CPA exam and license requirements in Illinois
Illinois requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Last reviewed 2026-08-10.
- Credit hours to sit
- 120
- Credit hours to license
- 150
- Exam fee per section
- $262.64
- Exam credit window
- 30 months
- State ethics requirement
- See below
How many credit hours do you need to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois?
Illinois requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Illinois sit under the rules of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Illinois?
Illinois requires 150 semester credit hours for CPA licensure. That is 30 more than the 120 needed to sit, so candidates can begin testing before completing the licensure requirement.
How much does the CPA exam cost in Illinois?
The CPA exam in Illinois costs $262.64 per section, a $120 application fee, a $200 education evaluation fee. Four sections at $262.64 is $1,050.56 in section fees alone. These are Illinois board and NASBA fees and exclude review course costs and any re-take fees.
How long do you have to pass all four CPA exam sections in Illinois?
Illinois gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Illinois require a CPA ethics exam?
Illinois: Pass the AICPA Professional Ethics: The AICPA's Comprehensive Course (For Licensure) with a minimum score of 90%.
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Illinois?
Illinois requires one year (about 1,500 to 2,000 hours) of experience in accounting, attest, tax, advisory, or consulting services in public practice, industry, government, or academia, verified by a supervisor.
Who regulates CPAs in Illinois?
CPAs in Illinois are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Its published requirements are at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/pa.html.
Recent changes and notes for Illinois
- Two-agency system: the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE) evaluates education and approves exam candidates; IDFPR issues the license.
- Public Act 104-0228 (HB2459, 2025) adds two pathways effective Jan 1, 2027: bachelor's in accounting + 2 years experience, or master's (or bachelor's + 30 accounting hrs) + 1 year.
- No Illinois residency or citizenship requirement; SSN required for the IDFPR license but not the ILBOE exam application.
- ILBOE exam application fee is tiered by sections requested ($40 for 1 up to $120 for all 4); domestic education-credentials evaluation is $200.
Studying for the CPA exam
PocketCPA covers all six CPA exam sections with 5,443 questions, each cited to the specific standard or statute it tests, and 1,012 lesson pages written from primary source text. A full-length FAR mock exam is free and needs no account.
Source: https://www.ilboe.org/certification/certification-process. Requirements change; confirm with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) before applying.