Transfer Your Social Work License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my social work license transfer to Illinois?
A clinical social work license moves to Illinois through licensure by endorsement with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board: license verification, your ASWB score sent by score transfer, and Illinois's own checks. Expect $200 (Endorsement licensure application fee per IDFPR's Social Worker/LCSW instructions; non-refundable. The Acceptance of Examination and Examination methods cost $50 but apply only to people not currently licensed elsewhere.); no verified processing time. Illinois has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Moving to Illinois from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Illinois has not enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, which matters less than it sounds: the compact is not issuing licenses anywhere yet, so every social worker moving to any state follows that state's own licensing process, here the one below.
Illinois's clinical-level license is the LCSW, which IDFPR describes as the independent practice level; the other tier is the LSW. Illinois endorsement has two tracks. An applicant licensed at the independent level in another state for 5 consecutive years without discipline submits only licensure certifications for each state practised in during those years; education and experience proofs are not required. Other endorsement applicants document the MSW and 3,000 supervised clinical hours (supervised by an LCSW, averaging 4 hours of supervision a month), though out-of-state boards can forward experience records they hold. IDFPR's pages checked name no fingerprint requirement for social workers. Illinois has NOT enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Illinois requirements at a glance
| Exam | The ASWB Clinical exam is not retaken; applicants who passed it in another state have ASWB send an official score transfer to IDFPR. Illinois also allows an 'Exam Alternative' (3,000 additional supervised professional hours after an ASWB Clinical attempt made after 2019-01-01). No Illinois jurisprudence exam is required. |
|---|---|
| Fees | $200 (Endorsement licensure application fee per IDFPR's Social Worker/LCSW instructions; non-refundable. The Acceptance of Examination and Examination methods cost $50 but apply only to people not currently licensed elsewhere.) |
| Processing time | IDFPR states no processing time. Its instructions ask applicants to allow 6 weeks from mailing before inquiring about status, and an application stays active for three years |
Step by step
- Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active LCSW or equivalent license in another US state or jurisdiction and have each state send Certification of Licensure (form CT or its own format).
- Send an official ASWB score transfer if you passed the Clinical exam elsewhere.
- Unless licensed at the independent level for 5 consecutive years without discipline, prove a CSWE-accredited MSW or DSW and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience (form VE-SW).
- Apply through the IDFPR CORE online portal.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Illinois:
Nearby states
Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Illinois:
Illinois for other professions
- Nursing in Illinois
- Cosmetology / Barber in Illinois
- Real Estate in Illinois
- Contractor in Illinois
- Teaching in Illinois
- CPA / Accounting in Illinois
- Electrician in Illinois
- Plumber in Illinois
- Engineering in Illinois
- Pharmacy in Illinois
- Physical Therapy in Illinois
- Psychology in Illinois
- Counseling in Illinois
- Occupational Therapy in Illinois
Frequently asked questions
Is Illinois in the Social Work Licensure Compact?
No. Illinois had not enacted it as of 2026-09-27. Endorsement through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Social Work Examining and Disciplinary Board is the route in.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- IDFPR — Qualifications for Licensure, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (149), effective 05/2025 ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- IDFPR — Instructions, Licensed Social Worker or Licensed Clinical Social Worker application ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- IDFPR — Social Work profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Social Work Licensure Compact — compact jurisdictions ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
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