Illinois Social Workers CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

Illinois Social Workers

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, NetCE is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. NetCE maintains responsibility for this course.

NetCE is an approved provider through the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation: Social Work Professions, License #159.001094.

Continuing Education Requirement

Attention Illinois Social Work Professionals: The IDFPR issued a variance on October 20, 2021 extending your 2021 license renewal and continuing education requirements deadline to February 28, 2022. If you used a course acquired between 12/1/2021-2/28/2022 for the extended 2021 license renewal period, you cannot use the same course for the current licensure cycle which began on December 1, 2021, ending November 30, 2023. For more information, please visit https://www.idfpr.com/profs/SocialWorker.asp.

NetCE is an approved provider through the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation: Social Work Professions, License #159.001094.

LCSWs and LSWs are required 30 hours every two years, all of which may be completed by self-study.*

A minimum of 3 of the 30 hours must be in professional ethics and 3 must be in cultural competence in the practice of social work every two year licensing period.

Beginning January 1, 2020, all licensees are required to complete 1 hour of continuing education specific to sexual harassment prevention every renewal.

NEW Beginning January 1, 2023, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements for license registration or renewal must complete at least a one-hour course in training on implicit bias awareness per renewal period. A health care professional may count this one hour for completion of this course toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education.

NEW Beginning January 1, 2023, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements for license registration or renewal who provides health care services to patients 26 years of age and older, is required at least 1 hour in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer disease and other dementias every renewal period. A health care professional may count this 1 hour toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. This requirement begins for social workers renewing in 2023.

NEW Beginning January 1, 2022, all licensees who are considered mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect are required to complete training on child abuse and neglect with a section on implicit bias within 3 months of engagement in a professional or official capacity as a mandated reporter. LCSWs and LSWs must complete the training at least every 3 years thereafter. The training will count toward meeting a licensee's required continuing education. The Department (DCFS) makes available a free web-based training.

* NetCE courses are considered self-study.

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For More Information

Please contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Social Work Professions at (800) 560-6420, or refer to https://www.idfpr.com/profs/SocialWorker.asp and https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068014700000950R.html for additional information regarding your continuing education.

Licensees may complete the DCFS mandated reporter training online at https://www.dcfstraining.org/vtc/home/home.action.