Application and Renewal

Licensure Application

As of December 1, 2009 Illinois is now a pre-approved State, which means candidates must apply for licensure and be granted approval prior to sitting for either the Masters or Clinical examination.  If you are unsure of your elligibility or have questions about licensing procedures, please contact the IDFPR Licensing Application Procedures Unit at 217-782-8556.

1. Obtain your BSW or MSW and all required professional experience

2. Request the appropriate application for examination from IDFPR at 217-782-8556 or download the forms from www.idfpr.com (Social Worker –Examination application if applying for the LSW OR the Clinical Social Worker – Examination if applying for the LCSW). Complete the forms with ALL supplementary documentation, including the application fee of $50.00 and mail to IDFPR.  Partial applications will not be processed.

3. Once you have passed the exam, IDFPR will send you your license in the mail.  Remember that just passing the exam does not mean you are licensed.  You may not declare yourself as licensed or as a social worker until you have received your license from IDFPR.

Note: The State of Illinois uses the Clinical examination for the LCSW license, and the Masters examination for the LSW license.

Licensure Renewal

Renew your license every 2 years.

•Regardless of when you first receive your license, it always expires on November 30th of each odd-numbered year.

•You are required to accumulate 30 CEUs per 2 years (no CEUs are required for the remainder of the first two-year period in which you are licensed).  A minimum of 3 of those 30 hours must be in ethics.

•CEUs must be from a licensed provider in Illinois, NASW and all of our affiliates, or the ASWB.  Check the agency's provider number; it will be a 9-digit number beginning with 159.

•If you accumulate more than 30 CEUs in one 2-year cycle, the extras do not carry over to the next period.

•Keep records of your CEUs on file for at least 5 years.

•IDPR will mail renewal reminder postcards to you by mid-October in each odd-numbered year. Follow the instructions on the postcard to renew your license online.  If you do not receive a postcard, you can still renew your license using your social security number.  Renew on IDFPR's website https://www.idfpr.com/Renewals/defaultSSL.asp.

•Keep IDFPR up to date on any address changes.

•Not receiving a renewal reminder is not an extenuating circumstance for failure to renew your license.

•You don’t need to send proof of your CEUs in with your renewal form unless a) you’re applying after the deadline or b) IDFPR requests it.

•If you renew after the November 30th deadline, additional fees are required, CEUs must be submitted, and your license may be suspended temporarily.