(225 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 6354)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 4. Exemptions.

1. This Act does not prohibit any of the following:

(a) Any persons legally regulated in this State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which they are authorized, provided that they do not represent themselves by any title as being engaged in the independent practice of clinical social work or the practice of social work as defined in this Act, nor does it prohibit the practice of nonregulated professions whose practitioners are engaged in the delivery of human services, provided such practitioners do not represent themselves as or use the title of clinical social worker or social worker.

(b) The practice of clinical social work or social work by a person who is employed by the United States government or by the State of Illinois, unit of local government or any bureau, division or agency thereof while in the discharge of the employee's official duties. Clinical social workers employed by the State of Illinois who are hired after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1994 shall hold a valid license, issued by this State, to practice as a licensed clinical social worker, except for those clinical social workers employed by the State who obtain their positions through promotion.

(c) The practice of a student pursuing a course of professional education under the terms of this Act, if these activities and services constitute a part of such student's supervised course of study.

(d) A person from practicing social work if the person is obtaining experience for licensure as a clinical social worker or social worker, provided the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates training status.

(e) A person, who is not a resident of this State, from performing social work via telehealth in this State for a nonresident of this State for not more than 5 days in any one month or more than 15 days in any one calendar year, had a previous established therapeutic relationship with the nonresident, and the person is authorized to perform such services under the laws of the state or country in which the person resides.

(f) A person, who is not a resident of this State, from performing social work via telehealth in this State for a nonresident of this State currently attending a university or college in this State, had a previous established therapeutic relationship with the nonresident, and the person is authorized to perform such services under the laws of the state or country in which the person resides.

2. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to apply to any person engaged in the bona fide practice of religious ministry provided the person does not hold himself out to be engaged in the independent practice of clinical social work or the practice of social work.

3. This Act does not prohibit a person serving as a volunteer so long as no representation prohibited by this Section is made.

4. Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to require any hospital, clinic, home health agency, hospice, or other entity which provides health care to employ or to contract with a licensed clinical social worker to provide clinical social work practice or the independent practice of clinical social work as described in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-785, eff. 1-1-23.)