In Illinois, all social workers must have a license. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues two types of social work licenses:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license.
LCSWs, of course, are licensed to perform clinical social work, but what is an LSW license?
An LSW license is Illinois’ most basic level of social work licensure. Despite that fact, though, LSWs aren’t very limited in what they can do. They can perform just about every kind of social work and even provide clinical services in some cases.
If you’re interested in becoming an LSW in Illinois, here’s what you can do with an LSW license and how to earn one.
LSW vs LCSW: What’s the Difference?
Even though LSWs and LCSWs can perform similar duties, there’s one main difference: independence.
Because of their extensive training, LCSWs in Illinois are allowed to run their own private social work practices. LSWs cannot.
However, LSWs can still provide clinical services like mental health assessment, diagnosis, and intervention techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy. But to do so, LSWs must be under the direct supervision of an LCSW or another similar, highly-trained mental health professional.
What Jobs Can You Get With an LSW License?
From frontline service provider to social service administrator, an LSW license can be a gateway to any number of social work careers in Illinois. At every level, LSWs are integral to getting people the help they need.
Social workers with an LSW license in Illinois can be:
- Social workers including specialists like mental health, child welfare, and medical social workers.
- Case managers.
- Program assistant.
- Program coordinator.
- Community organizer.
- Substance abuse counselor.
- Crisis counselor.
- Human service assistant.
- Policy advocate.
However, some supervisory roles or roles that require an advanced knowledge of mental health interventions may require an LCSW license. In job postings, employers typically list what kind of license they want applicants to have.
How To Become an LSW in Illinois
After learning what an LSW license is, your next question is likely, “How do I get one?” Fortunately, the IDFPR’s process for earning an LSW license is pretty straightforward. Your individual journey may be a bit different, but here’s what it might look like.
Step 1: Earn a Degree in Social Work
According to the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-IL), an LSW license requires either a bachelor of social work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW). Degrees must be earned from a school that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Students who seek licensure with a BSW must also complete three years of supervised experience before being eligible for an LSW license. It’s also important to note that many employers prefer LSWs with MSWs for high-level roles.
Step 2: Earn Other Certifications and Licenses
Many BSW and MSW programs offer certifications in specific fields like substance abuse and mental health intervention, child welfare, palliative care, and forensic social work. In many cases, these certifications are optional.
However, school social workers are required to earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a school social work endorsement through the Illinois State Board of Education. To earn this license, students must:
- Have an MSW.
- Complete 400 hours of fieldwork in a school setting.
- Pass a standardized exam.
Some MSW programs in Illinois offer post-graduate PEL prep programs that help students fulfill these requirements.
Step 3: Fill Out and Submit the Illinois LSW Application to the IDFPR
The IDFPR’s LSW application asks about applicants’ education, fieldwork experiences, and personal details like criminal history. Transcripts and other supporting documents are typically required. Medical social workers must also answer additional personal history questions.
All applications must also include a $50 fee. The IDFPR doesn’t currently list how long it takes to process applications, but the NASW-IL encourages professionals to inquire about their applications if it’s been longer than six weeks.
Step 4: Start Your New Career and Maintain Your License
After being granted their license, LSWs can embark on their careers in advocacy. But in Illinois, LSW licenses must be renewed every two years. All licenses expire on the same date: November 30 of every odd-numbered year.
In that two-year period, LSWs must earn 30 continuing education units (CEUs). CEUs can be earned by attending classes online or in-person, completing self-guided study projects, teaching classes, and other skill-building activities approved by the IDFPR.
In general, LSWs can earn CEUs in topics related to social work practice, but they must also complete a certain amount of CEUs in topics like ethics and cultural competence.
Find Out More About LSWs, LCSWs, and Your New Career in Social Work
While learning what an LSW license is can be a great introduction to social work, there are so many more questions to explore. How much do social workers make in Illinois? What kinds of jobs can you get with an MSW? And, perhaps most importantly, what kind of social worker do you want to be?
We want to help you and other students answer these questions for themselves. From finding the right social work degree program to discovering career opportunities in communities across Illinois, your career in advocacy starts with a little research.