Social workers in Illinois must renew their licenses every two years. November 30 of each odd-numbered year is the expiration date for everyone. A Renewal Application must be submitted along with a $60 fee and documentation to prove you’ve taken the proper continuing education (C.E.) courses. These items have to be sent one month before the expiration date. C.E. requirements are 30 hours of social work coursework that must be taken every two years. Three of the 30 hours must be spent on ethics and another 3 hours on cultural competence. It takes 2-4 business days for the license status to update in the system.