[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I am just wondering if anyone has been certified in Illinois lately and can point me in the right direction for next steps. I’ve done a lot of research and even called the board and am now left more confused. I had my ethics score sent to the board and passed all four sections. Do I just wait for them? I called this morning and I was told my some lady (who was having trouble navigating their own website) that I needed to fill out the Transfer of Examination Section(s) Credit Form (Form 12). When I opened it up, it’s clearly seems like it’s only for people transferring credit for another state.

Anyone now what my next steps are? Thanks in advance, and good luck to those of you studying, I’m rooting for you!

[LongJourney]

First of all congratulations for passing!

Normally you don't need to do anything at this step, there are no extra forms for you to fill out if you took the exams as an Illinois candidate. It usually takes IBOE a month or less to issue a certificate number once you pass all of the requirements. If it gets late try to email the board at help@ilboa.org (I've noticed that you didn't have a good experience with the board but mine was extremely positive whenever I e-mailed them). You can check your certificate number through the same page you used to check out your score.

Once you get the certificate number, you can apply by filling out the application in this page https://www.idfpr.com/renewals/apply/PublicAccountant.asp

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much, LongJourney! That's insane that you knocked this whole thing out in less than a month.

I had a feeling that lady I talked to didn't really know what was going on. Follow up question: what is the difference between being “certified” and “licensed?” I know the BOE certifies and the Department of Financial and & Professional Regulation licenses. We're all trying to be “certified” public accountants, so why do we need licenses? Is that for people in the public accounting profession (audit & tax)? I'm going into advisory, so I'll never have one year of experience in auditing or taxation like I keep hearing you need.

Thanks,

one very confused candidate

[mmcgrad1]

Congrats on passing!

As of July 1, 2012. Illinois is a one tier state. They no longer offer new CPAs to be registered. The IDFPR now only licenses CPAs. In the state of Illinois, you must fulfill one year of experience to qualify for the license to practice as a licensed CPA.

There are additional requirements for licensed CPAs as compared to registered CPAs. Here's a link with the information.

https://ilboa.org/cpa-designation

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[LongJourney]

@akh89 your argument makes a lot of sense but you still need the license to present yourself as a CPA. As mmcgrad1 said you used to be able to use the CPA designation without the license but this no longer applies. I can't imagine the benefit of passing the exams if you can't use the CPA designation at all. Luckily for you, Illinois requires only one year of accounting related experience and it doesn't have to be in public accounting or taxation nor is it required to be verified by a CPA.

I believe that in other states the board is the licensing agency but Illinois seems to be an exception (don't know why).

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Anonymous]

uuuggghhh Illinois is the worst lol. After all this I might not even be able to call myself a CPA? So what am I supposed to tell people – “Yeah, I passed the CPA exam and jumped through all their hoops, but no. I'm not a CPA. Don't call me a CPA either, otherwise the regulators will snipe me on the spot.” Yeesh. I'll do some more research.

[Anonymous]

Just for future reference for anyone else trying to become licensed in IL, I found this on the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation website (under the Public Accounting Act):

Sec. 14. Qualifications. The Department may license as licensed certified public accountants the following:

(a) All persons who have received certificates as certified public accountants from the Board or who hereafter receive registrations as registered certified public accountants from the Department who have had at least one year of full-time experience, or its equivalent, providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills, which may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice.

So it looks like most work within the accounting/finance industry will qualify, even if it is not public accounting work.

[Mrs 300]

Hey guys! I'm so glad someone started this thread.

So now that I've passed all 4 parts (+Ethics), I sit back and wait? I followed your link, @LongJourney – thanks for sending that.

You said it takes about 1 month to get my certificate #. Does anyone know how long after that it takes to get the license processed? I have 8 years of experience in Tax (some Audit work) so the experience requirement won't be an issue.

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[LongJourney]

@Mrs 300 IDFPR would take 4-6 weeks to process your application after receiving it. They are more bureaucratic in nature that IBOE and aren't as responsive when it comes to inquiries but they will get the job done.

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Anonymous]

@ akh89 I am in the same boat. Here in MA you can actually call yourself CPA (without experience) as long as you complete 150 hrs of GRADUATE school (master). I am tired of studying (right now taking CIA). I am not sure if I want to kill myself with an MBA. So confuse. IL sounds good. I have enough internal audit, SOX, consulting experience. Here in MA the CPA credits expire if one has not complete the 150 hrs within 3 years… no cool …

[Anonymous]

Edit: Reading comprehension sucks. Nevermind

[mla1169]

Certified I want to clarify in MA that to waive the experience requirement you must have a graduate degree, not 150 hours of graduate classes. My degree requirement was 159 hours to get my masters so I was well beyond the 150 hours for my license to be granted. It's also not a “full” license, it's a non reporting license which means that must be disclosed if you were ever asked to sign off on financial statements. You may well qualify for a degree with 150 hours but you have to prove a graduate degree has been conferred.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link LongJourney… that website is a huge pain to navigate. So I have my certificate # from the Illinois Board of Examiners. So now all I need to do is fill out that application and send it in? Including ANOTHER check for the fee of course…

[Hudiniwannabecpa]

I recently passed all four sections and was a bit lost as to where to go from there, I saved ethics for last and emailed ILBOA, just thought Id post the email for an updated reference:

Good Afternoon,

Please forward a copy to this e-mail address.

And please see the certification process below:

Once the Ethics score is received, we will then pull your file and send a certification letter via e-mail that states your certification number and date.

This information is sent to the IDFPR (IL Licensing agency) on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Once you receive the letter from us via e-mail, determine whether your information was sent the 15th or 30th. Then, allow the IDFPR 2 weeks from that date it was sent to update their records. After that 2nd week, feel free to apply.

And 6 weeks from the date that we e-mail the letter, expect to see your hard copy certificate in your physical mail.

The license is handled by the IDFPR.

Take Care,

TMF

[Anonymous]

This is helpful. Does anyone know whether il board send license number via email or via mail?

[Author]

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