As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of Illinois, it is your responsibility to adhere to continuing education requirements each period in order to renew your license. Beyond license renewal being key to you maintaining your practice, continuing education is essential to stay abreast of what is happening in your field – something your clients will always appreciate you taking seriously. Education is how we all continue to learn and further hone our skills and expertise, so it’s certainly something to be celebrated. Though education is fantastic, keeping on track with the many hours you need to fulfill can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a fantastic resource available to help you with that. Before we dive into the resource, let’s start by outlining what is required of Illinois LCSWs in order to renew their license.
Licensee Requirements for Illinois Licensed Social Workers
Illinois licensed clinical social workers are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education ahead of the November 30 renewal date in every odd-numbered year (every two years). All 30 of those hours must be fulfilled through an American Psychological Association (APA)-approved sponsor. Of the 30 hours, 15 of which can be earned online, while the other 15 must be taken live, in-person. Additionally, three hours need to be regarding social work ethics and another three on cultural competence related to social work. As of January 1, 2020, an additional hour must be specifically related to sexual harassment prevention.
Key Takeaways:
- Illinois LCSWs must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years
- Three hours are required to be taken on social work ethics, another three on cultural competence, and one hour must be regarding sexual harassment prevention
- Licenses expire on November 30 of every odd-numbered year
Given licensed social workers are likely to achieve their continuing education certificates in increments, from various workshops, conventions, agencies, and institutions, there is a lot of documentation to keep track of (potentially 30 or more certificates throughout the course of two years). As proof is required when you apply for renewal, it’s imperative you keep all of those certificates in a safe place – easily accessible and easy to track your progress. CE Hub is the safe place you need to work through your continuing education with ease.
What is CE Hub?
CE Hub is an app built specifically for social workers. Recognizing the difficulty that is storing continuing education certificates and keeping track of your hours, CE Hub was created to take the stress out of continuing education requirements. Instead of worrying throughout the period that you may not be on track, or perhaps that you may have lost a document or two, CE Hub provides you the peace of mind you need to enjoy the learning process. Using the platform is simple: you sign up, upload your continuing education certificates as you obtain them, then CE Hub handles the rest. Your hours and certificates are tracked, then you are notified when it’s time to submit for your renewal – something you’ll never have to monitor yourself again. Alleviate the stress of continuing education requirements by taking advantage of CE Hub today!
Disclaimer: this content is for informational purposes only. Licensees should always confirm their continuing education requirements with their respective governing agency. In the state of Illinois, LCSWs can clarify anything about their license by contacting the Illinois General Assembly at the number (217) 782-3944 or at the email webmaster@ilga.gov.
Reference Link:
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068014700000950R.html
