FAQs - Academic Credentials Evaluation

There are clearly two distinct meanings to the word “accredited” as it relates to the evaluation of your credentials with the Illinois Board of Examiners.   The primary meaning of accredited means that a college or university is accredited by a regional accrediting body and for credit to be recognized by the Board of Examiners, a college or university must be regionally accredited.

The second meaning of accredited refers to accreditation by either the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).  If your graduate program is accredited by either of these two accrediting bodies, additional credit will be counted for each semester hour of accounting coursework.

Comparison of Current and Proposed Educational Requirements to Sit For the CPA Examination in the State of Illinois

(Changes Highlighted in  Bold)

All semester credit hours (SCH) stated below are at the undergraduate level.

One graduate SCH is equivalent to 1.6 undergraduate SCH.

Any credits earned in excess of maximums stated count towards the 150 hour requirement.

We need a complete and accurate Academic Credentials Evaluation Request form (which can be completed in our online system) that shows the chronology of all colleges and universities attended. Applicants from countries that do not claim English as their official language should provide original transcripts (or mark sheets from India and Pakistan) and certification of degrees and diplomas from institutions attended, accompanied by official English translations. We need a transcript from ALL institutions attended.  If complete information is not provided, a delay in processing will occur. Have the institution send your official transcript to the Illinois Board of Examiners, 100 Trade Centre Drive - Suite 403, Champaign, Illinois 61820.

All candidates presenting international course work must pay the $250 evaluation fee to have their foreign credentials evaluated for the CPA exam.  We will waive the $250 evaluation fee if we need to verify ten or fewer hours of international credit toward the 150-hour requirement.  However, international documents must still be presented for evaluation.  A combination of domestic and international credit requires payment of $250.00.

Evaluations take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to complete, once completed you will receive a letter in the mail with the results.  Results can not be given over the phone or email. If more information is required the evaluator will send you a letter requesting the information needed.

Yes, you must list on the application and submit the original transcript from the institution where the course was taken.

Economics, Business Law, Marketing, Finance, Business and Technical Communication, Business Ethics, International Business, Legal and Social Environment of Business, Management, Business/Management Information Systems, Quantitative Methods and Statistic courses taught by the accounting department.  All courses are subject to review by the Illinois Board of Examiners.

Yes, if they are from an accredited institution.

Yes, as long as it is posted on the domestic transcript as “study abroad”.

Yes, courses in progress must be indicated on the "Courses in Progress" form, submitted with the evaluation application and  must be completed in the current semester or quarter in which you are applying.

You may only be approved ONCE as a provisional candidate.  Once approved, no changes may be made to your courses in progress.  You may not add or delete exam sections while approved as a provisional applicant.  Final transcripts must be received by the board within 120 days of having sat for the first exam.  Scores will be voided for all exam sections taken if the transcripts are not received within 120 days of having sat for the first exam.