CPA in Illinois

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$79,300

trending_down -2.9% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Illinois.

engineering

54,690

Jobs (IL)

monitoring Strong

+4.6%

10-yr job growth

payments

$1,220

Est. total cost

schedule

Varies (CPA Exam must be passed within 30 months of the first passed section)

Time to complete

route How to become a cpa 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.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $51,690

25th percentile $64,360

50th (median) $79,300

75th percentile $100,540

90th (experienced) $132,080

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Illinois. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Illinois requirements

Licensing body	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
State license	Required
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	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)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+4.6%

Faster than average

Annual openings

124,200

Nationwide per year

Total employment

1,579,800

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.48/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

Rough payback period

0 months

~$1,220 investment ÷ $79,300 median salary

check_circleIllinois license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a cpa career is the right fit?

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Frequently asked questions

What's required to work as a cpa in Illinois? expand_more

In Illinois, becoming a cpa requires you to complete the required 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).), gain 2,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Uniform CPA Examination, and submit your application ($120 fee).

Is a cpa license required in Illinois? expand_more

A state license is required in Illinois. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) handles cpa licensing — the Uniform CPA Examination is part of the process.

What do cpas earn in Illinois? expand_more

cpas in Illinois earn a median of $79,300 annually. That's roughly in line with the $81,680 national median. The range spans from $51,690 at the entry level to $132,080 for top earners.

How much does it cost to become a cpa in Illinois? expand_more

Plan on spending $1,220 total — that covers exam fee ($1,073) and application fee ($120) plus your education and training.

How many months or years does cpa certification take in Illinois? expand_more

Expect to spend Varies (CPA Exam must be passed within 30 months of the first passed section) from start to finish in Illinois — covering coursework, supervised experience, and examination.

Does Illinois require continuing education for cpas? expand_more

Illinois requires 120.0 hours of continuing education every 3.0 years to maintain your cpa license.