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:
...