• SSW INTERNSHIP GUIDE
  • A Guide to School Social Work Internships
• IASSW/ISBE BEST PRACTICE GUIDE
  • ISBE-IASSW-School-Social-Work-Guide.pdf

On March 11, 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education made both the previous and new version of the School Social Work content exam available.

School Social Worker (184)

184 Test Design & Framework

Test cost: $110

Testing Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Passing Score: 240

Test structure: 125 multiple choices, computer-based test

SSW (184) 20 Question Study Guide

• DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTENT EXAM

The development of the school social work content exam (238) is based on the Illinois Administrative Code Standards for the School Social Worker and the National Association of Social Workers Standards for School Social Work Services. Reviewing the standards will assist test takers in understanding how the test framework objectives are aligned with the standards.

Note: Content Exam (238) is the most recent version of the school social work content exam, first offered in August 2020, which replaced the previous version for school social workers, Content Exam (184).

238 -Alignment of Test Framework Objectives with State and National Standards

https://www.il.nesinc.com/Content/Docs/IL_fld238_CT.pd

State Board of Education Rules-Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code – 23.140

Section 23 (ilga.gov)

National Association of Social Workers Standards for School Social Work Services

NASWCulturalStandards2003.Q4.11 (socialworkers.org) 

School Social Worker (238) 

238 Test Design & Framework

Test cost: $110

Testing Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Passing Score: 240

Test structure: 100 multiple choices, computer-based test

• CONTENT EXAM PREPARATION MATERIAL: Preparation Materials (nesinc.com)
  • Sample Questions Study Guide- 20 Questions Study Guide (nesinc.com)
  • Practice Test -100 Questions Preparation Materials (nesinc.com)
  • Cost: $0 (effective December 5th, 2023)
    • Add the practice exam to your cart and check out. The cost should show as $0. 
• 238 CONTENT EXAM STUDY GUIDE

• REGISTER FOR THE PEL EXAM:

Test Location/Date & Times Offered: Test locations, dates, and times vary based on location entered. The exam is offered year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday. Use the following link to find the various test sites, dates, and times. Pearson VUE - Select an exam. Select ILTS-Illinois Licensure Testing System, then select-IL238 or IL184.

When you are ready, follow the steps below to register for the content exam:

1. Go to the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) website ILTS Illinois Licensure Testing System.
2. Sign in with your account information or create a new account
3. Enter “Required Candidate Information” 
4. Confirm your identity
5. Select “School Social Worker (238), then click “add”, then click next
6. Answer the question- “Do you plan to request alternative testing arrangements” 

If yes, you will be asked to submit an “Alternative Testing Arrangement Request Form”. The form can be found at  ILTS Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form (nesinc.com). You will be asked to submit this form during the registration process. 

1. Select where you want your score report sent (e.g., your email address, university) and select add. Your scores are automatically uploaded to your ELIS account through ISBE.
2. Respond to the “Background” questions (e.g., ethnicity, college or university status). 

9.Review your registration and select “add to cart”. 

10.View cart and make sure the correct exam is listed. You will also be provided with an opportunity to purchase the ILTS School Social Work Practice Test if you have not done so already.  

11.When ready click “check out”.

12.The next three screens will require you to respond to the agreement, billing information, and remit payment. 

Once the registration process is complete, schedule your exam:

1. Click on “Schedule Your Test”
2. Select “Schedule”, then next
3. Read and respond to the agreement 
4. Review the test sites that appear based on the location you enter.
5. Select the location, date, and time
6. Click “Book”

*Test takers will receive preliminary results of pass or fail at the end of the test session. A detailed score report including the test takers actual score will be sent at a later date based on the score report schedule. Click on the following link and scroll down to “view score report dates” to identify when you will receive your actual score report. Score Report Dates

UPDATE RETAKE POLICY:

https://www.il.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/GENRB_RetakePolicy.html

If test takers do not pass one version of the test, they may wish to register for the other version for their next attempt.

Please note that after two unsuccessful attempts, where the test taker scored within one standard error of measurement of passing on either attempt, test registration is free. The free retakes are only available for the same version of the test that was already taken (e.g., a test taker cannot take the current version of the test twice and use their free retake to take the predecessor test.) Test takers who are eligible for free retakes will see a $0 charge when they complete the checkout process for exam registration.

The Professional Educator License with a School Social Work Endorsement is issued and maintained through ISBE. To maintain and renew the PEL: SSW endorsement, school social workers must obtain 120 professional development hours (PDHs), every five years. Review Chapter 7 of the “School Social Work Best Practice Guide,” for details on the licensure requirements, renewing the PEL:SSW endorsement and much more information relevant to licensure.  ISBE-IASSW-School-Social-Work-Guide.pdf

• RENEWAL FOR PEL & LSW/LCSW HOLDERS:

Within you ELIS Account - Add your license number into the PD entry page as the description, in the amount of 120 PD hours, with the provider being IDFPR. The date can be any date within the renewal cycle. 

Any licensee who holds a PEL endorsed in school support personnel and is employed in an Illinois public, charter, or state operated school for 50% or more FTE can meet Professional Development (PD) requirements by either:

• Holding an active and current professional license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (must be related to endorsement)
  OR
• Holding national board certification:
  • School Counselor: a license issued under the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act
  • School Psychologist: a license issued under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act
  • Speech Language Pathologist (non-teaching): license issued under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act
  • School Nurse: license issued under the Nurse Practice Act
  • School Social Worker: a license issued under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act
  • If the above requirements have been met, the licensee will need to enter the license or national board information into ELIS in the amount of 120 PD hours