Licensure Renewal
LSW and LCSW Licensure Renewal in Illinois
2023–2025 Renewal Season Is Open
for Illinois Social Work Licenses
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has begun sending out e-mails to all Illinois social workers whose licenses expire on November 30, 2025. If you have fulfilled all requirements for renewal, you may begin steps for renewing your license through the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Even if you haven't received your e-mail notice from the department, your Illinois social work licenses may expire unless renewed by November 30, 2025.
If you have any questions about the renewal process or need assistance logging into your account, contact the department at 1-800-560-6420. For a step-by-step tutorial with screen shots, see our instructions further below.
When does my license expire?
Regardless of when you first receive your license, most every social work license will expire on November 30 of each odd-numbered year. The holder of a license may renew that license during the month preceding the expiration date of the license by paying the required fee set and complying with the continuing education requirements. If you renew after the November 30th deadline, additional fees are required, CEUs must be submitted, and your license may be suspended temporarily.
The current license expiration date is November 30, 2025.
Do I need CEUs for my renewal?
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If this is your first time renewing your LSW or LCSW: you do not need to accumulate 30 CEUs for licensure, but you will still need to apply for renewal.
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If this is your second or subsequent time renewing: you will need to accumulate CEUs for renewal.
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If you are renewing your LCSW for the first time AND want to keep your LSW: you will need to accumulate CEUs for your LSW renewal. NOTE: We do not recommend maintaining your LSW if you have an LCSW.
Need more CEUs? Check out our latest live and on-demand CEU offerings!
What CEUs do I need to renew my license?
To find out more about continuing education requirements, check out our CEU Requirements webpage.
What do I do with my CEU certificates?
Save your CEU certificates somewhere safe. While you won't need to submit them to the department for 2023–2025 licensure renewal, you will definitely need them if you are ever audited by IDFPR.
When can I renew my license?
The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) sends out e-mail notices to all Illinois social workers when their online portal is open for social work license renewal. If you have fulfilled all renewal requirements (including obtaining all 30 hours of continuing education) for your license, you may begin applying for renewal. Make sure you don't miss out on any alerts or news from the department by making sure your contact information is current and up to date with IDFPR—see instructions below for updating your information with the department.
Where do I renew my license?
IDFPR is the licensing board for all professional, licensed professions in the state of Illinois, including social workers. In fall 2021 the department updated their online renewal system to a new portal. All Illinois professionals must now renew their license online via this new portal.
How much does it cost to renew my license?
IDFPR renewal application fees are currently $60.00 (i.e., $30 for each year in the 2-year cycle).
What if I let my license lapse? How do I reinstate/restore my license?
Please see our Licensure Steps page for how to reinstate or restore a lapsed license.
How do I update my e-mail or mailing address on my license?
It is the responsibility of each licensee to notify IDFPR of any change of mailing and e-mail addresses. Failure to receive a renewal form from IDFPR does not constitute an excuse for failure to pay the renewal fee or to renew one's license.
If you have an account in the IDFPR Online Services Portal, sign into your account and go to Online Services, then Account Information to update your mailing address (Address Change) and/or e-mail address (Update My Contact Info).
If you do not have an account, you'll need to submit the IDFPR Name and Address Change Form via paper form.
How can I get another copy of my license/find out when my license was issued?
IDFPR has gone paperless and is no longer mailing paper licenses. To print out a copy of your license which includes the years it was issued as well as when it expires, visit their “Print My License” portal.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR 2023-2025 LICENSURE RENEWAL
1.) Go to the IDFPR eLicense Online and login.
If you don't know your login information, look for the "Forgot Your User ID?" or "Forgot Your Password" links for password and login assistance. Be patient as it may take the department a few minutes to send an e-mail to reset your login information.
If your address or e-mail information is incorrect on this page, we strongly recommend that you close this window and go to IDFPR | Name/Address Change Request to update your information there before returning to renew your license. Some users have had problems with renewing if they updated their address on this page of the renewal process instead of through the IDFPR | Name/Address Change Request page.
While there are exceptions, we generally do not recommend putting your license on inactive status.
If this is your first renewal of this license, you do NOT need CEUs, but you will need to select "Yes" anyways to move forward in the renewal process. If this is your second renewal of your license and have not completed your 30 CEUs, you cannot renew until you have completed all continuing education requirements.
8.) Pay the $60.00 Renewal Fee.
You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or eCheck. A small processing fee will be added.
