Illinois CPA Exam Requirements 2025

Oct 24

Pre-requisites to sit for the exam in Illinois:

Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a total of 120 semester credit hours of college education. In other words, you must have completed a degree at a college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA. Within those 120 hours, Illinois requires specific coursework in accounting and business stated next.

Accounting Coursework: At least 24 semester hours of accounting courses are required, including at least one course in taxation and one course in auditing. These accounting classes typically cover financial accounting, managerial or cost accounting, auditing, and taxation. Make sure your transcript includes an audit and a tax class, as Illinois will check for those as part of CPA exam eligibility in Illinois.

Business Coursework: At least 12 semester hours of business courses (in subjects other than accounting) are required if you don’t have an accredited graduate degree. Acceptable business courses include finance, business law, management, marketing, economics, business ethics, business communications, etc.

Illinois does not explicitly require separate business ethics or communications classes just to sit for the exam, but having some coverage of those topics is beneficial. (For full CPA licensure later, Illinois historically required 2 hours of business communication and 3 hours of business ethics within the 150-hour rule, but for the exam you only need 120 hours with 24 accounting and 12 business coursework hours.)

Alternative Degree Paths:

There are multiple pathways to fulfill the education requirements, so you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s in accounting as your first degree:

If you earned a Master’s in Accounting (MAcc) or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from a program accredited by AACSB or ACBSP, Illinois may evaluate your education under a graduate pathway. A graduate degree in accounting or business from an AACSB/ACBSP-accredited school with at least 24 accounting hours typically satisfies the Illinois CPA exam academic requirements. In fact, an AACSB-accredited accounting master’s degree automatically meets the exam eligibility and even counts toward the 150 hours for licensure, streamlining your path.

If your bachelor’s degree is in business (not accounting), you can still qualify by accumulating the required accounting and business coursework. Often this means taking additional accounting classes (either during undergrad or via a post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s program) to reach 24 accounting credits including audit and tax. Illinois previously required those with a non-accounting business degree to have around 30 accounting hours and 24 business hours (including specific courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, auditing, business communication, and ethics) for full.

However, for the exam itself in 2025, the focus is on the 24 accounting and 12 general business hours minimum. It’s a good idea to include courses in financial and managerial accounting as well as business law, communications, or ethics in your studies, since these are valuable for the exam and required for eventual.

If you have a degree outside of business or accounting, you can still become eligible. Illinois will classify you under “Option 4” evaluation, which means any bachelor’s degree (in any concentration) can qualify provided you have the 120 total hours with the required 24 accounting and 12 business. Many candidates who majored in something else choose to complete additional courses or a master’s program to meet the accounting/business coursework.

For example, someone with a bachelor’s in economics might take extra accounting courses or get an M.S. in Accounting to satisfy the accounting hour requirement.

Important: You are not required to complete 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois. Illinois allows candidates to take the exam once the 120-hour bachelor’s degree with the specified courses is done. (150 hours is only needed later for licensing, not for exam eligibility.) In fact, Illinois changed this rule in recent years; you can sit for the exam at 120 hours, and there is no requirement that those additional 30 hours be finished before taking the CPA exam. This is great news for students – you can take the exam upon graduating with your bachelor’s (if you’ve met the course requirements) and then worry about any extra hours for licensure afterwards.

The 2025 CPA Exam follows the CPA Evolution Model, focused on core skills plus discipline specialization.

Core (Required)	Discipline (Choose One)
AUD – Auditing and Attestation	BAR – Business Analysis & Reporting
FAR – Financial Accounting & Reporting	ISC – Information Systems & Controls
REG – Regulation (Tax & Law)	TCP – Tax Compliance & Planning

Each section is 4 hours long and includes Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Task-Based Simulations (TBSs).

To see exact topics and skill weightings, download the official AICPA CPA Exam Blueprints. These blueprints are your roadmap to every representative task tested on the exam.

One common question is whether you must be an Illinois resident or U.S. citizen to take the CPA exam here. Illinois is very accessible in this regard.

There is no state residency requirement – you do not need to live in Illinois (or even the U.S.) to apply to the Illinois Board for the CPA exam.

Many international candidates or out-of-state students choose Illinois as their exam jurisdiction for this reason. Likewise, U.S. citizenship is not required to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois. The state will accept eligible candidates from anywhere, as long as they meet the education and application requirements.

