11/16/21 UPDATE: LSW and LCSW licensees may now apply for renewal through the new IDFPR renewal website. Read more here.
This article provides follow-up on information that was previously published by the chapter about LSW and LCSW licensure renewal in Illinois. To view an archive of those articles, visit: https://www.naswil.org/blog/categories/chapter-news
IDFPR has provided the NASW-Illinois Chapter with further clarification on their variance signed on October 20, 2021, which changed the social work licensure renewal date to February 28, 2022, replacing the original November 30, 2021, deadline.
This new clarification changes the deadline for acquiring continuing education units (CEUs) for the current licensure cycle (beginning December 1, 2019, through February 28, 2022) from November 30, 2021, to February 28, 2022, thus bringing into line both the renewal and CEU deadlines.
This change was provided to the chapter after our original post and is a change to IDFPR’s original guidance to the chapter.
The new interpretation of the variance now changes the CEU deadline from November 30, 2021, to February 28, 2022. This means you can take education courses from December 1, 2019, through February 28, 2022, and have them apply for the current licensure cycle now ending on February 28, 2022.
However, if you use a course acquired between December 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022, for the renewal cycle ending on February 28, 2022, you cannot use this same course for the new licensure cycle beginning December 1, 2021, and ending on November 30, 2023. If audited, you will need to show which CEUs were utilized for each licensure cycle.
While this new interpretation allows for licensees more time to acquire their CEUs, due to continually shifting landscape around licensing in Illinois, we at the NASW-Illinois Chapter still strongly encourage all social workers to acquire their CEUs by the original November 30, 2021, deadline to make future verification or audits manageable for you.
IDFPR has also informed us they will be submitting new emergency rules regarding in-person CEUs as the existing emergency rules will expire on November 30, 2021. In other words, you can still acquire your 30 CEUs either in-person, virtually, self-study, or in any combination of these three for the current renewal cycle now ending on February 28, 2022.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does the information regarding licensure keep changing? There are many laws, rules, and emergency rules governing social work and as such, the department is working through how changing deadlines affects those guidelines and policies. The NASW-Illinois Chapter will continue to work with the department to advocate for social workers and to address outstanding questions or issues that are occurring due to this renewal deadline change. We will continue to inform you of those changes as they occur.
When can I renew my license?
Due to updates IDFPR is currently undertaking to transition to an upgraded renewal system, the department has extended all social work license expiration dates to February 28, 2022. 11/16/21 UPDATE: The department has made renewal live on their new portal at: https://online-dfpr.micropact.com
What do I do if my employer, insurance panel, etc., needs proof of my current valid license after November 30, 2021? You should be able to download a copy of your licensure status with the new extended date today on the License Lookup page.
Select Social Worker from the license type field, then enter your last name. Click submit.
Click details and print.
You can also download the variance language IDFPR issued about the renewal extension and submit that to any entity that may require updated information.
Can I take a CEU course between December 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022, and have it count toward the current licensure cycle (December 1, 2019 through February 28, 2022)? Yes, you can now utilize an education course hosted between December 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022, and have it apply for the current licensure cycle now ending on February 28, 2022. However, you can only use the course for 2023 renewal if you did not use the course for the current 2022 renewal cycle. It will also be your responsibility to verify which courses were used for which renewal cycle if ever you are audited. Therefore, if you plan on acquiring CEUs from December 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022, for the current 2022 renewal deadline, we strongly encourage you to take extra precautions to document which CEUs are for which cycle.
What if I already have all of my 30 CEUs? Congrats! you can go to IDFPR’s new renewal portal and renew today. https://online-dfpr.micropact.com You can now begin accruing CEUs for the next licensure cycle beginning December 1, 2021, through November 30, 2023.
Will the new renewal date for the next cycle be February, 28, 2023? No, the renewal date reverts back to November 30, 2023, for social workers renewing for the next licensure cycle.
If I get licensed after January 1, 2022, will my renewal be February 28, 2022 already? No, your first renewal date will be November 30, 2023.
I have more questions about licensing requirements. Please see one of the below articles we published about the current licensure cycle.
2019–2021 IDFPR Licensure Renewal Changes: https://www.naswil.org/post/2019-2021-idfpr-licensure-renewal-changes
Frequently Asked Questions About 2021 Licensure Renewal: https://www.naswil.org/post/frequently-asked-questions-about-2021-licensure-renewal
CEU Requirements: https://www.naswil.org/continuing-education
Don’t forget that NASW-Illinois Chapter membership dollars allow for us to continually update our members and Illinois social workers around these constantly shifting changes in licensure. As the largest membership association in Illinois advocating on behalf of social workers, consider adding your voice to our efforts and join/renew your NASW membership today.