Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Dave Severin has reported updates and progress in addressing delays in professional licensing. Severin, who has prioritized reducing delay times and improving technology and transparency during the 2024 General Assembly, shared recent developments from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

The IDFPR announced it has secured a new professional licensing system for individuals whose careers require a license to work in Illinois. Severin was a chief co-sponsor of HB 2394, now Public Act 103-568, which allows the Director of IDFPR to extend the expiration date on professional licenses to prevent a backlog of renewals. The bill also enables the agency to bypass an arduous red-tape process to obtain necessary software upgrades.

“I have met with leadership at IDFPR several times throughout the last couple of years, and what I learned about the antiquated technology and paper-only system disturbed and upset me,” Severin said. “I have had press conferences and issued press releases demanding improvements, and this week we seem to be making significant progress toward fixing the issues of professional licensing delays. I have supported the effort by IDFPR to buy a new software system to improve licensing times, and this week an agreement was reached to make such a purchase.”

Severin noted that IDFPR will make four critical occupations’ licensing applications available online starting August 12, 2024.

“Starting August 12, 2024, Licensed Social Workers (LSW), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC) will be able to access their professional licensing application online,” Severin said. “This is a terrific development, and it aims to improve licensing times in professions that we desperately need in southern Illinois. We all talk about needing more mental and social health services, and this is one way we can help address the shortfall. I’m pleased with the positive news coming out of IDFPR this week and I hope to continue to work together with the agency to continue making improvements for everyone that seeks to get their professional license.”

Professionals seeking licensure through IDFPR can create an account at https://online-dfpr.micropact.com to complete and submit their application. A checklist is available on the agency’s website to assist professionals in completing their application.

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