Illinois also does not require a Social Security Number for the exam application. If you don’t have an SSN (common for international students) – you can still apply.

However, be aware of an extra step: because you won’t be providing a SSN, NASBA will charge a fee to verify your identity for each Notice to Schedule (NTS). This identity verification/background check fee is about $67.50 per exam section if no SSN is on file. Essentially, Illinois allows non-U.S. candidates to proceed without an SSN, but you’ll incur that additional fee per section when scheduling. (If you do have an SSN, you can include it to avoid those fees and also simplify your eventual licensure process with the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation)

Aside from the above, Illinois has no minimum age requirement officially stated in its rules (practically, you must have a degree, so you’ll likely be at least around 21 by the time you’re eligible). Illinois simply mandates that candidates be of legal age to sign the application and contracts – typically interpreted as 18 years or older. So if you graduated college early, ensure you’re at least 18 when you apply.

Summary: CPA exam eligibility in Illinois is open to non-residents and non-citizens. Just focus on meeting the education requirements, and be prepared for the identity verification fee if you don’t have a Social Security Number.

Illinois is a popular state for international CPA candidates. If you earned your degree outside the U.S., you must go through a foreign credential evaluation before Illinois will approve you to sit for the exam.

The Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE) accepts only NASBA’s International Evaluation Services (NIES) for foreign transcripts– this is the only approved provider for Illinois. In other words, NASBA’s NIES is the service that must evaluate your international education to determine U.S. credit hour equivalency and whether you meet the Illinois CPA exam requirements.

Here’s how the process works for international students:

Submit your documents to NIES: First, go to NASBA’s site and initiate a NIES credential evaluation for Illinois. You will send your official academic transcripts (and degree certificate, if required) from your foreign institution to NASBA. NASBA will review your coursework and convert it into U.S. semester hour equivalents.

Choose the correct NIES service: NASBA offers a couple of evaluation report options. If you have a full degree earned abroad, you’ll likely use the “Credential Evaluation for CPA Exam and/or Licensure” service (fee about $225). If you only have a small amount of foreign coursework (12 or fewer credit hours worth), NASBA suggests using a shorter evaluation report for about $120. The goal is the same – to get an official report of how your education compares to U.S. requirements.

Apply to ILBOE as a foreign candidate: While NASBA is evaluating your transcripts, you should also create an ILBOE account and submit the Foreign Credentials Evaluation application on the ILBOE website. (There is no fee for Illinois’ foreign evaluation application itself – you pay NIES instead.) When filling out the ILBOE application, you’ll indicate that you are submitting foreign credentials.

Have NASBA send the evaluation to ILBOE: Once NASBA completes your evaluation, they will issue an official evaluation report. You must request NASBA to send the final evaluation report directly to the Illinois Board of Examiners (they can mail it or send it electronically to ILBOE). Illinois relies entirely on the NASBA report’s findings – the ILBOE will use this to determine if you meet the education requirements.

Note: Illinois will not accept other credential evaluations (like WES, ECE, etc.) – even if you have one, ILBOE requires the NASBA evaluation. So plan accordingly to use NIES.

The timeline for foreign evaluations can be a bit longer, so start early. After ILBOE receives your NIES report and your ILBOE application, they will review everything and email you the results (more on that in the next section).

International candidates should also know that Illinois participates in the international administration of the CPA Exam. This means you can take the exam at international testing centers (in countries where the CPA exam is offered) under the Illinois jurisdiction. If you choose to do that, you’ll pay the same Illinois and NASBA fees plus an additional international testing fee of about $390 per section for the exam center abroad. Many candidates, however, travel to the U.S. to take the exam. The choice is yours – the key point is Illinois allows it.

Follow these steps to apply for the Illinois CPA Exam:

Step 1 – Create an ILBOE Account and Submit Credential Evaluation

Open your ILBOE online account:

Start by creating an account on the Illinois Board of Examiners online portal (ILBOE’s candidate system).
This account is where you will file applications, pay fees, and later see scores.
Use an email you check often, as that will be your login and primary contact method.
This account is where you will file applications, pay fees, and later see scores.
Use an email you check often, as that will be your login and primary contact method.

.
Submit a Credentials Evaluation Application:

Through your ILBOE account, you will first submit a credentials evaluation application – this is required for all new candidates before you can be approved to take any exams.

