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Want to become a CPA in Illinois? Here's everything you need to know about the Illinois CPA requirements and the licensure process.
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Illinois accountants can pursue many career opportunities, but becoming a CPA in Illinois can take their careers to the next level. With this credential, they qualify for CPA careers at major accounting firms, international organizations, and government agencies. However, Illinois is a two-tier state, which makes the process more complicated.
Two-tier states issue CPA certificates and licenses separately — requiring you to earn your certificate first in Illinois to become a licensed CPA.
The Illinois CPA requirements start with a CPA certificate from the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE). Once you've completed the education and examination requirements for certification, you need to meet experience requirements. Then, you can apply for CPA licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
This guide covers the certification and licensure processes, including education, exam, and licensure renewal requirements.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Each Illinois CPA needs a 120-credit bachelor's degree from an accredited college to take the CPA exam. Then, they need to earn another 30 credits to earn their CPA certificates and licenses. Many CPAs complete graduate certificates or master's degrees to meet the education requirement. Students can also consider accounting bachelor's-to-master's programs, which allow them to pursue a graduate education in an abbreviated timeline.
You can also use internship credits and study-abroad courses to meet the education requirement. When applying for the CPA certificate, you'll need to submit transcripts demonstrating that you've completed the necessary credits. For study-abroad courses, you will need to provide information about the course to the board.
Learn more about accounting degrees in IllinoisIllinois sets specific requirements for taking the CPA exam and completing the licensure process. You do not need to earn an accounting degree to become a CPA in Illinois. However, if you hold a degree in a non-accounting field, you will need to meet accounting and business credit requirements.
For CPA exam eligibility, you can complete the education requirements in several ways:
For CPA certification and licensure, you will need 150 credits covering the following areas:
If you hold a graduate degree in accounting, you automatically meet the accounting hours requirements. You can also count up to six credits from CPA review courses taken at accredited institutions toward your accounting requirements, with up to six additional credits toward the 150-credit requirement.
You need accounting experience to become a licensed CPA in Illinois. Because Illinois is a two-tier state, there are different requirements for a CPA certificate vs. a CPA license. While you do not need work experience to earn your certificate, a history of professional work is required for licensure.
After completing your CPA certificate requirements, you'll need one year of full-time experience for your CPA license. You can gain experience by working in industry, the government, academia, or public practice. While you can count experience earned before completing your CPA certificate, you cannot count experience earned before meeting the educational requirement for the CPA exam.
Your experience must demonstrate accounting, financial advisory, tax, and related skills. While some states require CPA supervision for experience requirements, Illinois does not –– you can count any experience that meets the state's requirements. Equivalent part-time experience also meets this requirement.
If you've held your CPA certificate for more than four years, you'll need to complete 90 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) for licensure in addition to one year of work experience.
Discover the value of internships and practicumsIn every state, CPAs must pass the Uniform CPA Examination for licensure. The exam covers auditing, financial accounting, business analysis, and tax compliance. While every CPA takes this exam, the process of scheduling the exam depends on the state. Learn how it works in Illinois below, and check out our CPA exam guide for more.
You do not need to meet all the CPA licensure requirements to start taking the Uniform CPA exam. The following list covers several considerations for eligibility in the state:
U.S. Residency: Illinois does not have a residency requirement for CPA licensure. You also do not need a Social Security number for CPA eligibility.
Age Requirement: Illinois does not have an age requirement to become a CPA.Education Requirement: Before taking the CPA exam, you'll need a 120-credit bachelor's degree, including 24 credits in accounting if you hold a graduate degree in business or 24 credits in accounting and 12 credits in business if you hold a bachelor's degree in any major.
To schedule your first CPA exam, you'll need to submit official transcripts and a credentials evaluation application to the ILBOE. Then, the ILBOE will send you an email approving you to sit for the CPA exam. If you do not meet the educational requirement, the ILBOE will send you an email listing the deficiencies.
Before you can take the CPA exam, you need to submit a request through your ILBOE account and specify which part or parts of the CPA exam you plan to take. However, you will only have six months to complete the exams, and many test-takers require longer than six months for all four parts. You'll pay $40 per exam section, with a discount for multiple sections.
The ILBOE will send you an exam confirmation letter with a jurisdiction ID. You'll use that ID to create an account with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Then, NASBA will send you an enrollment verification email listing the exams you can take. You'll also receive a payment coupon listing your charges for taking the exams, and you'll have 90 days to pay the balance.
After payment, you'll receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Next, you'll visit the Prometric site and use your NTS to schedule your exams.
If you do not pass all your exams in one six-month window, you can submit a re-examination request for any sections you have not taken or need to re-take. You must pass all four sections within 18 months.
After you pass the four-part Uniform CPA Exam, there's still one more test to pass. You will need a 90% or higher on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ethics exam to become a CPA. However, you can take the exam at any point in your licensure journey. Your score does not expire.
Once your exam scores and the ethics exam score are posted to your ILBOE account, you will receive an official certification letter. Then, you can apply for your CPA license through IDFPR. You'll submit an online application with your CPA certificate number and additional information, plus evidence of your work experience. You'll pay a $120 fee for licensure.
Learn more about earning a CPA license across the U.S.Once you become a licensed CPA in Illinois, you'll need to renew your license every three years. However, you do not need to renew your CPA certificate.
The renewal requirements include 120 hours of CPE. You'll need to complete a minimum of four hours in ethics education and one hour in sexual harassment prevention training through an IDFPR-approved continuing education provider.
Illinois accepts various activities as professional education. You can receive CPE credit for the following:
When renewing, you must submit a CPE reporting form listing your hours. IDFPR randomly audits these reporting forms, which you must keep for six years. The first renewal cycle does not require CPE, but you'll still need to pay a licensing fee.
You'll need 150 credits, passing scores on the four-part CPA exam, and one year of accounting experience to become a CPA in Illinois. As a two-tier state, Illinois CPA requirements include a CPA certificate and a CPA license.
You need a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 120 semester hours to take the CPA exam in Illinois. However, to become a licensed CPA, you will need 150 semester hours.
Licensed CPAs can practice public accounting in Illinois, while registered CPAs have more restrictions. Illinois stopped registering CPAs in 2012, but Illinois accountants can still earn CPA certificates and CPA licensure.
No, the Illinois CPA certificate does not expire. However, if you have held your certificate for more than four years when you apply for a CPA license, you will need to complete 90 hours of continuing professional education.
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