Transfer Your CPA / Accounting License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my CPA license transfer to Illinois?
A CPA license transfers to Illinois by reciprocity: because Illinois treats every US CPA as substantially equivalent, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation grants its license on the strength of your existing one rather than re-qualifying you. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; the applicant has the original jurisdiction send certification of licensure/exam status directly to IDFPR (national lookup at CPAverify.org). Illinois does not require a separate state ethics exam for endorsement applicants. Fee: $120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable).
Moving to Illinois from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Full reciprocity — honors all states
Because Illinois recognizes substantial equivalency, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation looks at your standing, not your origin: a CPA in good standing from any state qualifies for a reciprocal license, and the Uniform CPA Exam does not come back. Read the requirements below as the destination's own layer — a background check, a state ethics or rules-of-conduct exam where one applies, and proof your CPE is current — rather than a re-credentialing.
Settle the mobility question before you file. If Illinois is not becoming your principal place of business — you are serving Illinois clients from elsewhere, or the work is temporary — practice privilege usually lets you work there with no Illinois license at all. Apply for the reciprocal license when Illinois is where you will actually be based.
Illinois grants a license by endorsement to any CPA originally licensed in a substantially-equivalent state, or (catch-up) to one with 4 years of public-accounting experience in the last 10, so there is no fixed partner list. The $120 application fee is the same for all methods. Endorsement applicants are NOT subject to the 90-hour CPE / 4-hour ethics reporting requirement that applies only to 'acceptance of examination' applicants whose certificate is more than 4 years old. Illinois requires no separate state ethics exam and no fingerprint background check (only self-disclosed personal history). Two Illinois bodies are involved: the Illinois Board of Examiners issues the CPA certificate (exam/education), while IDFPR issues the license needed to practice and use the title; endorsement applicants satisfy Illinois's 150-hour education standard through their existing license. New licensure pathways (including a bachelor's degree in accounting plus two years of experience) begin in 2027; the Illinois Board of Examiners' implementing rules were still proposed as of Oct 28, 2026.
Illinois requirements at a glance
| Education (semester hours) | 150 semester hours of education for initial licensure |
|---|---|
| Fees | $120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable) |
| Processing time | IDFPR publishes no processing time; an application stays active for three years from receipt |
Step by step
- Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current CPA license in another state/jurisdiction at the time of application.
- Have been originally licensed in a substantially-equivalent state, OR have at least 4 years of public-accounting experience (after passing the CPA exam) within the 10 years preceding application.
- Have the original and current/most-recent jurisdictions send certification of licensure status directly to IDFPR.
- Document at least one year of qualifying full-time experience.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Illinois:
Nearby states
CPA / Accounting license transfer into the states bordering Illinois:
Illinois for other professions
- Nursing in Illinois
- Cosmetology / Barber in Illinois
- Real Estate in Illinois
- Contractor in Illinois
- Teaching in Illinois
- Electrician in Illinois
- Plumber in Illinois
- Engineering in Illinois
- Pharmacy in Illinois
- Physical Therapy in Illinois
- Psychology in Illinois
- Counseling in Illinois
- Social Work in Illinois
- Occupational Therapy in Illinois
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the CPA Exam to get licensed in Illinois?
No. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; the applicant has the original jurisdiction send certification of licensure/exam status directly to IDFPR (national lookup at CPAverify.org).
Do I even need an Illinois CPA license, or does mobility cover me?
If Illinois is not your principal place of business, practice privilege (mobility) usually lets you serve Illinois clients with no Illinois license, notice, or fee. You apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation for a reciprocal license when Illinois becomes where you are principally based.
How does Illinois's education requirement affect a reciprocal CPA license?
Illinois's initial-licensure baseline is 150 semester hours. Reciprocal applicants normally satisfy education through the license they already hold rather than a fresh transcript review; if you were licensed before your state raised its education requirement, confirm your route with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- IDFPR — (065) Licensed CPA Application Checklist / User Guide (Endorsement method; substantial equivalency OR 4 years in 10; $120 fee all methods; no ethics exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- IDFPR — License qualifications for Certified Public Accountant (065), revised 09/2025 (endorsement path; exam certification sent directly to IDFPR) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Illinois Board of Examiners — 2027 CPA Requirements (new licensure pathways from 2027, incl. bachelor's in accounting plus two years of experience; implementing rules proposed, page updated Oct 28, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com