There are two versions of this application:

Domestic Credentials Evaluation (for those educated entirely in the U.S.) which requires a $200 fee.
Foreign Credentials Evaluation (for those with all education outside the U.S.) which has no fee from ILBOE (since you’re paying NASBA for the evaluation, as discussed).
If you have a mix of domestic and foreign education, you typically file the domestic evaluation with $200 fee and also get the NASBA report for your foreign part.

When applying, fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your IDs and school records (especially your name) to avoid discrepancies. After submitting the online form and payment, ILBOE will assign you an evaluator.

Send official transcripts:

Next, you must arrange for official academic transcripts from every college or university you attended to be sent to the Illinois Board of Examiners . This includes all schools where you earned credit – even if a transfer credit appears on another transcript, Illinois wants transcripts from the original source of credit.
Domestic transcripts can typically be sent electronically (mailto:etranscripts@ilboe.org) (e.g., by your school’s registrar via secure email to ILBOE) or by mail directly from the institution.
Foreign transcripts should have been sent to NASBA for evaluation; once evaluated, NASBA’s report goes to ILBOE as described earlier.
Illinois does not accept unofficial transcripts for the official evaluation (though they have an optional $50 pre-evaluation if you just want to check your status, which uses unofficial copies). So be sure to request official final transcripts as soon as you apply.
Electronic delivery is fastest – ILBOE will even send you an automated email confirmation when each transcript or NASBA report is received in their system.

Wait for the evaluation result:

The ILBOE evaluation process takes about 6–8 weeks (longer during busy seasons, such as after graduation periods).
During this time, an ILBOE evaluator reviews your coursework against Illinois’ requirements. If everything is in order and you qualify, you will receive an Evaluation Results Letter via email stating that you are approved to sit for the CPA exam.
This is a crucial milestone – it means you have met the CPA exam eligibility (Illinois) criteria. The letter will also assign you an ILBOE Candidate ID (Jurisdiction ID) which you’ll need for the next steps.

If you are missing some requirements, the result letter will outline the deficiencies.
For example, it might say you only have 21 of the required 24 accounting hours, or you lack an audit course. In that case, you’d need to address those deficiencies (by taking additional courses) before you can proceed. Illinois does allow some candidates to be approved on a provisional status if they are very close to finishing their education – for instance, if you are in your final semester of a degree, you may qualify to sit provisionally as long as you’ll finish the courses within a certain time.
Provisional approval is a special case and comes with the expectation that you send final transcripts soon. Most candidates, however, will just wait until all coursework is done to get a full approval.

Step 2 – Submit the Initial Exam Application (Exam Section Request) to ILBOE

Once you’re approved to sit, the next step is deciding which exam section(s) to take first and applying for them.
Through your ILBOE online account, you will submit an “Initial Exam Request” (also called the initial exam application).
This is essentially you telling Illinois “I’m ready to take these sections of the CPA exam.”
In the Initial Exam Request, you can select one or multiple of the four exam sections (the three new Core sections – Audit (AUD), Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR), Taxation & Regulation (REG) – and one Discipline section of your choice under the new CPA Evolution format).
Illinois allows you to request up to all 4 sections at once on this initial application.
However, a very important rule to remember is that once payment is made, your Notice to Schedule for each section will only be valid for 6 months.
Do not apply for more exam sections than you can realistically prepare for and take within six months, or you’ll risk your NTS expiring for those sections (and you’d forfeit fees).
For most candidates, it’s wise to start with one or two sections at a time.
When you fill out the exam request, indicate the section(s) you plan to sit for.
If you’re not ready for all four, just choose the first one or few you want to tackle in the next window.
There will be a small ILBOE exam application fee based on the number of sections you select (this is separate from the exam fees themselves, which come later).
In Illinois, the exam application fees as of 2025 are: $40 for 1 section, $76 for 2 sections, $108 for 3 sections, or $120 for 4 sections in one application.
These figures basically cover the administrative cost for ILBOE to process your request and are often called “registration fees.” You pay this to ILBOE online (plus a 3% processing charge if using a credit card) when you submit the exam request.
After ILBOE receives your exam request, they will verify your status (ensure you are approved/qualified) and then email you an Exam Approval Letter or confirmation. This letter contains your unique Jurisdiction ID (IL candidate ID) and instructions for the next step.
Keep this ID handy – you’ll need it to register with NASBA.
(Note: If you were a provisional candidate when applying, ensure your provisional status will be resolved by the time your NTS expires. Illinois advises that you should plan to complete your degree and send final transcripts within that 6-month window if you took exams provisionally.)

