Illinois changes its CPA rules on January 1, 2027. Until December 31, 2026, you need 150 semester hours and 1 year of experience to get licensed. To sit for the exam, you need 120 hours, including a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration.
From 2027, a bachelor's in accounting plus 2 years of experience will qualify you. Master's and business-coursework routes need 1 year. The board says its rules aren't final. You'll also need to pass the ethics exam. If you're finishing a bachelor's, check the Illinois Board of Examiners for the final 2027 rules before you pick your courses.
How to Get a CPA License in Illinois
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Illinois.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | 150 semester hours | 1 year | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree in accounting (120 hours) | 2 years | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Master's degree in any field plus 24 semester hours of intermediate or higher accounting | 1 year | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Bachelor's plus coursework and 1 year | Bachelor's degree in any field plus 24 accounting hours and 24 business hours, including 2 in business communication and 3 in business ethics | 1 year | Starts January 1, 2027 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Illinois
You need at least 120 semester hours, including a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration.
Coursework: Draft 2027 rules call for 24 semester hours of intermediate or higher accounting on the master's and bachelor's-plus-coursework routes.
Ethics Exam
The board says the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ethics exam is still required.
What Changed Recently
Public Act 104-0228 (HB 2459) opens new pathways on January 1, 2027. The board's rules were not final as of September 22, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Illinois
Accountants and auditors in Illinois earned a median of $80,230 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $66,290 and $102,270. About 54,930 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Illinois
10 programs on our main rankings are based in Illinois. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Northern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy: #8 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: #17 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Illinois State University, Accounting - Business Analytics: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Illinois Chicago, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Western Illinois University, Bachelor of Business in Accountancy: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Master of Science in Accountancy: #18 of 50 master's accounting programs
- Northern Illinois University, Accountancy: #20 of 50 master's accounting programs
- DePaul University, Master of Science in Accountancy: #23 of 50 master's accounting programs
See every program we rank in the state on our Illinois accounting programs page.
CPA Requirements in Nearby States
Thinking about working across a state line, or studying in one state and licensing in another? Each state sets its own rules, so here's where the states near Illinois stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Indiana CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Iowa CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Kentucky CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 15, 2026
- Missouri CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since August 28, 2026
- Wisconsin CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect
Check With the Illinois Board of Examiners and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
The board sets the rules and decides your application. We checked these requirements against official sources on October 12, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the details on the board's site before you apply.