Illinois Social Work License Requirements and Programs: Become a Social Worker in IL
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Earning an Illinois social work license comes with several benefits, including upward projected employment growth, higher-than-average wages for child, family, and school social workers, and a cost-of-living index below the national average.
Illinois is home to many bachelor of social work (BSW) and master of social work (MSW) degree programs throughout the state that can help you prepare for licensure. Explore this guide for the details.
Popular Online Social Work Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Illinois Social Work Licensing Requirements
Candidates for an Illinois social work license apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The department offers two types of licenses: licensed social worker (LSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
A master’s degree in social work can qualify you for either license. The department also offers additional pathways, including bachelor of social work or doctor of social work degrees, supervised experience, and examination score submission.
Licensed Social Worker
LSWs can offer non-clinical social work services to individuals, groups, and communities. These include case management, community organizing, and group facilitation. LSWs can also conduct research and practice in social work administration and education. They can only do clinical social work under supervision from an LCSW and cannot open their own private practices.
Illinois no longer requires Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination scores for LSW licensure.
There are two pathways to this entry-level Illinois social work license:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work
- Verification of at least three years of supervised experience
OR
- Master’s degree in social work
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSWs can engage in clinical and non-clinical social work, see clients independently, and establish a private practice. They can also supervise LSWs, including those completing training hours for licensure.
Clinical social work encompasses behavioral, emotional, and mental health diagnosis and treatment. LCSWs often work with physicians and other healthcare providers to develop treatment plans for their clients, such as therapy and strategies for behavioral changes.
There are two pathways to this advanced Illinois social work license:
- Master’s degree in social work
- Verification of at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Passing score on the ASWB clinical exam or examination alternative
OR
- Doctoral degree in social work
- Verification of at least 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
- Passing score on the ASWB clinical exam
Applicants who do not pass the ASWB clinical exam during the first attempt may pursue an examination alternative, which requires verification of 3,000 additional hours of supervised professional experience.
Social Work License Reciprocity in Illinois
Illinois does not offer direct reciprocity with other states. However, licensed out-of-state applicants from states with equivalent licensing requirements may qualify for an Illinois social work license without having to submit ASWB test scores (if required).
LCSWs licensed in another state for five years with no disciplinary action against them can apply without submitting proof of meeting educational and supervised training requirements. All other applicants submit certification of their social work degrees and completion of their supervised training.
Licensing Renewal and Continuing Education in Illinois
Illinois social work licenses expire on November 30 of each odd-numbered year. Renewal takes place during the 24 months preceding the expiration date and requires proof of continuing education (CE) completion.
Social workers must log 30 hours of CE during each renewal period from approved providers, which include professional organizations, regionally accredited colleges and universities, or other sources authorized by the Illinois licensing department.
The required 30 hours of CE must include three hours of ethics content and three hours of cultural competence in the practice of social work. LCSWs must also complete a one-time, six-hour clinical supervision training requirement.
BSW Programs Available in Illinois
- Aurora University — Aurora, Woodstock, Williams Bay (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Addictions, Child Welfare
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $14,400 per semester full time; $465 per credit part time
- Bradley University — Peoria (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $41,210 per year full time; $1,090-$1,235 per credit hour part time
- Governors State University — University Park (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $343 per credit hour
- Greenville University — Greenville (On Campus, Online)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $15,750 per semester on campus full time; $485 per credit hour part time and online
- Illinois State University — Normal (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time
- 2024 Tuition: $402 per credit hour in state; $804 per credit hour out of state
- Lewis University — Romeoville (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $19,400 per semester full time; $1,127 per credit hour part time
- Loyola University Chicago — Chicago (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $26,115 per semester full time; $960 per credit hour part time
- National Louis University — Chicago and Wheeling (On Campus, Online)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $6,000 per term full time; $430 per credit hour part time
- Northeastern Illinois University — Chicago (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $431 per credit hour in state; $862 per credit hour out of state
- Olivet Nazarene University — Bourbonnais (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time
- 2024 Tuition: $1,055 per credit hour full time; $1,580 per credit hour part time
- Southern Illinois University — Carbondale (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $321 per credit hour
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — Edwardsville (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $9,576 per year full time; $431 per credit hour part time
- St. Augustine College — Chicago (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $537 per credit hour
- Trinity Christian College — Palos Heights (On Campus, Online)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $19,980 per year
- University of Illinois Springfield — Springfield (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $322 per credit hour in state; $647 per credit hour out of state
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Urbana (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $17,640-$22,904 per year in state; $35,862-$41,126 per year out of state
- University of St. Francis — Joliet (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $38,110 per year full time; $899 per credit hour part time
- Western Illinois University — Macomb (On Campus)
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $337 per credit hour
MSW Programs Available in Illinois