Step 3 – Register with NASBA’s CPA Portal and Pay for Exam Sections

Illinois works with NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) for the exam payment and scheduling process.

Once you have the ILBOE approval and jurisdiction ID, you need to create an account on NASBA’s CPA Candidate Portal.

This is done on NASBA’s website; you can follow the link provided in your ILBOE exam approval email or go to the NASBA CPA portal sign-up page.
Use your IL Jurisdiction ID to link your NASBA account to Illinois’ records.
(NASBA’s portal will prompt you for identifying info including that jurisdiction candidate ID and likely part of your name/address to match records. Be sure to input them exactly as on your ILBOE account to avoid matching issues.)

After setting up the NASBA exam account (sometimes called CPA Central), watch for an “Enrollment Verification” email from NASBA confirming you’ve successfully enrolled as a candidate.
Shortly after, NASBA will generate a billing for the exam sections you selected with Illinois.

This is often referred to as the Payment Coupon – essentially an invoice for the exam fees.

You will receive a notification when the Payment Coupon is available in your NASBA portal.

In Illinois, you have 90 days to pay the NASBA invoice, but it’s wise to pay as soon as you can.

For 2025, NASBA’s recommended exam fee is about $262.64 per section:

The amount due will be the sum of the fees for each exam section you chose.

Each CPA exam section has an exam fee (these are the Uniform CPA Examination fees that cover the computer testing, NASBA/AICPA administration, and Prometric charges).

Illinois aligns with these standard rates.
If you chose all four parts, expect the total exam section fees to be roughly $1,050 (plus the ILBOE application fee we discussed earlier)
For example, a single section might be around $250–$280; three core and one discipline would total around $1,050 in exam fees if taken once each. (If you had applied under older rules where exam lengths differed, you might recall AUD/FAR used to cost more than BEC/REG. Under the new exam, most sections are 4 hours, so fees are uniform.)
Pay the fees through NASBA’s portal by credit card (or other accepted methods). Once payment is made, NASBA will finalize your Notice to Schedule.

Step 4 – Receive Your Notice to Schedule (NTS)

After paying the exam fees, NASBA will issue your Notice to Schedule (NTS) for the section(s) you paid for.

Typically, within 1–3 business days after payment, you can log back into the NASBA portal and retrieve your NTS.

NASBA will also email you when the NTS is ready.

The NTS is an electronic document (PDF) that confirms you are authorized to take the specific CPA exam sections and includes critical details like your Exam Section ID, section name, and the deadline by which you must take the exam.

In Illinois, each NTS is valid for 6 months from the issue date for each section.

This means you must schedule and sit for each exam section within six months, or else that NTS (and your exam fee) will expire.

If an NTS expires unused, you forfeit the fees and would have to re-apply and pay again for that section – so do not let it lapse!

Plan your testing order accordingly: If you got an NTS for multiple sections at once, you can take them at any time within the 6-month window (you don’t have to do them all on the same day, of course).

Many candidates spread them out.

If you realize you can’t take an exam in time, it’s better to cancel or reschedule (with Prometric fees possibly) before the 6 months passes, or just take it and try your best, rather than letting it expire unused.

Double-check your NTS for accuracy – ensure your name matches your identification exactly. You’ll have to show valid ID at the testing center that matches the NTS name. If there’s an error, contact ILBOE/NASBA immediately to get it corrected.

The NTS is your official authorization to sit for the CPA Exam. It contains:

Your exam section IDs (AUD, FAR, REG, BAR/ISC/TCP)
Your candidate identification number
The testing window dates — you have 9 months from the issue date to complete those sections
Your name as registered, which must match your photo ID
The Jurisdiction ID (used for scoring and CBA records)

Why it matters?:

Without an NTS, you cannot book your exam with Prometric.
It’s a mandatory document that must be presented at check-in.
If your NTS expires before you test, you’ll lose your fees and must re-apply for that section.
You’ll receive your NTS by email from NASBA once payment is processed (typically within 5–7 business days).
Keep both a digital and printed copy for security check-in at Prometric.
Print out the NTS for your records and to bring to the testing center (some test centers may ask for it, and it has info you’ll need to schedule). NASBA also advises to save a copy of each NTS PDF on your device (in case you need to reprint later or if you lose the email).
Pay each section fee through your NASBA account at the Official NASBA CPA Portal.

