How to Fill Out Illinois IDFPR LCSW License Application (w/Examples) + FAQs

The Illinois IDFPR LCSW License Application is the official form that every Licensed Clinical Social Worker candidate files with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to practice independent clinical social work in Illinois. The application is governed by the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, 225 ILCS 20 and its rules at 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470, and a single mistake on the Supervisor Verification page can push your start date back by 90 days or more.

You can file the current revision (Rev. 10/2024) through the IDFPR Online Services portal, and most applicants now use that path instead of the legacy paper PDF. According to IDFPR’s FY2024 licensure report, the agency processes roughly 2,400 new LCSW applications a year, and internal data shows that about 28% are kicked back at first review for missing supervisor signatures, incomplete hour breakdowns, or fingerprint mismatches.

Here is what this guide gives you:

📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of every field on the LCSW application
🧑‍💼 Three real-world scenarios (exam, endorsement, foreign-trained)
⏱️ Current fees, processing times, and the November 30 renewal cycle
🚫 Ten common mistakes that trigger deficiency letters
✅ A pre-filing checklist and answers to the 12 questions IDFPR analysts hear most

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The Illinois LCSW License Application is the form the Illinois Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board uses to verify that you meet the education, supervised experience, examination, and character requirements set in 225 ILCS 20/9. Filing the form is the only way to obtain the clinical license that lets you diagnose mental disorders, bill insurance independently, and supervise other social workers in Illinois.

You must file this form if you fall into any of four pathways. The first pathway is examination by Illinois supervised experience, used by candidates who hold a CSWE-accredited MSW and have completed 3,000 hours of post-MSW supervised clinical practice in Illinois. The second pathway is endorsement, used by clinicians already licensed at the clinical level in another U.S. state or territory under substantially equivalent standards.

The third pathway is examination with out-of-state experience, used by candidates who completed their 3,000 hours outside Illinois but never sat for or never passed the ASWB Clinical exam in the other state. The fourth pathway is foreign-trained applicants, used by people whose social work degree comes from outside the United States and who must submit a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluator before IDFPR will review the file.

The agency that receives the form is IDFPR’s Division of Professional Regulation, headquartered at 320 West Washington Street in Springfield. The statute that requires the form is the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the deadline that governs the renewal cycle is November 30 of every even-numbered year, and the penalty for practicing clinical social work without an active license is a Class A misdemeanor under 225 ILCS 20/24, plus civil fines up to $10,000 per violation.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

The single biggest reason LCSW applications stall is missing paperwork. Gather every item below before you log into the portal because the online application times out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and the system does not save partial supervisor verifications. The IDFPR LCSW checklist is your friend here.

Government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport. IDFPR uses this to match your name across the application, transcript, ASWB score, and fingerprint result.
Social Security Number. Required under 5 ILCS 100/10-65 for tax and child-support compliance; missing SSN triggers an automatic hold.
Official MSW or DSW transcript. Must come directly from a CSWE-accredited program to IDFPR; transcripts mailed by the applicant are rejected.
Supervisor’s Verification of Experience. The supervisor completes and signs the Verification of Supervised Clinical Professional Experience form documenting all 3,000 hours.
ASWB Clinical Exam score report. Ordered through your ASWB account and sent electronically to Illinois.
Certification of Licensure (endorsement only). A verification letter sent directly from each state where you have ever held a social work license.
Fingerprint receipt. From an IDFPR-approved Livescan vendor; paper FD-258 cards are not accepted.
Credential evaluation (foreign-trained only). A course-by-course evaluation from a NACES or AICE-member agency.
Application fee. $125, payable by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or electronic check inside the portal.
Two recent employer addresses and dates. Used on the experience section to corroborate hour totals.

If any of these is missing, IDFPR sends a deficiency letter and gives you 60 days to cure the gap. Miss that window and the application is closed; you re-pay the $125 fee and start over.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The current LCSW application lives in two places. The fillable PDF version (Rev. 10/2024) sits on the IDFPR Social Worker forms page, and the online version sits inside the IDFPR Online Services portal. The online path is faster, gets you a confirmation number instantly, and lets you upload supervisor forms as PDFs without mailing anything.

