Apply For the Exam

  • CPA exam candidate and CPA licensing requirements differ from state to state, so candidates should apply to take the exam in the state in which they plan to practice and become licensed. Candidates who plan to be licensed in Illinois need to apply to ILBOE to take the exam. Candidates must create an online user ID at www.ilboe.org by clicking on the “Get Approved” dropdown tab in the website’s navigation menu, then clicking on the “Open an Account & FAQ” link.

     

  • States have different educational requirements to take the exam. Generally, if a candidate wishes to become licensed in another state, the candidate must have fulfilled that state’s educational requirements by the date they take the first section of the exam. Candidates who took or take the exam in other states prior to meeting the Illinois educational requirements will not be able to transfer their exam scores to Illinois. These candidates will be required to retake the exam unless they are able to transfer a CPA license from another state. Such candidates should contact that state’s board of accountancy or examiners.

Contact information is available at www.nasba.org/stateboards.

  • The Academic Credentials Evaluation Application determines a candidate’s academic eligibility and must be submitted prior to completing the exam application. Candidates will be required to submit their official transcripts from every institution attended, even if transfer courses appear on the transcripts of another institution.
  • Domestic candidates who understand the terms and eligibility requirements may submit their evaluation application and $200 fee via their ILBOE online account at any time.
  • Foreign candidates who understand the terms and eligibility requirements may submit their foreign evaluation application and appropriate fees to NASBA’s International Evaluation Services (NIES), and, if applicable, their domestic evaluation application and appropriate fees to ILBOE. Foreign candidates who have passed all four parts of the exam in another jurisdiction and who wish to be licensed in Illinois must apply for transcript evaluation through NASBA and pay the total transfer credit fee of $345 online to ILBOE.
  • Candidates may submit a pre-evaluation application and $50 fee if they want to verify which of their completed courses meet Illinois’ requirements for CPA candidates. However, this fee will not be credited toward the full evaluation application fee.

More information is available at www.ilboe.org.

After you have submitted your Academic Credentials Evaluation Application and received approval, candidates can: 

  • Submit an Initial Examination Application to identify the section(s) of the exam that you intend to take within six months of paying NASBA fees. Candidates with mental and/or physical impairments should indicate so on their application and submit the “Request for Special Accommodations” form.
  • ILBOE will email an approval letter, which includes your unique jurisdiction code or JUR Code (IL) and jurisdiction ID or JUR ID (six-digit number assigned by ILBOE).
  • NASBA will email instructions on how to create the Gateway account using the JUR Code and JUR ID. NASBA will email a notification that a payment coupon is ready for payment, and this lists the testing fees for each exam section that you specified on your application. You will receive one payment coupon for each test you apply for.
  • Pay the related fees to NASBA within 90 days of issuance of the payment coupon. NASBA will email you stating that the Notice to Schedule (NTS) is ready. You will receive one NTS for every exam section that you pay for; if you receive more than one NTS, all will require individual transactions.
  • Upon receiving an NTS, which is valid for six months for Illinois candidates, candidates may schedule the exam section listed on the NTS. If you fail to pay for your NTS within six months of receiving it, you will need to reapply for the exam and repay the Initial Examination Application fees.
  • We recommend printing your NTS for your records. It must be presented in hard copy or electronic form at the Prometric testing location for each exam section.

If a candidate does not intend to take all four sections within six months of paying NASBA fees, then they should only indicate on the application which exam section(s) they plan to take within the six-month period.