Step 7 – Schedule Your Exam with Prometric

Armed with your NTS, the final step is to schedule the exam date and location.
All CPA exams are taken at authorized Prometric testing centers (or at international Prometric sites for those abroad).

To schedule:

Go to the Prometric scheduling site for the CPA exam.
Once there, you will select your country and state (for U.S. locations, select United States > Illinois or whichever state you plan to test in).
Then choose “Schedule an Exam.”

Enter your exam section details:

Prometric will prompt you for the Exam Section ID from your NTS, your name, etc.
Input the details exactly as shown on the NTS. You’ll then be able to choose a testing center location and available date/time for that exam section.
Pick a date within your NTS window: Look at the calendar of open slots and choose a time that works for you.
Illinois candidates can take the exam year-round now (there are no blackout periods under the continuous testing model).
Scheduling early is highly recommended, as seats can fill up especially toward the end of calendar quarters.
NASBA suggests scheduling at least 45 days in advance to secure your preferred date.

Confirm and note your appointment:

Once you schedule your exam, you’ll get a confirmation from Prometric.
Mark the date on your calendar.
If needed, you can reschedule or cancel through Prometric’s system, but fees may apply if you do so within 30 days of the appointment.
No fee if you reschedule >30 days out; within 5 days of the exam, rescheduling is not allowed (you’d lose the fee).
Repeat the scheduling process for each section you have an NTS for.
Some candidates schedule one exam at a time (which can be wise to maintain flexibility), while others schedule all their sections in advance. Just keep the 6-month expiration in mind.
On exam day, arrive at the Prometric center with your NTS (or electronic copy) and proper ID.
You will take the exam on a computer under proctored conditions.
After you finish, the testing center will send your results to the AICPA for scoring.

Step 8: CPA Exam Score Release and 30-Month Passing Window

Illinois candidates receive scores on the same timeline as everyone else – NASBA releases scores on scheduled release dates (usually within a couple of weeks after the end of the month in which you took the test, under continuous testing).
You can check your scores via your NASBA portal or email notifications.
One critical rule to remember is the rolling credit window for passing all exam sections.
Effective January 1, 2024, Illinois (along with all jurisdictions) now gives candidates 30 months to pass all four sections once you pass your first section.
This is an extension from the old 18-month rule.

Here’s how it works:

The clock starts from the date you sat for your first passed exam section.
From that date, you have 30 months (which is two and a half years) to pass the remaining three sections.
For example, if you passed AUD in March 2025, your 30-month window would extend to September 2027 for you to pass FAR, REG, and your chosen Discipline.
If you do not pass all four sections within 30 months, the credit for your earliest passed section will expire (i.e. it “drops off”), and you would then have to re-take that section.
The 30-month countdown then recalibrates to the date of your next passed section, and so on.
So it’s in your best interest to plan your studies and exam schedule to finish within the window.
Illinois enforces this rule strictly: you must pass all four sections of the CPA exam within a 30-month period or you risk losing credit.
The good news is that 30 months provides extra leeway compared to the old 18 months, giving candidates a bit more flexibility to schedule around life and potentially retake sections if needed without immediate loss of credit.

(Note: The 30-month window was a recent change to help with the CPA Evolution transition. Always double-check if there have been any extensions or temporary policies – for instance, in the past there were extensions due to COVID. As of 2025, 30 months is the standard rule.)

Also, remember that your Notice to Schedule validity (6 months) is a separate timeframe from the 30-month exam credit window.
The NTS validity is just how long you have to take a particular exam after paying for it.
The 30-month window is how long you have to pass all exams once you’ve started passing them. They are both important: one at the micro level (per exam scheduling) and one at the macro level (completing the exam series).