To open the online application, click “Apply for a License” on the portal homepage, choose “Social Worker” as the profession, then choose “Licensed Clinical Social Worker” as the license type. The system asks whether you are applying by examination, endorsement, or with out-of-state experience; pick the pathway that matches your situation because the form branches into different field sets based on that answer.

If you prefer paper, download the LCSW Application PDF, print it on white 8.5×11 paper, and complete it in black ink. Mail the signed original (no photocopies) to IDFPR Application Processing, 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786. Keep a full copy for yourself; IDFPR does not return submitted paperwork.

A small but important note on the revision date: IDFPR replaced the older “Rev. 03/2022” version in October 2024 to add the implicit bias and Alzheimer’s CE attestations. If you find a form dated before 10/2024, throw it away and download the current one because the Board rejects outdated revisions on sight.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the LCSW Application Line by Line

The form is broken into eight sections. Each section below walks through one field at a time, in the order it appears on the official Rev. 10/2024 application.

Section 1, Box 1: Last Name, First Name, Middle Name

This field asks for your full legal name. Enter it exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, in all capital letters, with the last name first. LOPEZ, MARIA ELENA is the correct format for a candidate named Maria Elena Lopez.

If you have changed your name since your MSW was issued, you still write the current legal name here and attach a certified copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order in the upload section. A common mistake is writing your professional name (the name on your business cards) when it differs from your Social Security record; that mismatch puts your file in manual review for 4 to 6 extra weeks. A widespread misconception is that hyphens or accent marks must be stripped; IDFPR’s system accepts them, and Maria-Elena Lopez-Garcia would enter exactly that.

Section 1, Box 2: Other Names Used

This field asks for every prior name you have ever used, including maiden names, prior married names, and any name that appears on your transcript or prior licenses. Enter them in the same LAST, FIRST format separated by semicolons. RIVERA, MARIA ELENA; LOPEZ-RIVERA, MARIA E. would be acceptable.

If you have never used another name, write NONE; leaving the field blank triggers a deficiency notice. The most common mistake is omitting the name that appears on the MSW transcript, which causes the transcript match to fail. The misconception worth correcting is that nicknames belong here; they do not, because IDFPR only cares about legal names tied to records.

Section 1, Box 3: Date of Birth

This field asks for your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format with the slashes included. 03/14/1985 is the correct entry for someone born March 14, 1985.

Enter the date that appears on your government ID, not the date on any older record. The common mistake is dropping the leading zero (writing 3/14/1985); the portal then flags the field as invalid and you have to redo it. A misconception is that the date must match the transcript; it must match the ID, and any discrepancy with the transcript is resolved by a separate name-change attachment.

Section 1, Box 4: Social Security Number

This field asks for your nine-digit SSN in XXX-XX-XXXX format. 123-45-6789 is the correct format.

The Department is required to collect this under the Illinois Vital Records Act and uses it to cross-check against the Illinois Healthcare Worker Background Check and child-support enforcement databases. The common mistake is using an ITIN instead of an SSN; IDFPR does not accept ITINs for LCSW licensure. A misconception is that the SSN appears on the public license record; it does not, and IDFPR redacts it from FOIA-released files.

Section 1, Box 5: Mailing Address

This field asks for the address where you want IDFPR to send your wall certificate and any deficiency letters. Enter a street address, city, state, and ZIP+4 if you know it. 1245 N CLARK ST APT 4B, CHICAGO, IL 60610-2245 is the correct format for a Chicago resident named David.

A P.O. Box is acceptable for the mailing address but not for the fingerprint or background check residence question later in the form. The common mistake is using a school or work address that becomes invalid after graduation, which causes important mail to bounce. The misconception is that you cannot update this address later; you can change it for free inside the portal, but you must do so within 14 days of moving under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470.30.

Section 2, Box 6: Application Type

This field asks which pathway you are applying under, with four checkboxes: Examination, Endorsement, Examination with Out-of-State Experience, or Foreign-Trained. Check exactly one.

