Individuals who wish to practice social work in a public school in Illinois must possess a Professional Educator’s License (PEL) endorsed in School Social Work. In order to qualify for licensure in Illinois, Loyola students in the Micro Practice area of specialization and Schools Track receive specialized curriculum, training and support to fulfill Illinois’s requirements to become eligible for a PEL with an endorsement in School Social Work. Eligibility for the PEL is based on successful completion of the requirements of the Loyola School of Social Work, the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Curriculum
Coursework
The following courses are required by Loyola and fulfill state requirements.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SOWK 609A | School Social Work Policy and Practice I (Fall) | 3 |
| SOWK 609B | School Social Work Policy and Practice II (Spring) | 3 |
| CIEP 401 | The Exceptional Child (offered through the School of Education) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 |
Internship
Students in the Micro Practice in Schools Track must secure an internship at a site that has been approved by Loyola School of Social Work as a PEL-eligible school. Students are directed to these sites through placement interviews conducted by the Schools/PEL team. For the internship, students are required to follow the academic calendar of the school district in which they intern. To that end, the internship may not follow Loyola’s academic calendar year. Students must complete at least 600 internship hours in a traditional public school setting. The internship will also fulfill the Council of Social Work Education’s required competencies.
Content Exam
Students must pass a Illinois State Board of Education content exam in School Social Work (ISBE #238 or #184). The Schools/PEL team will provide students with information about the exam as well as help students meet deadlines and criteria mandates from ISBE.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
