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Ryan Grants Licensure to 77 Students of the Master's of Social Work Program at Governor's State University
SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today signed Senate Bill 1152, allowing the 77 students who graduated from the Master's of Social Work program at Governor's State University (GSU) to receive a license for employment in Illinois from the Department of Professional Regulation, as long as specific conditions are met.
"This legislation will allow students who were misled by administrators of Governor's State University to obtain a state license to practice as social workers, or state certification to act as school social workers, provided they meet certain qualifications," Governor Ryan said.
Under current law, Governor's State University graduates holding a MSW degree may not take the Clinical Social Work Licensure exam, because the school's MSW program is not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Effective January 1, 2002, students who graduated from Governor's State University with a Master's of Social Work degree have until September 1, 2002 to meet the state's suspended criteria.
To receive a school service personnel certificate endorsed for school social work, a student must:
- Have been enrolled in GSU's master's degree program on or after May 11, 1998
- Have completed coursework substantially similar to that required in an approved social work program
- Pass a standardized examination that demonstrates knowledge of the subject matter
For licensure as a clinical social worker a student must:
- Apply in writing on a prescribed form
- Be of good moral character
- Have completed at least 3,000 hours of satisfactory, supervised clinical professional experience subsequent to receiving a master's degree from GSU in June, 2001
- Pass an examination for the practice of clinical social work as authorized by DPR
- Successfully complete supplemental coursework as part of the accrediting process after GSU becomes an accredited institution
For licensure as a social worker a student must:
- Apply in writing on a prescribed form
- Be of good moral character
- Hold a graduate degree in social work from GSU
- Pass the examination for the practice of clinical social work as a licensed social worker as authorized by DPR
- Successfully complete supplemental coursework as part of the accrediting process after GSU becomes an accredited institution
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