If you check the wrong box, the application routes to the wrong analyst queue and bounces back, costing you 3 to 5 weeks. A common mistake is checking “Examination” when you took the ASWB Clinical exam in another state; the correct box is “Examination with Out-of-State Experience.” A misconception is that endorsement is faster than examination; in 2025 endorsement actually averaged 12 weeks versus 9 weeks for examination because Certifications of Licensure from other states arrive slowly.

Section 3, Box 7: Education

This field asks for the name of the school, city and state, degree earned (MSW or DSW), and date conferred. Enter the school name exactly as it prints on the diploma. Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, MSW, 05/15/2021 is the correct format.

The degree must be from a CSWE-accredited program; if your school was in candidacy status at the time of graduation, attach the CSWE candidacy letter. The common mistake is listing an unaccredited program and hoping it slides through; IDFPR cross-checks every school against the CSWE directory and denies non-accredited degrees outright. A misconception is that a BSW satisfies the education requirement; only an MSW or DSW does for the clinical license.

Section 3, Box 8: Foreign Education Equivalency

This field asks foreign-trained applicants for the name of the credential evaluation agency, the evaluation date, and the equivalency finding. Enter the agency name and the reference number from the evaluation report. World Education Services, 04/12/2025, Ref. 23456789, MSW equivalent is a correct entry.

Only evaluations from a NACES or AICE member agency are accepted, and the evaluation must be course-by-course, not document-by-document. A common mistake is ordering the cheaper “general” evaluation; that report does not list individual courses and forces a re-order, adding 6 to 8 weeks. The misconception is that an evaluation alone makes you eligible; you still must show clinical content equivalent to a U.S. MSW, and the Board has discretion to require additional coursework.

Section 4, Box 9: Supervised Clinical Experience Hours

This field asks for the total post-MSW supervised clinical hours, broken into clinical service hours, in-person supervision hours, and other professional hours. Enter the totals in whole numbers. Total 3,000; Clinical 2,000; Supervision 100; Other 900 is a correct entry for a typical examination applicant.

Under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470.91, at least 2,000 of the 3,000 hours must be in face-to-face clinical service, and at least 100 hours must be one-to-one in-person supervision. A common mistake is counting paid case-management hours as clinical service; they only count if they include diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. A misconception is that the 3,000 hours can be completed in under two years; the rule requires a minimum of two calendar years regardless of how fast you accumulate hours.

Section 4, Box 10: Supervisor Information

This field asks for the supervisor’s full name, Illinois LCSW license number, dates of supervision, and hours supervised. Enter one row per supervisor; the form allows up to four. Janet Kim, LCSW 149.018234, 06/01/2022 – 06/01/2024, 3,000 hours is a correct row.

Every supervisor must hold an active Illinois LCSW or qualifying out-of-state clinical license throughout the supervision period; you can verify the license at IDFPR License Lookup. A common mistake is listing a supervisor whose license lapsed mid-supervision, which voids every hour after the lapse date. The misconception is that a psychologist or psychiatrist can serve as your primary supervisor; under the Act, the primary supervisor for LCSW hours must be an LCSW.

Section 5, Box 11: Examination Information

This field asks whether you have taken the ASWB Clinical exam, the date taken, and the score. Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format and the four-digit score. 11/02/2024, 102 is a correct entry for a passing score.

The passing score in Illinois is 75 on the scaled scale (raw score varies by form), and the ASWB sends scores electronically when you list Illinois as a recipient inside your ASWB account. A common mistake is mailing a paper score report; IDFPR no longer accepts those. The misconception is that ASWB scores expire; they do not, but Illinois requires the score to be on file before the license issues, so you cannot get licensed on hours alone.

Section 6, Box 12: Personal History Questions

This field asks five yes/no disclosure questions covering criminal history, prior discipline, malpractice judgments, substance use disorder treatment that impairs practice, and physical or mental conditions that impair practice. Check Yes or No for each.

If you check Yes to any question, attach a signed personal statement, certified court or board documents, and any rehabilitation evidence. The common mistake is checking No to “have you ever been arrested” when an old expunged record exists; even expunged records must be disclosed to the Board under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470.110. The misconception is that a Yes answer guarantees denial; in 2024 the Board granted licensure in 87% of disclosed-history cases when the applicant provided full documentation.

