-visual telehealth counts). (1375.130(a), (d))
- Where the supervisor comes from: at the counselor’s workplace, or hired or contracted by the counselor. (1375.130(h))
- Supervisee status: the LPC works as a designee, supervisee or employee of the qualified supervisor, not as an independent contractor. (1375.130(l))
- What does not count as clinical supervision: peer supervision, administrative supervision, mainly classroom teaching, and consultation, staff development or orientation. (1375.130(i))
- Supervision as CE: a maximum of 8 CE hours per renewal period for clinical supervision received or provided on a regular basis with a set agenda, documented by a letter signed by both. (1375.220(b)(6))
Sources: IDFPR Professional Counselor licensing page and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375 (Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules).
Last checked: November 3, 2026
Supervisors are responsible for following their own state board's rules.
Questions
- Who can supervise an LPC working toward the Illinois LCPC?
- A licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed psychiatrist (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(c)). If the counselor is in Illinois while earning hours, the supervisor must hold an Illinois license, even when clients are outside Illinois by telehealth.
- What training does an Illinois LCPC need to supervise?
- An Illinois LCPC must complete the supervision CE in Section 1375.220 to be a qualified supervisor: 9 of the 30 CE hours at the second LCPC renewal must be in clinical supervision training. It is a one-time (lifetime) requirement.
- Can Illinois clinical supervision be done by video?
- Yes. Illinois counts video supervision as clinical supervision when the session is synchronous and allows verbal and visual interaction (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.10). The supervisor meets with the counselor at least one hour each week.
- Does peer consultation count as clinical supervision in Illinois?
- No. Illinois lists peer supervision and consultation among the activities that are not acceptable clinical supervision for LCPC hours (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.130(i)). Peer consultation is still a way for licensed colleagues to talk through cases and practice questions.
- Can supervision count toward Illinois CE?
- Yes. Illinois allows a maximum of 8 CE hours per renewal period for clinical supervision received or provided on a regular basis with a set agenda, documented by a letter signed by the supervisor and the supervisee (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.220(b)(6)).
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