Section 1375.50  Approved Professional Counseling Programs

 

a)         The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation shall approve similar degree programs (baccalaureate, master's, doctoral degree), on or before December 31, 1998, utilizing the following criteria:

 

1)         The program shall be located in a college, university or school recognized by the education accrediting authority in the jurisdiction in which it is located.

 

2)         The program shall require an individual to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours in any of the following 13 core areas described in more detail in Appendix A of this Part:

 

A)        Human Growth and Development and Maladaptive Behavior

 

B)        Counseling Theory

 

C)        Counseling Techniques

 

D)        Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling

 

E)         Appraisal of Individuals

 

F)         Research and Evaluation

 

G)        Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities relating to professional counseling, especially as related to Illinois law

 

H)        Social and Cultural Foundations

 

I)          Lifestyle and Career Development

 

J)         Practicum

 

K)        Counseling Education

 

L)         Counseling Supervision

 

M)       Counseling Administration.

 

b)         Beginning January 1, 1999, the Division shall, upon the recommendation of the Professional Counselor Examining and Disciplinary Board, approve baccalaureate programs in human services or similar degree programs at the baccalaureate level or counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or similar degree programs at the master's or doctoral level if they meet the following requirements:

 

1)         The institution is a regionally accredited institution of higher education,

 

2)         The program, wherever it may be administratively housed, must be clearly identified and labeled as offering counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology or similar programs.  Such a program must specify in institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train counselors or the institution grants a baccalaureate human services degree,

 

3)         The program is an organizational entity within the institution,

 

4)         The program has an integrated, organized sequence of study at least 2 academic years in length and must require an individual to complete a minimum of 48 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours with a course in at least 10 of the 16 core areas listed below:

 

A)        Human Growth and Development

 

B)        Counseling Theory

 

C)        Counseling Techniques

 

D)        Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling

 

E)         Appraisal of Individuals

 

F)         Research and Evaluation

 

G)        Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities relating to professional counseling, especially as related to Illinois law

 

H)        Social and Cultural Foundations

 

I)          Lifestyle and Career Development

 

J)         Practicum

 

K)        Counseling Education

 

L)         Counseling Supervision

 

M)       Counseling Administration

 

N)        Family Dynamics

 

O)        Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior

 

P)         Substance Abuse,

 

5)         The program has faculty responsible for the program and has a sufficient number of full-time instructors to make certain that the educational obligations to the student are fulfilled,

 

6)         The program has an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree,

 

7)         The program has a one year residence.  Residence requires interaction with faculty and other matriculated students.  One year's residence is defined as 24 semester hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution accumulated within the time frame and course of study of the program.

 

c)         Beginning January 1, 2005, the Division shall, upon the recommendation of the Professional Counselor Examining and Disciplinary Board, approve baccalaureate programs in human services or similar degree programs at the baccalaureate level, or counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or similar degree programs at the master's or doctoral level, if they meet the following requirements:

 

1)         The institution is a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

 

2)         The program, wherever it may be administratively housed, must be clearly identified and labeled as offering counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology or similar programs.  Such a program must specify in institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train counselors or that the institution grants a baccalaureate human services degree;

 

3)         The program is an organizational entity within the institution;

 

4)         The program has an integrated, organized sequence of study at least 2 academic years in length and requires an individual to complete a minimum of 48 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours with a minimum of one course (beginning January 1, 2008, "course" is defined as 3 semester hours or equivalent) in each of the following areas (described in more detail in Appendix A of this Part):

 

A)         Human Growth and Development

 

B)         Counseling Theory

 

C)         Counseling Techniques

 

D)         Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling

 

E)         Appraisal of Individuals

 

F)         Research and Evaluation

 

G)         Professional, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities relating to professional counseling, especially as related to Illinois law

 

H)         Social and Cultural Foundations

 

I)          Lifestyle and Career Development

 

J)          Practicum/Internship

 

K)        Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior

 

L)         Substance Abuse

 

M)        Family Dynamics;

 

5)         The program has faculty responsible for the program and has a sufficient number of full-time instructors to make certain that the educational obligations to the student are fulfilled;

 

6)         The program has an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree;

 

7)         The program has a one year residence.  Residence requires interaction with faculty and other matriculated students.  One year's residence is defined as 24 semester hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution, accumulated within the time frame and course of study of the program.

 

d)         Reevaluation of an Approved Program

 

1)         The Division may reevaluate any approved program at any time if it has reason to believe that the program has failed to continue to satisfy the minimum requirements of this Section or that the Division's decision to approve a program was based upon false, deceptive or incomplete information.

 

2)         A program whose approval is being reevaluated by the Division shall be given at least 15 days written notice prior to any recommendation by the Board and may either submit written comments or request a hearing before the Board.

 

e)         For the purposes of this Section, course shall be defined as an integrated, organized course of study which encompasses a minimum of one school semester or equivalent hours.  No workshops, student designed courses, independent study courses or correspondence courses may be used to satisfy the core courses.

 

f)          The Division, upon recommendation of the Board, has determined that all master's degree and doctoral programs in professional counseling that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) are approved.  All doctoral programs in psychology of the American Psychological Association or the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology are approved.

 

g)         Individual Program Requirements

 

1)         Individuals applying for licensure as a professional counselor who have not graduated from a program approved by the Division shall submit their transcripts and program materials to the Division for evaluation by the Board to determine if they meet the requirements of this Section.

 

2)         Individuals applying for licensure who are deficient in any of the core content areas in subsection (b)(4) may complete any of these courses in a counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychology or similar degree program from an accredited institution.  The applicant will be required to submit proof to the Division that he/she has passed such a course.  Proof may include, but not be limited to, transcripts, curriculum and course materials.

 

3)         Individuals who are admitted to a degree program prior to January 1, 1999 have until January 1, 2003 to meet the educational requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.  After that date the applicant will be required to meet the curriculum requirements set forth in subsection (b) of this Section.

 

4)         After January 1, 2008, all applicants will be required to meet the curriculum requirements set forth in subsection (c) of this Section.

 

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 16277, effective December 2, 2004)