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CPA / Accounting License from Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. 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, Rhode Island → Illinois

Side-by-side: Rhode Island vs Illinois (CPA / Accounting), verified 2026-07-21
Rhode Island (current)Illinois (destination)
Training hours150150
Application fee$375 (three-year CPA certificate/permit fee; RIGL 5-3.1-7 sets the permit fee at not less than $375 and the DBR fee schedule lists $375. No separate reciprocity-application surcharge is published)$120 ($120 Licensed CPA application fee (same for all methods, including endorsement); non-refundable)
Processing timeThe Board does not publish a processing time; however, upon filing a completed reciprocity application the applicant is deemed qualified to practice pending board reviewIDFPR publishes no processing time; an application stays active for three years from receipt.
Licensing authorityRhode Island Board of Accountancy (Department of Business Regulation)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 → Rhode IslandCPA / Accounting in Rhode IslandCPA / Accounting in IllinoisAll cpa / accounting states

Frequently asked questions

Does Illinois accept a Rhode Island CPA license?

Yes — Illinois recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island, practice privilege usually covers you with no Illinois license, notice, or fee.

What does the Rhode Island-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 Rhode Island CPA license after licensing in Illinois?

Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Rhode Island 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]