In Illinois (and in 41 other states) you need 150 hours of credit to sit for the CPA exam. If you have a graduate degree you will be automatically eligible.

Five Documents to help you get your CPA:

• Illinois CPA Society: Computer-based CPA Exam Overview and FAQ sheetRead this document first. It gives basic information to inform candidates about the general format and administration of the computerized uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination for Illinois examination.

• Illinois Board of Examiners - Preparing for the CPA Exam.This is the official brochure for Illinois CPA test-takers. It tell you where to submit the application and credentials check and fee to be authorized to take different sections of the CPA exam. Other information on Authorization to Test (ATT), NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy), rules on scheduling, Notice to Schedule (NTS), Prometric Testing Centers

• NASBA-AICPA: Candidate BulletinThis document describes the exam itself.

• AICPA: Content SpecificationsThis document describes the actual topics that will be tested in the four papers CPA exam. It also gives the weight for each area.

• AICPA: Business Environment and ConceptsOne the four papers in the new CPA test is entirely new and this document gives a more elaborate description.

Other Links

• Illinois Board of Examiners; This is the site with all the forms and where you submit materials for credentials verification.

• Future CPA

• Illinois CPA Society

• Uniform CPA Examination site

CPA Review Courses

Becker Conviser-Duffy CPA Review Courses: http://www.beckerconviser.com

CPA NIU Review course: http://www.cob.niu.edu/cparev/

Gleim Accounting: http://www.gleim.com/accounting/cpa/

Kaplan Schweser CPA Review: http://www.kaplanCPAreview.com

Courses recommended for the CPA exam
Six courses are required in the undergraduate accounting program
Actg 315 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
Actg 316 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
Actg 326 Cost Accounting
Actg 435 Auditing
Actg 445 Federal Income Tax I
Actg 474 Accounting Information Systems

In the graduate program the equivalent courses are:
Actg 502 Intermediate Accounting I
Actg 503 Intermediate Accounting II
Actg 506 Management Accounting
Actg 435 Auditing
Actg 508 Federal Income Tax
Actg 474 Accounting Information Systems

In addition to the required courses, the following courses are recommended to students who intend to sit for the CPA exam:
Actg 355 (undergraduate) or 509 (graduate) - Business Law
Actg 417 Advanced Financial Accounting
Actg 446 Federal Income Tax II
Actg 456 Business Law II
Actg 465 Government and Non-profit Accounting
Actg 594 Case Studies in Accounting

CPA Sites

CPA Exam Review Materials, Study Guides and Audio Materials