Continuing Education Requirements for Illinois Social Workers

 Posted on April 22,2020 in Psychologist/ Social Worker License Defense

In the state of Illinois, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have careers as licensed professionals. These professions can range from the obvious, such as doctors and nurses, to the not-so-obvious, like architects and engineers. The one thing that all of these careers have in common is the need to become licensed in the state they practice. The state of Illinois has also put into place certain requirements for license renewal for many professions, one such requirement is continuing education. This requirement exists for the sake of maintaining a knowledgeable and up-to-date workforce. One such profession that requires continuing education is social work.

Understanding Social Work Licensure

In Illinois, there are two types of licenses you can receive in the social work profession: a licensed social worker (LSW) and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). These two types of licenses are very similar, though they have separate qualifications and requirements, mostly depending on your experience as a social worker. No matter the type of license, social work licenses expire on November 30 of every odd-numbered year. Despite these differences, the continuing education requirements are the same for these licenses.

Maintaining Continuing Education Requirements for Social Workers

The first time a social worker goes to renew their license, they do not have to have completed any continuing education requirements, though they must still submit an application for renewal. The second time a social worker renews their license, they must certify that they have completed 30 hours of continuing education. These 30 hours of education must be related to the practice of social work but they must also consist of:

• At least three hours of content related to the ethical practice of social work
• At least three hours of content related to cultural competence in social work
• At least one hour of sexual harassment prevention training
• Mandated reporter training
• At least 15 hours of in-person, face-to-face instruction
• Instruction from a licensed Illinois continuing education provider

Discuss Your Situation With an Illinois Social Work License Defense Attorney

There is a lot that goes into being a licensed professional in Illinois. Not only do you go through years of school and training for many of these professions, you then also have to meet all requirements for initial licensure and requirements for future license renewals. If you have questions on what you need to do to complete your continuing education requirements or your renewal application has been denied, you should speak with a knowledgeable Illinois social work license defense lawyer. Contact The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. at 630-310-1267 to discuss your case.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068014700000950R.html

https://www.naswil.org/continuing-education