NASW-Illinois Chapter Praises State's Mental Health Workforce Improvements, Achieving Remarkable Growth in Licensed Social Workers

CHICAGO, February 6, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Thanks in large part to a bill signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, the number of licensed non-independent social workers has increased by 100% since Dec 1, 2021 in Illinois, exceeding the 10,000 mark for the first time. In light of severe mental health workforce shortages in the state as well as issues of diversity within the profession, this achievement is a first step to addressing an alarming shortage of mental health professionals in Illinois.  

Since passage of a bill that removed a controversial exam—the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) MSW exam—as a requirement for licensed non-independent social workers (i.e., licensed social workers or LSWs) in Illinois, numbers have risen from an initial 5,037 LSWs in December 2021, to 7,845 just six months after the new law’s implementation. These numbers continued to increase to a new milestone of 10,086 new LSWs in Illinois on December 1, 2023. Most notably, 12% of these licensed LSWs come from outside the state, drawn by opportunities presented by this legislative change. These professionals are now either serving Illinois clients via telehealth or have relocated to the state, contributing significantly to the local workforce.  

NASW-IL believes that this legislative achievement marks a pivotal moment in ongoing efforts by Illinois to address workforce challenges and address inequities in the mental health sector to ensure that all Illinois residents have access to high-quality social work services. Illinois has made a clear statement about its commitment to removing barriers for skilled and dedicated individuals entering the profession by eliminating a controversial testing requirement from licensure in the state. 

NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE, stated, "This is a monumental success for social work in Illinois. It underscores our belief in the importance of accessible mental health services and the need to diversify and strengthen our professional community. We commend Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly for their commitment and dedication to improving the lives of Illinois residents through mental health workforce development that grows and diversifies the talent pool in Illinois." 

In the previous spring 2023 session, the state went even further by passing a first-in-the-nation law that creates an alternative to the ASWB clinical exam for licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) which went into effect on January 1, 2024. While data on its impact is not yet available, we are anticipating significant gains for that license as well. 

Source: National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter