State Requirements

Illinois

State & Territory Requirements

Last Updated 5/31/2016

Requirements

Age Requirement 18
Citizenship Requirement No
Residency Requirement No
Social Security # Requirement No*
Education Requirement for Licensure 150 hours (including Bachelor's or graduate degree)
Participates in International Examination Program Yes
Hours in Accounting: Varies based on degree earned: Option A: Graduate degree in accounting • Accounting program must be accredited by AACSB (beginning July 1, 2013) • No requirements for semester credit hours in Research & Analysis in Accounting (RAA), Business Communications (BC), or Business Ethics (BE) Option B: Graduate degree in business • Business program must be accredited by AACSB or ACBSP (beginning July 1, 2013) • Minimum of 24 semester credit hours in accounting (through June 30, 2012) OR minimum of 30 semester credit hours in accounting (after July 1, 2013) • At least one course in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting • 2 semester credit hours in integrated or stand-alone Research & Analysis in Accounting (RAA) (maximum towards the 30 accounting semester credit hours) (beginning July 1, 2013) • No requirements for semester credit hours in Business Communications (BC) or Business Ethics (BE) Option C: Bachelor’s or graduate degree (including Bachelor's degree in business) • Minimum of 24 semester credit hours in accounting (through June 30, 2012) OR minimum of 30 semester credit hours in accounting (after July 1, 2013) • Program must be accredited (see options in §1400.90(g)(8)) • At least one course in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting • Minimum of 24 semester credit hours in business other than accounting • 2 semester credit ours integrated or stand-alone Research & Analysis in Accounting (RAA)(maximum towards the 30 accounting semester credit hours) (beginning July 1, 2013) • 2 semester credit hours in integrated or stand-alone Business Communications (BC) and 3 semester credit hours in integrated or stand-alone Business Ethics (BE),(maximum towards the 24 business semester credit hours) (beginning July 1, 2013) Note: Maximum of 6 semester credit hours of Internships or Life Experience count toward the 24 semester credit hours accounting requirement (through June 30, 2013). Maximum of 3 semester credit hours count toward 30 semester credit hours accounting requirement AND maximum of 3 semester credit hours count toward 24 semester credit hours business requirement (after July 1, 2013). Note: Provisional approval of in-progress courses – 120 days to submit evidence of completion of all requirements.
Exam sitting requirements: 150 hours (must complete education requirement prior to sitting for exam)
Experience Requirements: 1 year general experience in government, industry academia or public practice.
Ethics Exam: Must pass AICPA Professional Ethics Exam for initial licensure
State Society

Illinois CPA Society


Member Outreach Coordinator

312-517-7652

550 W. Jackson

Suite 900

Chicago, IL

60661


Email: student@icpas.org

State Board

Illinois Board of Examiners


815-753-8900

1120 E Diehl Rd.

Suite 107

Naperville, IL

60563


Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation

Notes


* Please see ILBOE for further details. 

As of July 1, 2012, Illinois became a 1-tier state.

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