Section 7, Box 13: Continuing Education Attestations

This field asks first-time applicants to attest that they will complete the required CE for the first renewal cycle. Check the box acknowledging the 30-hour requirement, including 3 hours of cultural competency, 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention, 1 hour of implicit bias, and 1 hour of Alzheimer’s and dementia training.

You do not submit CE certificates with the application; you only attest. The common mistake is treating this as an immediate CE submission and uploading certificates, which slows processing. The misconception is that the CE clock starts on application; it starts on the date the license issues, and the first renewal deadline is the next November 30 of an even-numbered year.

Section 8, Box 14: Applicant Signature and Date

This field asks for your signature and the date signed. On the online application, you type your full legal name and check the attestation box; on the paper form, you sign in blue or black ink. Maria Elena Lopez, 05/27/2026 is correct for a paper signature.

The signature is sworn under penalty of perjury per 225 ILCS 20/9.5. A common mistake is having someone else (a spouse, a paralegal) sign for you; that voids the application and can trigger a fraud referral. The misconception is that an electronic signature is “less binding” than ink; it carries identical legal weight under the Illinois Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Maria, Illinois MSW Examination Applicant

Maria graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2023 and finished 3,000 hours at a community mental health center on Chicago’s west side.

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Box 1 Name	LOPEZ, MARIA ELENA
Box 3 Date of Birth	03/14/1985
Box 6 Application Type	Examination
Box 7 Education	Loyola University Chicago, MSW, 05/15/2023
Box 9 Hours	Total 3,000; Clinical 2,050; Supervision 110; Other 840
Box 10 Supervisor	Janet Kim, LCSW 149.018234, 07/01/2023–05/30/2025
Box 11 ASWB Exam	11/02/2025, 104
Box 12 Disclosures	All No
Box 14 Signature	Maria Elena Lopez, 05/27/2026

Scenario 2: David, Wisconsin LCSW Applying by Endorsement

David has practiced as a Wisconsin LCSW for nine years and is moving to Evanston for a hospital social work role.

Form Section	What David Enters
Box 1 Name	MILLER, DAVID JAMES
Box 5 Mailing Address	1245 SHERMAN AVE APT 5C, EVANSTON, IL 60201
Box 6 Application Type	Endorsement
Box 7 Education	University of Wisconsin-Madison, MSW, 05/18/2015
Box 9 Hours	Total 3,000 in Wisconsin; documented by Wisconsin DSPS
Box 10 Supervisor	Listed on Wisconsin Certification of Licensure
Box 11 ASWB Exam	08/14/2017, 99 (Clinical)
Box 12 Disclosures	Yes to malpractice; attached settlement letter
Endorsement Attachment	Wisconsin DSPS Certification of Licensure (mailed direct)
Box 14 Signature	David James Miller, 05/27/2026

Scenario 3: Priya, Foreign-Trained Applicant from India

Priya earned her Master of Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai in 2018 and completed her supervised hours at a Naperville outpatient clinic.

Form Section	What Priya Enters
Box 1 Name	PATEL, PRIYA RAJESH
Box 2 Other Names	NONE
Box 6 Application Type	Foreign-Trained, Examination
Box 7 Education	Tata Institute of Social Sciences, MSW, 05/30/2018
Box 8 Evaluation	World Education Services, 04/12/2025, Ref. 23456789, MSW equivalent
Box 9 Hours	Total 3,000; Clinical 2,015; Supervision 105; Other 880
Box 10 Supervisor	Anita Shah, LCSW 149.022456, 03/01/2023–03/01/2025
Box 11 ASWB Exam	02/18/2026, 98
Box 14 Signature	Priya Rajesh Patel, 05/27/2026

How to File the Completed Form

You have two filing channels: the online portal and paper mail. Both end at the same place, but the timelines and proof-of-filing differ significantly. The IDFPR Online Services portal handles roughly 85% of LCSW applications in 2026.

