CPA Exam Requirements

Illinois Board of Examiners

Frequently Asked Questions: Apply to the CPA Exam

CPA Exam: Content Specification Outlines

CPA Exam Sample Test

Illinois Educational Requirements

To be admitted to take the examination for the first time, a candidate for the Illinois CPA examination must have successfully completed at least 150 semester hours of acceptable credit including a baccalaureate or higher degree. Candidates may qualify under one of the four conditions below. For official details, see the Illinois Educational Requirements.

1. Earned a graduate degree with a concentration in accounting. This does not include an MBA degree with a concentration in accounting. The concentration degree must be a Master of Science in Accountancy or a Master of Accountancy. Select Graduate Programs on the left side for more information.
2. Earned a graduate degree and completed at least 24 semester hours in accounting at the undergraduate level or 15 semester hours at the graduate level or equivalent combination thereof, including courses covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting.
3. Earned a baccalaureate degree in business and completed 24 semester hours in accounting at the undergraduate or graduate level, including courses covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting; and completed at least 24 semester hours of business courses, or substantially equivalent (other than accounting) courses, at the undergraduate or graduate level.
4. Earned a baccalaureate or higher degree, including at least 24 semester hours of accounting at the undergraduate and/or graduate level with at least one course each in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting and at least 24 semester hours in business courses or substantially equivalent (other than accounting) courses at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Transcript Evaluation Notes

• DePaul University does not provide evaluation services for students applying to take the CPA exam. Candidates should request an evaluation of their academic credentials prior to submitting the application to take the CPA exam. The candidate will receive an evaluation letter stating eligibility to test or what deficiencies should be completed. The academic credentials evaluation fee is kept for three years without requiring another fee. Visit the Illinois Board of Examiners website for the appropriate form.
• Graduate students that have not yet completed a graduate degree will be considered bachelor's degree candidates, and graduate courses will count for undergraduate hours until the graduate degree has been completed.
• Transcripts from every school attended must be sent to the Illinois Board of Examiners. Transfer courses posted to a transcript are not counted.
• The DePaul CPA Review program may earn candidates up to 8 semester credit hours toward the 150 semester hour requirement.

Credit Conversions

• Semester hours → Quarter hours: Multiply the semester hours by 1.5.
• Quarter hours → Semester hours: Multiply the quarter hours by 2/3.
• Graduate Semester hours → Undergraduate Semester hours: Multiply by 24/15.
• Graduate Quarter hours → Undergraduate Quarter hours: Multiply by 36/22.5.

Undergraduate Courses

CPA Course Flowchart - Undergraduate Courses

• The following accounting courses may be taken to fulfill at least 24 semester hours in accounting coursework.
• Each DePaul course is equivalent to 2.67 semester (4.0 quarter) credit hours.
• DePaul University does not provide evaluation services for students applying to take the CPA exam. The undergraduate transfer course site may be used as an informal guide to course equivalencies; however, the Illinois Board of Examiners maintains the final evaluation results of all candidates.

Financial Accounting

• ACC 101 Introduction to Accounting I
• ACC 102 Introduction to Accounting II
• ACC 304 Financial Reporting I
• ACC 305 Financial Reporting II 
• ACC 306 Financial Reporting III
• ACC 308 Advanced Financial Accounting 

Managerial Accounting

• ACC 303 Managerial Accounting

Auditing

• ACC 372 Audit and Other Assurance Services I
• ACC 374 Audit and Other Assurance Services II

Taxation

• ACC 380 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions
• ACC 383 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships

Additional Courses

Additional coursework needed to reach 225 quarter hours may be taken from any subject area. The DePaul CPA Review also provides candidates the opportunity to earn from 2 to 12 additional quarter hours toward CPA exam qualification.

Test Credits from DePaul

The official DePaul transcript does not indicate test credits awarded. In order to have this sent to the Board of Examiners, complete the following form after you have sent your application or academic credentials evaluation: Unofficial Transcript Release Form.

Graduate Students

CPA Course Flowchart - Graduate Courses

• The following accounting courses may be taken to fulfill at least 15 semester credit hours in graduate accounting coursework.
• Each DePaul course is equivalent to 2.67 semester (4.0 quarter) credit hours.
• DePaul University does not provide evaluation services for students applying to take the CPA exam.
• Graduate students that have not yet completed a graduate degree will be considered bachelor's degree candidates, and graduate courses will count for undergraduate hours until the graduate degree has been completed. Graduate students that have not yet completed a graduate degree will be considered bachelor's degree candidates, and graduate courses will count for undergraduate hours until the graduate degree has been completed.
• Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) or Master of Accountancy (MAcc) programs are considered candidates with a graduate degree in accounting and immediately qualify for the CPA exam.

Financial Accounting

• ACC 500 Financial Accounting
• ACC 541 Financial Accounting Theory & Practice I
• ACC 543 Financial Accounting Theory & Practice II
• ACC 545 Advanced Topics in Accounting Theory

Managerial Accounting

• ACC 542 Cost and Managerial Accounting I (or ACC 555)

Auditing

• ACC 547 Audit and Regulation of Corporate Financial Reporting
• ACC 550/620 Advanced Topics in Auditing

Taxation

• ACC 548 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions
• ACC 551 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships

Contact Information

School of Accountancy and Management Information Systems
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2287
Phone: 312/362-8770
Fax: 312/362-6208
E-mail: accountancy@depaul.edu