Section 1400

Section 1400.100 Licensure Qualifications

An individual applying for licensure as a clinical psychologist pursuant to the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act [225 ILCS 15] (the Act) shall meet the following educational/experience requirements of subsection (a), (b) or (c).

a) In accordance with Section 10(3)(a) of the Act, the individual shall be a graduate of a doctoral program in clinical, school or counseling psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association or approved by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and shall complete 2 years of supervised clinical, school or counseling psychology experience in accordance with Section 1400.110(a) and (d), one of which shall be an internship and one of which shall be postdoctoral. (Section 10(3)(a) of the Act)

b) In accordance with Section 10(3)(b) of the Act, the individual shall be a graduate of a doctoral program that is equivalent to a clinical, school or counseling psychology program and shall complete 2 years of supervised clinical, school or counseling psychology experience in accordance with Section 1400.110(a) and (d), one of which shall be an internship and one of which shall be postdoctoral.

1) In determining equivalent programs, the following minimum standards shall be met:

A) The program is from a regionally accredited university, college or school;

B) The program constitutes the university's, college's or school's clinical, school or counseling psychology program as certified by the dean of the institution and includes a practicum as defined in Section 1400.110(b). (If there is an additional clinical, school or counseling program that exists under the clinical, school or counseling psychology name, the applicant shall apply under Section 10(3) of the Act and subsection (c) of this Section.);

C) The program, wherever administratively housed, must be clearly identified and labeled as a psychology program. The program must specify in institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train psychologists;

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

E) The program has an integrated, organized sequence of study;

F) The program has an identifiable core psychology faculty on site and a psychologist responsible for the program;

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

H) The program encompasses a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study;

I) The program has a one-year residence. Residence requires interaction with psychology faculty and other matriculated psychology students. One year's residence or its equivalent is defined as follows:

i) 30 semester hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution, accumulated within 24 months; or

ii) A minimum of 350 hours of student-faculty contact involving face-to-face individual or group courses or seminars accumulated within 18 months. The educational meetings must include both faculty-student and student-student interaction, be conducted by the psychology faculty of the institution at least 90% of the time, be fully documented by the institution, and relate substantially to the program and course content. The institution must clearly document how the applicant's performance is assessed and evaluated.

2) The applicant's program shall include the following seven core content areas:

A) Scientific and professional ethics in psychology, which include the standards set forth in Section 1400.50(k);

B) Biological basis of behavior such as physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, psychopharmacology;

C) Cognitive-affective basis of behavior such as learning, thinking, motivation, emotion;

D) Social basis of behavior such as social psychology, group processes, organizational and systems theory;

E) Individual differences that include instruction in theories of normal and abnormal personality functioning;

F) Assessment that includes instruction in clinical interviewing and the administration, scoring and interpretation of psychological test batteries for the diagnosis of mental abilities and personality functioning;

G) Treatment modalities that include instruction in the theory and application of a diverse range of psychological interventions for the treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral or nervous disorders. (Section 10(3)(b) of the Act)

c) In accordance with Section 10(3) of the Act, the individual shall be a graduate of a doctoral psychology program or a graduate of a doctoral program that is psychological in nature; complete a course in each of the seven core content areas listed in subsection (b)(2); complete a practicum in accordance with Section 1400.110(a) and (b); complete an internship or equivalent supervised clinical experience in accordance with Section 1400.110(a) and (c); and complete two years of supervised clinical psychology experience in accordance with Section 1400.110(a) and (d), one of which must be postdoctoral. (Section 10(3)(c) of the Act)

1) The applicant's doctoral program shall meet the following requirements:

A) The program is accredited by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards or the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and is not a designated clinical or counseling psychology program; or

B) The program is psychological in nature as determined by the Division upon the recommendation of the Board. In determining what program is psychological in nature, the Board shall consider:

i) A program that is from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

ii) A program, wherever administratively housed, that is clearly identified and labeled as offering psychology programs. The program must specify in institutional catalogues and brochures its intent to educate and train psychologists;

iii) A program that is an organizational entity within the institution;

iv) A program that has an integrated, organized sequence of study;

v) A program that has an identifiable core psychology faculty on site and a psychologist responsible for the program;

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

vii) A program that encompasses a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study;

viii) A program that has a one-year residence. Residence requires interaction with psychology faculty and other matriculated psychology students. One year's residence or its equivalent is defined as follows:

· 30 semester hours taken on a full-time or part-time basis at the institution accumulated within 24 months; or

· A minimum of 350 hours of student-faculty contact involving face-to-face individual or group courses or seminars accumulated within 18 months. The educational meetings must include both faculty-student and student-student interaction, be conducted by the psychology faculty of the institution at least 90% of the time, be fully documented by the institution, and relate substantially to the program and course content. The institution must clearly document how the applicant's performance is assessed and evaluated.

2) The applicant shall complete a course in each of the following seven core content areas:

A) Scientific and professional ethics in psychology set forth in Section 1400.50(k);

B) Biological basis of behavior such as physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, and psychopharmacology;

C) Cognitive-affective basis of behavior such as learning, thinking, motivation, and emotion;

D) Social basis of behavior such as social psychology, group processes, organizational and systems theory;

E) Individual differences that include instruction in theories of normal and abnormal personality functioning;

d) For the purposes of this Section, course shall be defined as an integrated, organized didactic sequence of study that encompasses a minimum of one school term. No independent study courses may be used to satisfy the seven core content areas set forth in Section 10(3)(b) of the Act and subsections (b)(2) and (c)(2) of this Section.

e) Remediation of Deficiencies

1) Individuals who are deficient in any of the seven core content areas may complete any one or all of these courses in a clinical, school or counseling psychological program accredited by the American Psychological Association, approved by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists or a program approved in accordance with subsection (b).

2) Individuals who are deficient in the practicum, internship or equivalent supervised clinical experience, or clinical experience, requirements may obtain this experience in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 1400.110.

3) The applicant will be required to submit proof to the Division that he/she has completed such a course and/or the experience. Documentation shall include, but not be limited to, curriculum/course syllabus, transcripts, practicum and program materials; internship handbook/brochures and course materials; and internship training plan.

4) The deficiencies may be remediated at any time. Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed in 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee shall be forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. (Section 10 of the Act)

(Source: Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12770, effective August 9, 2024)