Registration and Licensing
Why You Need to Register
All CPAs who are not licensed but hold themselves out to the public in Illinois in any way as a CPA MUST REGISTER with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). This would include anyone who uses the CPA designation on resumes, business cards or letterhead, or in any other manner. Read more.
Why You Need a License
Although passing the CPA exam allows the use of "CPA" following your name, it does not grant the right to provide the attest function - i.e. audits and reviews - or to hold yourself out to the public as being able to provide audits or reviews. In order to do so, you must obtain a license from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. A separate firm license is required for all firms, including sole practitioners who practice under a name other than "John Jones, CPA." An individual license is all that is required for a sole practitioner, unless the firm name suggests the firm consists of more than one person (such as "and associates" or "and company"). Read more.