For online filing, log into the portal, complete the application, upload PDFs of any attachments under 10 MB each, and pay the $125 fee by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or electronic check. The portal issues a confirmation number on screen and emails a receipt within 60 seconds; save both. Processing time runs 8 to 12 weeks from the date the file is “complete,” meaning every supporting document has arrived.

For paper filing, mail the signed original application, a $125 check or money order payable to “IDFPR,” and any applicant-controlled attachments to IDFPR Application Processing, 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786. Use USPS Priority Mail with tracking or FedEx; the tracking receipt is your only proof of mailing because IDFPR does not send paper confirmations. Paper processing runs 12 to 16 weeks.

For fingerprints, schedule a Livescan appointment with any vendor on the IDFPR-approved Livescan vendor list; the vendor electronically transmits your prints to the Illinois State Police and FBI. The fee runs $60 to $80 depending on the vendor, payable directly to them. Keep the TCN (Transaction Control Number) receipt; it is your proof that prints were captured.

For transcripts and Certifications of Licensure, those must come directly from the source (the school or the other state’s board) to IDFPR. You do not handle them. Order them at least three weeks before you submit the application so they arrive in the same window.

What Happens After You File

Once you submit, IDFPR assigns a file number within 5 business days and the application enters the “received” queue. An analyst then opens the file, checks for the basics (signature, fee, ID), and either marks it “in review” or sends a deficiency letter. You can track status by logging into the portal and clicking “My Applications”.

If everything is in order, the file moves to substantive review, where the analyst confirms the transcript, supervisor verification, ASWB score, fingerprint result, and Certifications of Licensure (if applicable). If any disclosure question was answered Yes, the file is routed to the Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board, which meets quarterly under 225 ILCS 20/5.5.

When the analyst signs off, IDFPR issues a license number in the 149.XXXXXX format and emails the wall certificate as a PDF within 10 business days; the paper certificate follows by mail in 4 to 6 weeks. You can begin practicing the moment the license appears on the public license lookup; you do not have to wait for the paper certificate.

If the application is denied, IDFPR sends a written notice with the basis for denial and instructions for requesting a formal hearing under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. You have 35 days from the notice to request the hearing; missing that window makes the denial final.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

These are the ten errors that account for most LCSW deficiency letters.

Listing a name that does not match the Social Security card. The mismatch puts the file on hold until a name-change document is filed.
Counting case-management hours as clinical hours. The hours are disallowed and the applicant falls below the 2,000-hour clinical floor.
Using an out-of-date form revision. Pre-10/2024 forms are rejected because they lack the implicit bias attestation.
Submitting transcripts mailed by the applicant. IDFPR requires school-to-agency delivery, and applicant-mailed transcripts are discarded.
Forgetting to list the supervisor’s Illinois license number. Without the number IDFPR cannot verify the supervisor was active.
Selecting the wrong application pathway. Wrong pathway routing adds 3 to 5 weeks to processing.
Skipping the “Other Names Used” box. Blank fields trigger a deficiency letter; NONE prevents it.
Using FD-258 fingerprint cards. Illinois requires Livescan only, and ink cards are returned unprocessed.
Answering No to disclosure questions while a record exists. Misrepresentation under 225 ILCS 20/19 is itself grounds for denial.
Letting the 60-day deficiency cure window lapse. The application closes and the $125 fee is forfeited.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

Do verify your supervisor’s Illinois LCSW status on the day you list them, because licenses can lapse without notice.
Do upload PDFs with descriptive filenames such as Lopez_Transcript_Loyola.pdf, which speeds analyst review.
Do save every confirmation email and receipt, since they are your only proof of timely filing.
Do call IDFPR at (800) 560-6420 if your file is silent past 12 weeks, because squeaky wheels move faster.
Do order ASWB scores and Certifications of Licensure three weeks before you file, so they land in the same window.
Do reconcile your hour log against your supervisor’s log monthly, because year-end reconciliations always find gaps.

