First of all, congratulations on researching what it takes to get your CPA license! The requirements to become a CPA in Illinois can be a bit confusing, so I decided to put together this guide to help you navigate the entire process.
If you’re just now starting to research getting your CPA license in IL then I suggest starting from the top. Otherwise, feel free to skip ahead to any section you’d like to learn a little more about.
Contents
- 1 7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Illinois
- 2 Additional Resources and Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Illinois
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois:
- Minimum age requirement?: No
- US citizenship required?: No
- Illinois residency required?: No
- Minimum level of education required: See next section
- Valid Social Security Number (SSN)* required?: No
*An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may also be provided
Fulfill the IL CPA Education Requirements
In Illinois you generally need at least 150 semester hours to sit for the CPA exam and obtain your CPA license, however, you may obtain approval to sit for the exam during or just before your last term, meaning you can sit for the exam while you’re still in college!
There are a few different routes you may take to meet the 150 hour requirement. Let’s have a look:
Option 1 – Obtain a graduate degree in accounting
- Degree must be obtained from a university accredited with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) AND either the AACSB or ABBSP
- Must have at least 150 total semester hours (or equivalent number of quarter hours)
- No specific accounting or business course requirements
Option 2 – Obtain a graduate degree in business
- Degree must be obtained from a university accredited with CHEA & either the AACSB or ABBSP
- Must have at least 150 total semester hours (or equivalent number of quarter hours)
- Need to have at least 30 semester hours in accounting subjects, including:
- Managerial Accounting, Taxation, Financial Accounting and Audit
- No specific business course requirements
Option 3 – Obtain at least a bachelor’s degree in any concentration
- Degree must be obtained from a CHEA-accredited university
- Must have at least 150 total semester hours (or equivalent number of quarter hours)
- Need to have at least 30 semester hours in accounting subjects, including:
- Managerial Accounting, Taxation, Financial Accounting and Audit
- Must have 24 semester hours in business subjects, including:
- Two (2) semester credit hours (SCH) of Business Communication (BC) and three (3) SCH of Business Ethics (BE)
Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
Be sure to check out this post where I break down the entire CPA Exam application process for you, step-by-step.
The cost to apply and register for all four parts of the CPA Exam in Illinois are as follows:
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*The application fee is tiered based on the number of sections you register for, so this is what it would cost to sign up for all four sections. The application fee is $30 for one section, $76 for two sections, and $108 for three sections.
Also, since Illinois’ Notice to Schedule (NTS) window is only 6 months, you should only register and pay for the exam section(s) you intend to take within that time. If you need to schedule or re-take any sections beyond your initial NTS window, you’ll need to pay the corresponding application fee plus the associated exam section fees above.
Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
Studying for the CPA Exam is definitely the most challenging and time consuming part of the whole process, so you might as well get a jump start on studying as soon as your fees are submitted.
Not sure which exam section to take first? Check out my post where I break down the pros and cons of each route you can go so you can make the best possible decision: Which section of the CPA Exam should I take first?
By far the most important factor to success on the CPA Exam is sticking to a consistent study schedule and not letting too much time lapse between study sessions.
The CPA Exam is not a test you can just cram for so you’ll want to make sure you space out the material into manageable chunks in a way that fits your schedule.
As long as you schedule things out properly, you won’t have to sacrifice your entire social life for the CPA Exam like some folks say!
You’ll also need to purchase a CPA review course that’s best suited for your study style and budget. I’ve personally tested and examined all of the top review courses out there so you can find the best one for you.
If you still can’t decide which course is best, send me an email and I’ll personally help you!
Pass the AICPA’s Ethics Exam
The AICPA Ethics Exam is a self-study course that may be completed any time before, during, or after you sit for the CPA exam and won’t expire. The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be answered with a score of 90% or higher. To prepare for it, you’ll receive a 100-page textbook from the AICPA upon registration.
You can take the exam online or via a paper form that you’ll submit through the mail. You’ll have three attempts to pass the exam if you take the online version. After that, you’ll need to complete the exam via the paper / snail-mail route.
The exam and related materials can cost anywhere from $149 – $209, depending on whether you register as an AICPA member ($40 savings) or choose the online course text vs. the paper-based text ($20 savings).
IL CPA Work Experience Requirements
On top of the education and ethics exam requirements, the Illinois Board of Examiners requires that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. The requirements are fairly straightforward, as follows:
- You must have at least one (1) year, or its equivalent, of accounting experience endorsed by a licensed CPA.
Experience must consist of providing “any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills, which may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice.”
Obtain Your CPA License!
Whew! After you passing all four sections of the CPA exam, meeting the education and work experience requirements, and passing the ethics exam, you’ll finally be ready to apply for your CPA license!
Illinois’ CPA licensing process is fairly straightforward but there are a few steps involved. While you’ll receive a CPA certificate after passing all four sections of the CPA Exam and the AICPA ethics exam, the certificate doesn’t mean your a CPA yet! To get your CPA license in Illinois, you’ll need to complete and/or submit the following:
- Online CPA license application
- CPA certificate number and date of issuance
- Documentation of work experience (completed by your employer)
- $120 non-refundable application fee
You may also need to provide the following additional information if you fall into one of a few rare cases:
- Record of licensure (list all other professional licenses held, if any)
- Continuing professional education reporting (if your CPA certificate is > 4 years old)
- Personal History Information (refer to the IDFPR licensing checklist for the latest on what’s required)
Assuming you’ve completed all of the requirements noted above, then you should be well on your way to getting your CPA license! While I’ve tried to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, be sure to check out the resources I’ve included above and below to help you navigate the latest on what’s required during the application and licensing process.
Additional Resources and Information
Latest info on the CPA Exam education requirements
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Illinois’ CPA Application Checklist
CPA License Application Portal
Contact Information
1120 E. Diehl Rd., Suite 107
Naperville, IL 60563
Email: help@ilboe.org
Phone: (815) 753-8900
Fax: (815) 753-8953
Additional Organizations
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To learn more about some of the things you’ll need to prepare for the CPA Exam, be sure to check out my detailed reviews of each of the top courses on the market:
