Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. Provides that an applicant may use an examination alternative to allow the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work. Provides that the examination alternative shall consist of at least 2 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the degree as established by rule. Provides that the examination alternative supervised professional experience shall be in addition to any other supervised clinical professional experience required for licensure. Provides that 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. Provides that the Department shall require that a qualified licensed clinical social work supervisor to complete at least 6 hours of continuing education training. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
House Floor Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning examination alternatives, provides that 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 (rather than 2 years of supervised professional experience) and after the degree is obtained as established by rule. Removes provisions concerning qualified licensed clinical social work supervisors. Deletes the effective date provision.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1: Provides that an applicant who, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act or within 5 years before the effective date of the amendatory Act, 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 (instead of only an applicant) may use an examination alternative to allow the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to ascertain the qualifications and fitness of candidates for a license to engage in the independent practice of clinical social work.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 225 ILCS 20/3, 225 ILCS 20/5, 225 ILCS 20/8, 225 ILCS 20/9
Engrossed: 225 ILCS 20/5, 225 ILCS 20/8, 225 ILCS 20/9
Enrolled: 225 ILCS 20/5, 225 ILCS 20/8, 225 ILCS 20/9
Public Act: 225 ILCS 20/5, 225 ILCS 20/8, 225 ILCS 20/9