LICENSURE RENEWAL AND CEUs:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

New CEU requirement in effect for the 2005-2007 licensure cycle.
Beginning December 1, 2005, all LSWs and LCSWs must complete 3 of their 30 CEUs specifically in the training of the ethical practice of social work.  Licensed providers have the discretion to determine the amount of hours given out in ethics CEUs.  If you are interested in participating in one of NASW's three-hour ethics classes please send an email to Robyn Lira at rlira@naswil.org. 

The following is a thorough description of the policies of the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) on Continuing Education for social workers. If you have questions on these policies, you will need to contact the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) at 217.782.8556.

Illinois social workers (LSWs and LCSWs) must complete 30 CEUs (equal to 30 clock hours of continuing education) within every two-year period in order to remain licensed. Three of those 30 hours must be specifically in the training of the ethical practice of social work.  The deadline for license renewal is November 30 of every odd-numbered year, regardless of when you obtained your license. Even if you become licensed on November 25th of the odd year, you still have to renew within five days of that same odd numbered year.  If this situation occurs, and you would like an extension, please contact the state directly to see the options that are available.

You should receive an application for renewal of licensure around the middle of October in every odd-numbered year. You do not have to submit copies of your CEUs at the time you renew your license unless you are renewing after the November 30th deadline. The Department conducts a set of random audits after the renewal deadline; if you are audited, this is when you will have to provide proof of your Continuing Education.

Social workers are eligible for CEUs in the following ways, under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, section 1470.95:

• Verified attendance at or participation in a program or course that is offered or sponsored by an approved continuing education sponsor through IDFPR.  This includes the National NASW and all of its chapter affiliates.

• Completion of a self-study course that is offered by an approved sponsor. Each self-study course shall include an examination. There are no maximum amount of homestudy courses per renewal period.

• Participation in postgraduate training programs or social work related courses that are a part of the curriculum of a college, university, or graduate school of social work.  Courses that are part of the curriculum of a university, college or other educational institution shall be allotted CE credit at the rate of 15 CE hours for each semester hour or 10 CE hours for each quarter hour of school credit awarded. For further information on this, please contact IDFPR.

• Verified teaching in a college, university, or graduate school of social work approved in accordance with the Social Work Practice Act, or as an instructor of continuing education programs given by approved sponsors. Credit will be applied at the rate of 1.5 hours for every hour taught and only for the first presentation of the program (i.e. credit will not be allowed for repetitious presentations of the same program).

• Authoring papers, publications, or books and for preparing presentations and exhibits. The preparation of each published paper, book chapter or presentation dealing with social work or clinical social work may be claimed as 5 hours of credit. A presentation must be before a professional audience. Credit may be claimed only for the first time the information is published or presented.

To access the complete set of continuing education requirements, see the Social Work and Clinical Social Work Practice Act at http://www.idfpr.com, rules for administration, part 1470.95. If you do not have Internet access, you may request this document from IDFPR by mail: 320 W. Washington, Third Floor, Springfield, IL 62786.

If you earn more than 30 CEUs in a two-year period, the "extra" CEUs do not carry over into the next period. Likewise, any CEUs earned in the previous period will not apply toward renewal of licensure for this period.

A waiver may be granted because of:

• Full-time service in the armed forces of the U.S. during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;

• An incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;

• A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a currently licensed physician;

• Any other similarly extenuating circumstances.

Obviously, that last category makes the law unclear, since almost anything could potentially be considered an extenuating circumstance. However, there is no way you can know if you qualify until you pay the fee and file the application. NASW strongly recommends not applying for a waiver if you are unsure whether you qualify. Remember that you are dealing with a government agency not accustomed to making exceptions, and if they do not find in your favor, you could lose your license. Get your CEUs if at all possible. Better safe than sorry.

If you are considering taking a course that you are not sure offers CEUs, contact the sponsor of the course prior to attending and make sure they have one of the following two things: 1) A certified provider number issued by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR)--this number will be a nine-digit number beginning with 159.) A co-sponsorship with an organization that has a certified provider number. NASW Illinois’s provider number appears on all CEU certificates issued by the Chapter.  If an event is not hosted by NASW, we cannot offer any information on whether or not the event will be accepted, you must contact the organization hosting the event for further information or verify the organization's license on the IDFPR website.

If you take a course from an organization that is not a certified provider of CEUs at the time of the event, you may not claim CEUs after the fact. The only exception to this is if the course was approved for CEUs in another state before it was taught, and you apply to IDFPR before you attend the event. (See the procedure for claiming out-of-state CEUs below.)

• If you attend an event sponsored by the National NASW, or any of our affiliates, your certificate is valid through the IDFPR.  A transfer of CEUs is not necessary.
• If you have earned CE hours offered in another state or territory not given by an approved sponsor for which you will be claiming credit toward full compliance in Illinois, you must submit an out of state continuing education approval form, along with a $25 processing fee, prior to participation in the program or at least 90 days prior to expiration of your license.  The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of the program  If you apply after September 1 of the odd year, the fee increases to $150.00.  Contact IDFPR at 217-782-8556 or see their website at http://www.ildfpr.com.

Please contact IDFPR at the numbers listed below if you have further questions. Most questions may be answered on the IDFPR website. NASW strongly recommends accessing their website before contacting the IDFPR by telephone, as their lines are frequently busy.