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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from Illinois to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Illinois to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), verify your Illinois license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

A counseling license moves from Illinois to Arkansas by endorsement. Arkansas is operational in the Counseling Compact, but Illinois is not, so there is no home-state license here to anchor a privilege. Once you hold an Arkansas license and live in Arkansas, it can anchor privileges into the other operational states. You apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), which verifies your Illinois license and standing, matches it to Arkansas's independent tier, and applies its own rule on crediting your national exam score, plus any Arkansas jurisprudence and background requirements.

What changes, Illinois → Arkansas

Side-by-side: Illinois vs Arkansas (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Illinois (current)Arkansas (destination)
Counseling Compact statusLicensure by endorsementCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practice
Application fee$150 (LCPC application fee (all methods, incl. endorsement) per 68 IAC 1375.205(a)(1) and the IDFPR LPC/LCPC instruction packet; nonrefundable. No separate license-issuance fee listed. Other-state certification fees are charged by those boards. Illinois is not a Counseling Compact state, so there is no privilege fee.)$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)
Processing timeIDFPR publishes no processing timeframe. The instruction packet only says to allow 6 weeks from mailing before asking about status. Applications are valid for 3 years.the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications
Licensing authorityIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a full LPC-equivalent license, continually maintained and currently in good standing, with a license verification form from each state where licensed.
  5. Submit the standard application documentation: statement of intent, transcripts and references (faculty references are waived if licensed more than 3 years in another state).
  6. Pass the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam through NBCC.
  7. Complete the criminal background check required by Arkansas Code 17-27-313.
  8. Attend an oral interview if the Board requires one.
  9. Pay the fees ($100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.

Official links

Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗Arkansas application ↗Counseling Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Arkansas → IllinoisCounseling in IllinoisCounseling in ArkansasAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Arkansas accept an Illinois counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Illinois to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), verify your Illinois license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from Illinois to Arkansas?

National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904.

What does the move cost?

$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)

How long will it take?

the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.

Will an Arkansas license get me into other compact states?

Yes, once Arkansas is your home state. Arkansas is operational, so an active, unencumbered Arkansas license held while you live there can anchor privileges into the other operational states through CompactConnect.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]