11/16/21 UPDATE: LSW and LCSW licensees may now apply for renewal through the new IDFPR renewal website. Read more here.
11/04/21 UPDATE: IDFPR has granted an extension of the CEU deadline. Read more here.
10//21/21 UPDATE: IDFPR has granted an extension of the renewal deadline. Read more here.
This article was updated on October 13, 2020, to reflect the IDFPR waiver of the in-person CEU requirement for the 2019–2021 licensure cycle.
This article was updated on August 10, 2021, to reflect signing of Senate Bill 1079 which removes redundant rules around the sexual harassment prevention training requirement.
This article was updated on November 4, 2021, to reflect the IDFPR deadline extension for renewal and CEUs.
For the next licensure renewal cycle starting December 1, 2019, and ending (updated) February 28, 2022, Illinois licensed social workers (LSWs) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) will have 2 additional requirements for licensure renewal as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR):
Starting August 6, 2021, a sexual harassment prevention training will be required for licensure renewal. There is no timed element (e.g., one hour of CEUs) to fulfill this training requirement.
Starting January 1, 2020, mandated reporter training will be required for licensure renewal. There is no timed element (e.g., one hour of CEUs) to fulfill this training requirement.
The above requirements are in addition to pre-existing LSW/LCSW licensure renewal requirements:
A minimum of 30 hours of continuing education (CE) relevant to the practice of social work or clinical social work of which: 1) At least 3 of the 30 hours must include content related to the ethical practice of social work; 2) At least 3 of the 30 hours must include content related to cultural competence in the practice of social work (Effective December 1, 2013).
For the current 2019–2021 LSW/LCSW Renewal Cycle Only: NASW-IL was successful in our efforts to advocate for waiver of the in-person CEU requirements by IDFPR due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You may now utilize any mixture of in-person, live virtual, or virtual trainings to reach your 30-hour CEU requirement.
More on Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements:
Effective August 6, 2021, when Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1079 into law, all licensees must complete a sexual harassment prevention training. This course may be provided by the licensee's employer, the Department of Human Rights, or any continuing education provider (such as NASW-IL's recorded Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) authorized to provide continuing education under an Act administered by the Department in accordance with Section 2-109 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
For those who have already taken a sexual harassment training for CEUs prior to August 6, 2021, you may still count the training toward your 30 CEU requirement for licensure renewal. Read more about the law change here.
More on the Mandated Reporter Training Requirements:
As dictated by the amendment to Senate Bill 1778, mandated reporter trainings must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Shall be in-person or web-based, and shall include, at a minimum, information on the following topics:
indicators for recognizing child abuse and child neglect, as defined under this Act;
the process for reporting suspected child abuse and child neglect in Illinois as required by this Act and the required documentation;
responding to a child in a trauma-informed manner; and
understanding the response of child protective services and the role of the reporter after a call has been made.
2. The training must be provided through 1) The Department (DCFS); 2) An entity authorized to provide continuing education for professionals licensed through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) such as the NASW-Illinois Chapter (see our recorded Mandated Reporter Training for Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect in Illinois); or 3) An organization approved by the Department (DCFS) to provide mandated reporter training.
3. Each mandated reporter shall report to his or her employer and, when applicable, to his or her licensing or certification board that he or she received the mandated reporter training. The mandated reporter shall maintain records of completion.
Additionally, any continuing education accrued for the mandated reporter training shall count toward licensure renewal (Effective January 1, 2021).
Have more questions?
All specific questions concerning licensure and individual licenses or a particular license application needs to be properly directed to IDFPR as they are ultimately the licensing board who approve of licenses for Illinois. The NASW-Illinois Chapter website also has a plethora of information relating to licensure, from supervision requirements, the licensing process, testing procedures, and more. Go to the NASW-IL Licensure page to read more.
>> One of the biggest benefits of NASW membership is consultation access for questions relating to the social work profession. Become a member today! https://www.socialworkers.org/nasw/join
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