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LicenseReciprocity

CPA / Accounting License from Michigan to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation ↗

Yes — Illinois recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Michigan. Apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.

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Verdict

Full reciprocity

Illinois recognizes substantial equivalency, so your Michigan CPA license clears the bar on its own — the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation cares that you are a CPA in good standing, not that your license came from Michigan. What remains is Illinois-side: verification through CPAverify.org, the reciprocal application and fee, a background check, and any Illinois ethics or rules-of-conduct exam. Do the mobility math first, though — if Illinois is not becoming your principal place of business, practice privilege may let you work there without this application at all.

What changes, Michigan → Illinois

Side-by-side: Michigan vs Illinois (CPA / Accounting), verified 2026-07-21
Michigan (current)Illinois (destination)
Training hours150150
Application feeMichigan charges an application processing fee plus a 2-year license fee (State License Fee Act, 1979 PA 152), collected on the CPA reciprocity application; the exact amounts are published on the LARA application forms but could not be confirmed on an accessible official page at time of research (LARA blocked automated retrieval, HTTP 403)$120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable)
Processing timeLARA does not publish a processing time for the CPA reciprocity applicationIDFPR publishes no processing time; an application stays active for three years from receipt.
Licensing authorityMichigan Board of Accountancy (Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing)Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold a current CPA license in another state/jurisdiction at the time of application.
  5. 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.
  6. Have the original and current/most-recent jurisdictions send certification of licensure status directly to IDFPR.
  7. Document at least one year of qualifying full-time experience.
  8. Pay the fees ($120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable)) and allow IDFPR publishes no processing time; an application stays active for three years from receipt..

Official links

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation ↗Illinois application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Illinois → MichiganCPA / Accounting in MichiganCPA / Accounting in IllinoisAll cpa / accounting states

Frequently asked questions

Does Illinois accept a Michigan CPA license?

Yes — Illinois recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Michigan. Apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.

Do I retake the CPA Exam moving from Michigan to Illinois?

No — the Uniform CPA Exam transfers with your license. 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..

Do I need a Illinois license, or does mobility cover the move?

If Illinois becomes your principal place of business, you apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation for a reciprocal license. If you are only serving Illinois clients from Michigan, practice privilege usually covers you with no Illinois license, notice, or fee.

What does the Michigan-to-Illinois move cost?

$120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable) ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable).

Can I keep my Michigan CPA license after licensing in Illinois?

Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Michigan license active (its renewal and CPE run separately) and mobility covers the states where you hold none.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]