Don’ts:

Don’t sign the application on behalf of a spouse or supervisee, because that voids the form and risks a fraud referral.
Don’t list nicknames in the legal name field, because the SSA cross-check will fail.
Don’t pay the fee twice if the portal freezes; refunds take 90 days, and the second payment is usually rejected as duplicate anyway.
Don’t email the application to IDFPR, because the agency does not accept emailed applications and the file will sit unread.
Don’t accept supervision hours from a non-LCSW for clinical content, because those hours are void under the Act.
Don’t withdraw the application to “start over” if a deficiency appears; cure the deficiency instead, because withdrawal forfeits the fee.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Pros of filing on your own:

Saves the $400 to $1,200 a licensure consultant typically charges, freeing money for your ASWB prep course.
Forces you to understand the rules in 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470, which you will need at every renewal.
Lets you upload documents the moment they arrive, instead of waiting on a third party to forward them.
Keeps direct communication open with the IDFPR analyst handling your file, which speeds clarifications.
Builds confidence for future filings like the Illinois Continuing Education Sponsor application.

Cons of filing on your own:

One missed checkbox can add 6 to 8 weeks, which delays your start date and your first paycheck.
The supervisor verification form is technical, and most pro se applicants under-count their supervision hours.
Disclosure responses to Yes-answered questions need legal framing, and a consultant or attorney can prevent over-disclosure.
The portal interface is dated and times out without warning, costing first-time filers re-entry time.
You shoulder all the follow-up calls and emails yourself, which can be hard if you are working full-time clinical hours.

Online Portal vs. Paper Mail Filing

Filing Feature	What Each Channel Offers
Average processing time	Online 8–12 weeks; Paper 12–16 weeks
Proof of filing	Online portal confirmation number; Paper USPS or FedEx tracking
Payment methods	Online card or eCheck; Paper check or money order
Document uploads	Online direct PDF upload; Paper mailed originals only
Deficiency notification	Online email + portal alert; Paper letter only
Status tracking	Online real-time; Paper phone calls only
Best for	Most applicants; rural applicants with no broadband

FAQs

Is the Illinois LCSW application different from the LSW application?

Yes. The LCSW application requires 3,000 supervised clinical hours and the ASWB Clinical exam; the LSW requires only an MSW and the ASWB Masters exam, with no post-degree supervision.

Can I practice while my LCSW application is pending?

No. You may continue practicing under your LSW license, but you cannot represent yourself as an LCSW or bill clinically until the license number is issued and active on the public lookup.

Do I write my maiden name or married name in Box 1?

No to maiden name unless that is the name on your current Social Security card. Box 1 must match your SSA record; prior names go in Box 2.

Does my supervisor’s license number go in Box 9 or Box 10?

Yes, it goes in Box 10. Box 9 is for hours totals only; Box 10 is the supervisor row with name, license number, and dates.

Do I check “Yes” in Box 12 for an expunged arrest?

Yes. 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470.110 requires disclosure of expunged and sealed records to the Board, even though they are hidden from employers.

Can I count hours supervised by a psychologist toward the 3,000?

No for the primary supervisor relationship. Up to a limited share may be co-supervised by another mental health professional, but the primary supervisor must be an LCSW.

Is the $125 fee refundable if I withdraw?

No. The application fee is non-refundable under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1470.40, whether you withdraw or are denied.

Do telehealth supervision hours count?

Yes, when the supervision is real-time audio-visual and meets the in-person equivalency standard adopted by the Board in 2022, but at least 25 hours per year must be in physical-presence sessions.

Can I take the ASWB Clinical exam before finishing 3,000 hours?

Yes, Illinois allows pre-approval to test once you are within 100 hours of completion, by submitting a Pre-Approval to Test request inside the portal.

How long is my ASWB Clinical passing score valid in Illinois?

Yes, it is valid indefinitely for Illinois licensure purposes; the score does not expire, though you still must be otherwise eligible at the time of licensure.

Do I need malpractice insurance to apply?

No. Illinois does not require malpractice insurance to obtain or maintain an LCSW, although nearly every employer and the NASW-Illinois Chapter strongly recommends it.

When is my first renewal due?

Yes, on the next November 30 of an even-numbered year after issuance, and you must complete 30 CE hours including the 3 cultural competency, 1 sexual harassment, 1 implicit bias, and 1 Alzheimer’s and dementia hours before that date.

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