Section 1375.30  Application for Licensure by Examination as a Professional Counselor

a)         Each applicant seeking original licensure under Section 35 of the Act shall file an application with the Division, on forms provided by the Division.  The application shall include:

1)         Certification of education from a master's degree program or doctoral degree program in counseling, psychology or rehabilitation counseling from a college, university or school that is a regionally accredited institution of higher education and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or certification of education and an official transcript from a similar master's degree or doctoral degree program in accordance with Section 1375.45.

2)         The required fee set forth in Section 1375.205.

3)         If originally licensed in another jurisdiction, certification of licensure, on forms provided by the Division, from the state, territory, or jurisdiction of the United States in which an applicant was originally licensed and the state in which the applicant predominantly practices and is currently licensed, if applicable, stating:

A)        The time during which the applicant was licensed in that jurisdiction, including the date of the original issuance in that jurisdiction;

B)        A description of the examination in that jurisdiction; and

C)        Whether the file on the applicant contains any record of disciplinary actions taken or pending.

b)         Proof of holding one of the following certifications (based upon examination) shall be sufficient evidence of meeting the educational requirements set forth in Section 1375.45(a).

1)         Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRC); or

2)         National Certified Counselors (NCC).

c)         When the accuracy of any submitted documentation or the relevance or sufficiency of the coursework or experience is questioned by the Division or the Board because of lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given or a need for clarification, the applicant seeking licensure shall be requested to:

1)         Provide such information as may be necessary; and/or

2)         Appear for an interview before the Board to explain such relevance or sufficiency, clarify information or clear up any discrepancies or conflicts in information.

d)         Applicant shall provide proof of passage of the examination in accordance with Section 1375.60.  The applicant shall have the examination scores submitted to the Division directly from the testing entity or from the state of original licensure.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 8776, effective June 4, 2024)