Illinois (IL) CPA Exam requirements say that you must be declared eligible for the CPA Exam and then licensed by the state. An individual becomes eligible for the CPA Exam by meeting specific requirements that are determined by the board of accountancy for their specific jurisdiction. Below are the various Illinois CPA Exam requirements:
Illinois CPA Exam Education Requirements
- Minimum Degree Required: Baccalaureate
- 150 Semester Hours Required to Sit for the CPA Exam? Yes
- Varies based on degree earned (for first time candidates after July 1, 2013): Graduate degree in accounting from an AACSB or ACBSP accredited program, or Graduate degree in business from a AACSB or ACBSP accredited business program with 30 semester hours in accounting including Managerial, Taxation, Financial, Audit and at least two semester credit hours of Research & Analysis or at least a Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or approved equivalent institution with 30 semester credit hours in accounting including Managerial, Taxation, Financial, Audit and at least two semester credit hours of Research & Analysis. At least 24 semester credit hours in business, including two semester credit hours of Business Communication and three semester credit hours of Business Ethics.
- Candidates in or about to start the last semester, in which, at its end, will meet the educational requirements will receive “provisional” approval to take the CPA Exam. Candidates will have 120 days from the time they take the first exam to submit final transcripts to clear their “provisional status.”
- Minimum of 150 semester credit hours required.
Illinois CPA Exam Age Requirements
Age Minimum: None
Illinois CPA Exam Residency Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship Required: No
- Must be a resident, employee OR have office in the state? No
Application Process
- Review the exam requirements
- Submit the exam application + enroll in Surgent CPA Review
- Request and forward transcripts. Contact all educational institutions attended and request that transcripts be forwarded to the Illinois Board of Examiners for their evaluation. If you do not expect any problems in processing your application, now is a great time to start studying with Surgent CPA Review. Please note that domestic documents should be sent to the Illinois Board of Examiners. Foreign documents should be sent to NASBA.
- Pay the exam fees. After receiving the required information and awarding approval, the State Board will issue your Authorization to Test (ATT) to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). You will receive a payment coupon for exam fees for all parts paid, which must be paid within ninety days. Once fees are paid, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) which is good for six months.
- Schedule your exam. Your NTS allows you to start scheduling your exams. You can sit for the exam parts in any sequence so you can plan your reviews to coincide with your exam scheduling. The most efficient approach is to sit for two parts in each exam window; however, exam fees paid for parts not taken are not refundable. Exam times are scheduled with Prometric and can be set up online at www.prometric.com/cpa. You can take the exam at a site in Champaign, Chicago, Decatur, Deerfield, Joliet, Lombard, Peoria, Sycamore or any other Prometric location that is convenient to you.
Key Exam Process Links for Illinois
Illinois CPA Application Process
Illinois CPA Exam Fees
Initial Application Fee: $120
Audit: $193.45
Financial: $193.45
Regulation: $173.60
Business: $173.60
Total: $854.10
Notes: Application fee varies based on number of parts. The initial application fee shown above reflects all four parts paid at one time. The number of exam sections you select on an ILBOE application must be the same number of exams you intend to take within a six-month time frame. You must pay NASBA at one time for all the selected sections and must take the exams within six months of your payment to NASBA.