The process to become a CPA in Lombard begins with filling out an application for licensure with the Illinois Board of Accountancy. Upon receiving your application, the Board will review it to ensure you have met the necessary academic requirements to sit for the Uniform CPA exam. If you have not yet fulfilled all the education requirements, you will be provided with a list of the remaining courses and credits needed to qualify to take the exam. Then, you will be able to provide the required transcripts, and the Board will approve you to apply for the CPA exam.

In addition to meeting scholarly requirements, candidates for licensure as a CPA in Illinois must pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics exam. The AICPA is a non-profit organization that sets standards and ethics for the accounting profession. You will be a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant) once you complete all the educational and work experience requirements, including passing all four sections of the uniform CPA exam.

You must earn at least 150 semester credit hours to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a CPA. This is significantly higher than the 120 credit hour requirement for most undergraduate programs. This additional coursework can be completed as part of a graduate program or through the completion of a bachelor’s degree in business. Many universities offer combined undergraduate and graduate programs that allow students to earn both a degree and the additional credit hours for licensure as a CPA.

Upon fulfilling the education requirements for licensure as a CPA, you must complete at least 18 months of full-time or equivalent part-time accounting experience. This work experience must be gained under the supervision of a licensed CPA.

Once you’ve met the education and work experience requirements for licensure as a CPA, the next step is to submit an examination request to the Illinois Board of Accountancy. You can make your initial submission through the ILBOE website. You will need to select your testing section preferences, as well as request ADA accommodations. After you submit your request, the ILBOE will send your jurisdiction ID to NASBA.

You will then create an account with NASBA, which is the organization that administers the uniform CPA exam. This account will be used to register for the test and access your score reports after the exam is administered. Once you have registered for the exam, you will need to schedule a test date and a location with Prometric.

When you are ready to sit for the exam, you can do so through the ILBOE’s website. You will need to pay the fees and complete a non-disclosure agreement. Once you have completed the exam, you will receive your score report and be eligible to practice as a CPA in Illinois. It is important to keep your registration and license active with the IDFPR to avoid having your credentials revoked. Failure to maintain your license can lead to a class B misdemeanor.