Here’s what the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation asks of Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors at renewal, and the courses I built around each requirement.
Renewal requirements
Who this covers
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC)
30 CE hours every 2 years
- At least 3 CE hours in ethics.
- LCPCs: 9 CE hours of clinical supervision training, one time, at the second renewal.
- No CE is due at your first renewal.
- The rest in counseling topics from approved sponsors (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.220).
Illinois mandated trainings
- Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hour every renewal (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400).
- Implicit bias awareness: 1 hour every renewal (1130.500).
- Cultural competency: 1 hour, starting with the first renewal on or after January 1, 2025, then once every 6 years (1130.525).
- Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: 1 hour once every 6 years if you serve adults age 26 or older (1130.550).
- Mandated reporter training: within 3 months of starting work and at least every 3 years (325 ILCS 5/4).
Rules for every license
- NBCC courses count. 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.220(c) lists NBCC as an approved sponsor. I’m an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider.
- Online courses count when they include an examination (1375.220(b)(2)).
- Mandated trainings and your 30 hours: the Part 1130 rule text says these trainings may count toward your minimum CE hours.
- Mandated reporter training: DCFS offers it free online. My courses don’t include it.
- No carryover: the rule has no provision for moving extra hours to the next period.
- Keep your certificates. The Department audits at random (1375.220(d)).
- Waivers: a request for good cause goes in before the renewal date (1375.220(g)).
Courses for each requirement
Ethics (3 CE hours)
Illinois Ethics for Professional Counselors. Built on 225 ILCS 107, Part 1375, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, minors’ consent under 405 ILCS 5/3-550, disclosure to protect and FOID reporting, and the Illinois Telehealth Act. Self-paced, 3 CE hours, $15.
See the courseSexual harassment prevention (1 CE hour)
Illinois Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. Self-paced, 1 CE hour, $5.
See the courseImplicit bias (1 CE hour)
Illinois Implicit Bias Awareness Training. Self-paced, 1 CE hour, $5.
See the courseCultural competency (1 CE hour)
Illinois Cultural Competency Training. Self-paced, 1 CE hour, $5.
See the courseAlzheimer’s and dementia (1 CE hour)
Illinois Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Training. Self-paced, 1 CE hour, $5.
See the courseBundles
Illinois Required Renewal Bundle
Ethics (3), Sexual Harassment Prevention (1), Implicit Bias (1), and Cultural Competency (1). 6 CE hours, $24.
See the bundleIllinois Mandated Training Bundle
Sexual Harassment Prevention, Implicit Bias, Cultural Competency, and Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 1 hour each. 4 CE hours, $15.
See the bundleIllinois 30-Hour Full Renewal Bundle
Ethics, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Implicit Bias, and Cultural Competency plus 24 clinical hours: Trauma, Crisis Intervention, Forgiveness, AI in Behavioral Health, the Counseling Compact, Chronic Pain, IPV, and Suicide Assessment. 30 CE hours, $49.
See the bundleCommon questions
How many CE hours do Illinois LPCs and LCPCs need?
30 CE hours every 2-year renewal period, including at least 3 hours of ethics, plus the Illinois mandated trainings in sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias, cultural competency, dementia (if you serve adults 26 or older), and mandated reporting.
Do NBCC-approved courses count in Illinois?
Yes. 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1375.220 lists NBCC as an approved continuing education sponsor.
Does the ethics course cover the mandated trainings?
No. It covers the 3 ethics hours only. It doesn’t satisfy the sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias, cultural competency, dementia, or mandated reporter trainings. The Required Renewal Bundle adds three of those.
When do Illinois LPC and LCPC licenses renew?
March 31 of odd-numbered years. Hours for the current renewal are earned April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027.
Is there one bundle for the whole renewal?
Yes. My Illinois 30-Hour Full Renewal Bundle covers all 30 CE hours, including ethics and three mandated trainings, for $49. Bought one at a time, the same courses come to $126.
How fast do I get my certificate?
As soon as you pass the post test with a score of 80 percent or higher and complete the program evaluation, your certificate is ready to download from your account.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026.
My Illinois courses are designed around the continuing education requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation but are not approved or endorsed by the Department.
Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7987. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.