Illinois CPA requirements
This page serves as a resource for your state's CPA licensure requirements and is current as of December 2019. Always consult with your state or jurisdiction's board of accountancy for the most current information.
Degree requirements
bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
Minimum education requirements
150 semester hours including:
- 30 hours in accounting with a course in each of auditing, financial accounting, managerial and tax
Minimum experience requirements
At least one year of full-time experience, or its equivalent, providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills that may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia or public practice.
12 months with an average of at least 20 work days per month during which the applicant was engaged in full-time employment equal to 1,500 hours or more annually.
Applicants may only receive experience after completing 120 hours of undergraduate education and having obtained a baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration or equivalent.
If an individual works part-time for more than one year, but less than four years, and gains 2,000 hours of experience, the individual has met the equivalent of one year of full-time experience.
Ethics exam
AICPA Ethics Exam self-study course titled Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course must be completed with a minimum score of 90% in order to certify individuals who have passed the four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam.
Renewals
October 1 - September 30; every three years
CPE
Must complete 120 hours per three-year period with at least 4 hours on professional ethics.
Courses, programs or activities shall include as their subject matter one or more of the following fields of study: accounting, accounting (governmental), administrative practice, auditing, auditing (governmental), behavioral ethics, business law, business management and organization (including practice development), communications, computer science, economics, finance, management advisory services, marketing, mathematics, personal development (e.g., principle-centered leadership, career planning, time management), personnel/HR, production, regulatory ethics, social environment of business, specialized knowledge and applications, statistics and taxes
Registered CPAs are exempt from CPE requirements.
Licensed CPAs are exempt from the continuing professional education requirement for the first renewal period following the original issuance of the license.
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