- Aurora University — Aurora, Williams Bay, and Woodstock (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Addictions, Child Welfare, School Social Work, Forensics, Gerontology, Health Care, Leadership Administration, Military and Veteran Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $618 per credit hour
- Chamberlain University — Online
- Available Concentrations: Medical Social Work, Crisis and Response Interventions, Trauma
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $695 per credit hour
- Chicago State University — Chicago (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist, Program Evaluation, School Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $349 per credit hour in state; $675 per credit hour out of state
- DePaul University — Chicago (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Community Practice, Forensics, Women’s and Gender Studies
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time
- 2024 Tuition: $788 per credit hour
- Dominican University — Grayslake and River Forest (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Aging, Adulthood, and Gerontology; Children, Youth, and Family; Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants and Refugees; Health and Well-Being; Military; School Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $850 per credit
- Erikson Institute — Chicago (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Children, Adolescents, and Adults; Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $1,030 per credit hour
- Governors State University — University Park (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: School Social Work, Children and Family Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $383 per credit hour
- Illinois State University — Normal (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Child and Family Practice, School Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $423 per credit hour in state and bordering states; $878 per credit hour out of state
- Lewis University — Romeoville (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Clinical or Direct Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $650 per credit hour
- Loyola University Chicago — Chicago (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Micro Practice; Leadership, Mezzo, and Macro Practice
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $1,080 per credit hour
- Northeastern Illinois University — Chicago (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Children, Youth, and Families; Leadership and Change
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $464 per credit hour in state; $927 per credit hour out of state
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale — Carbondale (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Health/Mental Health; Children, Youth, and Families
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $470 per credit hour in state and online; $1,174 per credit hour out of state
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — Edwardsville (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $371 per credit hour
- University of Chicago — Chicago (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Clinical Practice, Social Administration
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $17,241 per quarter full time and advanced standing; $11,494 per quarter part time
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Urbana (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: Leadership and Social Change; Advanced Clinical; Children, Youth, and Family Services; Healthcare; Mental Health; School Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $16,684 per year in state; $33,300 per year out of state; $603 per credit hour online
- University of Illinois Chicago — Chicago (On Campus)
- Available Concentrations: Child and Family, Organization and Community Practice, School Social Work, Social Work within Justice Systems
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $2,248-$6,743 per semester in state; $4,546-$13,683 per semester out of state
- University of St. Francis — Joliet (On Campus, Online)
- Available Concentrations: School Social Work
- Enrollment Type: Full Time, Part Time, Advanced Standing
- 2024 Tuition: $599 per credit hour
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,590 | $30.57 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers | $56,780 | $27.30 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $67,390 | $32.40 |
According to 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, average annual social worker salaries in Illinois fall below the national average, except in the child, family, and school social work occupation. The South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ranks second in the U.S. for this specialization, averaging $72,690 per year.
An Illinois social work license can lead to social work careers with positive job growth projections. Projections Central’s long-term (2022-2032) forecasts show employment increases of 3.9% for child, family, and school social workers, 4.7% for healthcare social workers, 8% for “all other” social workers, and 11% for mental health and substance use social workers.
Social Work Associations in Illinois
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Illinois: The Illinois chapter of the NASW provides members with valuable information about Illinois social work licensing, networking, and continuing education requirements.
- Illinois Association of School Social Workers: The IASSW provides resources to Illinois social workers in school settings. The organization also engages in advocacy and political and social action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Social Work
What are the different types of social workers in Illinois?
Illinois licenses two types of social workers: licensed social workers (LSWs) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). LSWs can provide general social work services, including case management and administration, while LCSWs can engage in private practice clinical social work and counseling.
How do I get licensed as a social worker in Illinois?
Illinois offers flexible routes to social work licensure. LSWs can qualify with a social work bachelor’s degree and supervised training or just a master’s degree. LCSWs need a master’s or doctorate in social work and supervised clinical training. The department requires exam scores, but an applicant who does not pass the exam can substitute additional training hours.
How much do social workers in Illinois make?
Salaries for Illinois social workers can depend on the type of social work practiced. Child, family, and school social workers earn an average of $63,590 per year. Healthcare social workers make $63,790, mental health and substance use social workers $56,780, and “all other” social workers $67,390.
How long does it take to become a social worker in Illinois?
The time it takes to become an Illinois social worker varies by the degree you earn and the type of license you pursue. A BSW requires four years of study on average. An MSW can add another year if you have a BSW with advanced standing or two more years if your bachelor’s degree is not in social work. Earning a doctorate can take an additional 2-5 years. Any required postgraduate supervised training takes 2-3 years to complete.