Fee Category	Amount (USD)	Description / Application Link
ILBOE Credential Evaluation Fee – Domestic	$200	Paid once when you first apply to have your U.S. education reviewed through the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE).
ILBOE Credential Evaluation Fee – Combination (Domestic + Foreign)	$200	Applies if you have both U.S. and foreign education. Submit via ILBOE’s online portal.
ILBOE Foreign Evaluation (for fully foreign education)	$0 (to ILBOE)	ILBOE itself does not charge for foreign-only evaluations; instead, pay NASBA’s International Evaluation Service (NIES).
Optional Pre-Evaluation (Advisory Review)	$50	Optional service for a transcript pre-check before formal application. Available at ILBOE’s Pre-Evaluation page .
NASBA International Evaluation Fee (Full)	$225	For a full review of foreign transcripts by NASBA’s NIES.
NASBA International Evaluation Fee (Limited)	$120	For candidates with 12 or fewer foreign credit hours. Apply through NASBA’s NIES application portal.
ILBOE Initial Exam Application (Registration) Fee	$40–$120	Paid to ILBOE when requesting exam sections. Fee depends on number of parts selected: 1 part – $40; 2 parts – $76; 3 parts – $108; 4 parts – $120. Applies to both first-time and re-exam applications.
Credit Card Processing Fee	3%	Added automatically to ILBOE payments when made via credit card. See ILBOE payment details.
Uniform CPA Exam Section Fees (NASBA)	$262.64 per section	Standard NASBA/AICPA rates covering exam content, grading, and Prometric seat time. Paid after receiving NASBA payment coupon. Pay via NASBA CPA Candidate Portal.
Total for All Four Exam Sections	$1,050	Approximate total for all four parts (AUD, FAR, REG, Discipline) if passed on the first attempt. Payment handled through NASBA’s system.
Section Fee Examples (Approximate)	AUD $260 FAR $260 REG $260 Discipline $260	Each section’s fee is listed on your NASBA invoice. Retakes require paying the same section fee again. More info: NASBA CPA Exam Fees.
Identity Verification Fee (if no SSN)	$67.50 per section	Required only for candidates without a U.S. Social Security Number. Covers a background check upon issuance of NTS. Details available via ILBOE guidance.
International Testing Surcharge (if applicable)	$390 per section	Charged by NASBA for testing outside the U.S. (e.g., London, Dubai). Paid through NASBA International Testing.
Prometric Exam Rescheduling Fee	$0 (≥30 days out) $35 (5–30 days) $85 (≤5 days)	Charged by Prometric if you reschedule within 30 days of your appointment. Late cancellations may forfeit exam fees.

Always check the NASBA Payment Coupon for the latest fee amounts.

To illustrate the typical total cost for a first-time Illinois candidate:

Suppose you have U.S. education.
You’d pay $200 for evaluation, $40 (for one section application) or up to $120 (for all four) in ILBOE fees, plus about $1,050 in exam fees = roughly $1,290 to $1,410 in total exam-related fees.
International candidates would add NASBA eval $225 and possibly $270 in identity fees (4×$67.50) if no SSN, making it higher.
It’s definitely an investment, so plan for these costs.
The good news is these fees are spread out over the process (you don’t pay all at once upfront).
Many review courses or employers also offer assistance or discounts that can help with costs.

If you earned your degree outside the U.S., follow these steps to apply for the CPA Exam in Illinois:

Obtain a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation through NASBA’s International Evaluation Services (NIES) — this is the only accepted agency for Illinois.

Start your evaluation at the NIES website.

Request that NIES send your official evaluation report directly to the Illinois Board of Examiners (ILBOE).

Apply for the CPA Exam through the ILBOE Online Portal and select the Foreign Credential Evaluation application. You do not need to pay an evaluation fee to ILBOE — only to NIES.

After ILBOE approves your application, you'll receive an Evaluation Results Letter and Jurisdiction ID. Use this to log into the NASBA Candidate Portal.

NASBA will then issue your Payment Coupon. Once you pay, your Notice to Schedule (NTS) will be generated.

Schedule your exam at a Prometric testing center via the Prometric CPA Exam Scheduler. You may choose to test in the U.S. or at an authorized international Prometric center if available.

Note: International candidates testing outside the U.S. must also pay an additional international testing surcharge (typically $390 per exam section).

Step 1: Start from NASBA’s Official International Testing Page

Visit NASBA International Exam Testing

This page lists:

All eligible international testing countries,
Each country’s Prometric testing availability, and
The additional per-section fees (e.g., $390 for most, $510 for India).
It also explains how to apply for international testing authorization (a separate form you must submit before booking your seat).

