Illinois Surpasses 30,000 Licensed Social Workers, Boosted by Legislative Reforms and Educational Excellence Amid Mental Health Workforce Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) proudly announces that Illinois now licenses over 30,000 social workers, a landmark achievement attributed to robust educational institutions and progressive legislative reforms enacted by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker.

Of these licensed professionals, more than 18,500 hold the prestigious licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) credential, enabling them to independently provide advanced mental health and clinical services throughout the state. This milestone underscores Illinois' commitment to enhancing mental health services and increasing access to critical social support for all residents, particularly as the state continues to face a significant mental health workforce shortage crisis.

"Reaching over 30,000 licensed social workers is a significant accomplishment for Illinois, reflecting our state's dedication to removing barriers and expanding access to quality mental health services," said Joel L. Rubin, Executive Director, NASW-Illinois Chapter. "However, despite these important strides, Illinois continues to grapple with a critical shortage of mental health professionals. Our continued commitment to legislative reform and educational excellence is essential to addressing this urgent need and ensuring every Illinois resident can access the care they deserve."

Key legislative reforms spearheaded by the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker include critical changes to testing requirements, substantial improvements in loan repayment programs, improvements in licensing process times, and targeted financial assistance through expanded Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants. These reforms have significantly reduced barriers to entering and advancing in the profession, creating a more robust and diverse workforce prepared to meet Illinois’ growing social service and mental health demands.

NASW-IL commends the leadership and vision of Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly, whose sustained commitment continues to foster an environment where social workers can thrive and serve effectively, even as challenges remain.

For more information about licensing, continuing education, and advocacy efforts, visit www.naswil.org.

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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with over 120,000 members. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is one of the association's largest chapters representing over 30,000 licensed Illinois social workers and school social workers, with over 5,000 active members. NASW strives to advance social work careers, grow social work businesses, and protect the profession.