Public Act 103-0433
 
HB2365 EnrolledLRB103 30361 AMQ 56791 b

    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work
Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 9 and by
adding Section 8.2 as follows:
 
    (225 ILCS 20/5)  (from Ch. 111, par. 6355)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
    Sec. 5. Powers and duties of the Department. Subject to
the provisions of this Act, the Department shall exercise the
following functions, powers, and duties:
        (1) Conduct or authorize examinations or examination
    alternatives to ascertain the qualifications and fitness
    of candidates for a license to engage in the independent
    practice of clinical social work, pass upon the
    qualifications of applicants for licenses, and issue
    licenses to those who are found to be fit and qualified.
        (2) Adopt rules required for the administration and
    enforcement of this Act.
        (3) Adopt rules for determining approved undergraduate
    and graduate social work degree programs and prepare and
    maintain a list of colleges and universities offering such
    approved programs whose graduates, if they otherwise meet
    the requirements of this Act, are eligible to apply for a
    license.
        (4) Prescribe forms to be issued for the
    administration and enforcement of this Act consistent with
    and reflecting the requirements of this Act and rules
    adopted pursuant to this Act.
        (5) Conduct investigations related to possible
    violations of this Act.
        (6) Maintain rosters of the names and addresses of all
    persons who hold valid licenses under this Act. These
    rosters shall be available upon written request and
    payment of the required fee.
(Source: P.A. 102-326, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
    (225 ILCS 20/8.2 new)
    Sec. 8.2. Examination alternative.
    (a) An applicant who, on or after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly or within 5
years before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
103rd General Assembly, has taken but has not successfully
completed an examination to ascertain the qualifications and
fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the
independent practice of clinical social work may use an
examination alternative to allow the Department to ascertain
the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to
engage in the independent practice of clinical social work.
    (b) The examination alternative shall consist of at least
3,000 hours of supervised professional experience that is
obtained within the 10 calendar years immediately preceding
the date of application and after the degree is obtained as
established by rule. If no supervision by a licensed clinical
social worker is available, then supervised professional
experience may include supervision by other appropriate
disciplines as defined by rule.
    (c) The examination alternative supervised professional
experience shall be in addition to any other supervised
clinical professional experience required for licensure.
    (d) Beginning January 1, 2026, an applicant acquiring the
examination alternative supervised professional experience
must be a licensed social worker or licensed in this State for
the practice of school social work prior to acquiring the
supervised professional experience.
 
    (225 ILCS 20/9)  (from Ch. 111, par. 6359)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
    Sec. 9. Qualifications for clinical social worker license.
A person shall be qualified to be licensed as a clinical social
worker if that person:
        (1) has applied in writing on the prescribed form;
        (2) is of good moral character. In determining good
    moral character, the Department may take into
    consideration whether the applicant was engaged in conduct
    or actions that would constitute grounds for discipline
    under this Act;
        (3)(a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
    Department that subsequent to securing a master's degree
    in social work from an approved program the applicant has
    successfully completed at least 3,000 hours of
    satisfactory, supervised clinical professional
    experience; or
        (b) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department
    that such applicant has received a doctor's degree in
    social work from an approved program and has completed at
    least 2,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical
    professional experience subsequent to the degree;
        (4) has passed the examination for the practice of
    clinical social work as authorized by the Department or
    has completed the examination alternative set forth in
    Section 8.2; and
        (5) has paid the required fees.
(Source: P.A. 100-414, eff. 8-25-17.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024