Step 2: Review the Current List of Authorized Testing Countries (2025)

As of 2025, the AICPA/NASBA Prometric international network allows CPA Exam testing in the following countries and regions:

Region Authorized Countries

Middle East Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Europe / Africa England, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Scotland
Asia-Pacific India, Japan, Nepal, South Korea, Singapore
Americas Brazil (São Paulo), Mexico (Mexico City)

Note: Availability and capacity may vary by testing window. Always confirm directly on Prometric’s site before paying your international testing fee.

Step 3: Go to Prometric’s CPA Exam Scheduling Portal

Visit Prometric – CPA Exam Test Takers Page

Click “Locate” or “Schedule My Test”
Select “CPA – Certified Public Accountant (NASBA)” from the dropdown
Choose your country/region from the map or list

You’ll then see:

The Prometric centers available in that country
Each center’s address, operating hours, and availability calendar
An option to book, reschedule, or cancel

Example:

If you choose India, you’ll see centers in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata.

Step 4: Check Seat Availability

You don’t need to pay immediately to check seats.

You can:

Click “Schedule”
Enter your NTS number and Jurisdiction ID (from NASBA)
View all open dates at your preferred center
If your preferred center is full, try nearby cities or countries (e.g., if Singapore is full, check India or UAE).

Step 5: Pay the International Testing Fee

After confirming your location, go back to the NASBA International Testing Portal to submit your international application form and pay the surcharge:

$390 per section for most international locations
$510 per section for India

Once paid and approved, NASBA will update your record, and you can finalize scheduling on Prometric.

1. Don't delay official transcript submission:

The #1 reason for evaluation delays in Illinois is late or incomplete transcript delivery.
ILBOE requires official transcripts sent directly from each institution, and all must be received before your evaluation can begin.
This includes community colleges, transfer schools, or even foreign transcripts sent via NASBA/NIES.

2. Avoid errors on your ILBOE application:

Your name, date of birth, and school information must exactly match your transcripts and identification documents.
Mismatched info can delay evaluation or trigger rejections.

3. Don't overestimate your readiness — apply for only the sections you can take in 6 months:

Your Notice to Schedule (NTS) is only valid for 6 months per section in Illinois.
If you apply for too many sections and can’t sit for them all within that window, you’ll forfeit those exam fees.

4. Don’t forget to pay NASBA within 90 days of invoice:

Once you receive your Payment Coupon, you have 90 days to pay, or your application will be voided.
You’ll need to reapply through ILBOE and pay a new registration fee.

5. If you don’t have a Social Security Number, prepare for added verification fees:

Candidates applying without an SSN must pay an additional $67.50 per section identity verification fee.
Don’t be surprised by this cost if you’re an international student or choose not to provide an SSN.

6. Foreign-educated candidates: only NASBA’s NIES evaluation is accepted:

Submitting a report from WES, ECE, or other credentialing services will result in automatic rejection.
Illinois only accepts evaluations from NASBA's NIES.

7. Be aware of the 30-month credit expiration rule:

Once you pass your first exam section, you have exactly 30 months to pass the remaining three.
If you miss that window, your earliest passed credit will expire.

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Illinois CPA Exam Requirements 2025

1. Illinois CPA Educational Eligibility: What You Need Before You Apply?

2. CPA Exam Structure & AICPA Blueprints

3. Illinois Residency and Citizenship Rules

4. International Candidates and Foreign Education Evaluation

5. Illinois CPA Exam Application & Administrative Steps

6. Fees & Costs for the Exam

7. International Students / Foreign-Educated Applicants

8. How to Find an Authorized International Prometric CPA Exam Center for International CPA students?

9. Tips & Common Pitfalls

Our mission

Quick links

Contact our team

Illinois CPA Exam Requirements 2025

1. Illinois CPA Educational Eligibility: What You Need Before You Apply?

2. CPA Exam Structure & AICPA Blueprints

3. Illinois Residency and Citizenship Rules

4. International Candidates and Foreign Education Evaluation

5. Illinois CPA Exam Application & Administrative Steps

6. Fees & Costs for the Exam

7. International Students / Foreign-Educated Applicants

8. How to Find an Authorized International Prometric CPA Exam Center for International CPA students?

9. Tips & Common Pitfalls

Our mission

Quick links

Contact our team

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