Many students in Illinois decide along their secondary education journey to enter the field of Social Work. But becoming a school social worker after college graduation actually has a few steps that are different from becoming a social worker in any other setting.
To become a school social worker in Illinois, you must follow the requirements set by the Illinois State Board of Education. Here are the steps you need to take if your career goal is to become a school social worker:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field such as psychology, sociology or human services. Many Illinois colleges offer strong social work degrees, and can help you learn everything you need to enter the field.
- Complete a master’s degree in social work from an accredited program by the Council on Social Work Education, or CSWE. To learn more about the council, visit this site: cswe.org
- Complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical field experience during your Master’s program. If you want to learn more about gaining this clinical field experience, Spotter has a team of Industry Experts who are happy to help!
- Pass the ASWB Clinical Level Exam or ASWB Advanced Generalist Exam. This exam has lots of information, practice tests, and guidance available beforehand. Find helpful information by visiting this website: aswb.org/exam/
- Obtain a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Social Worker endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education. To obtain your PEL, you must complete an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved program as well as pass state tests and requirements.
- Complete a background check and fingerprinting process.
- Complete required professional development hours to maintain your license.
Additionally, some school districts may require school social workers to have prior teaching experience or a teaching certification. Therefore, it’s important to check with the specific school district you are interested in working for to ensure you meet their requirements.
Looking for a Career as a School Social Worker?
Spotter Staffing connects social workers with top job opportunities at amazing schools throughout the state of Illinois. If you are looking for career advice or guidance, or are ready to find a new job, talk to the experts at Spotter Staffing today and find out all the amazing benefits that come when you “Join the Herd!” Find open school social work positions by clicking this link.