CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Illinois
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL
How to Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Illinois
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois, candidates must first be certified by the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE) and then licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). This involves completing 150 semester hours of education, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and gaining one year (2000 hours) of relevant work experience. Additionally, candidates must pass the AICPA Professional Ethics Exam. Illinois offers reciprocity for CPAs licensed in other states with substantially equivalent requirements.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Requirements in Illinois
| Detail | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | 150 semester hours, including a bachelor's degree or higher with specific accounting and business coursework. (Note: Starting January 1, 2027, alternative pathways with 120 semester hours and more experience will be available). |
| Experience Required | 2,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,073) |
| Application Fee | $120 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 120.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age: 18 years. Requires passing the AICPA Professional Ethics Exam. 4 hours of CPE must be in professional ethics and 1 hour in sexual harassment prevention training per renewal cycle. Experience is not required to be supervised by a licensed CPA. Illinois is a two-tier state, meaning you first get certified by the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE) and then licensed by the IDFPR to practice public accounting. |
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Salary in Illinois
The median cpa salary in Illinois is $79,300 per year, which is 2.9% below the national median of $81,680.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $51,690 |
| 25th | $64,360 |
| 50th (median) | $79,300 |
| 75th | $100,540 |
| 90th (experienced) | $132,080 |
Illinois employs approximately 54,690 cpas.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Job Outlook
AI Impact on CPAs
High AI Exposure (Score: 1.48/1.00)
Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.
Is Becoming a CPA in Illinois Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $1,220 and a median salary of $79,300 in Illinois, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: Illinois's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, elevated AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.