Illinois CPA CE Courses (2026)

To renew your CPA license in Illinois you need to satisfy the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act)'s continuing education (CE) requirement — about 120 hours per 3-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.

What Illinois requires for CPA renewal

CE hours required120 hours per cycle
Renewal cycle36 months
CE tracking systemSelf-reported CPE; licensee retains records and may submit a Public Accounting CPE Reporting Form / produce records on audit (no CE Broker)
Governing bodyIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act)

120 CPE hours are required per three-year renewal cycle. Of these, at least 4 hours must be in professional ethics and at least 1 hour must be in sexual harassment prevention training. CPE must be completed in the three years preceding license expiration. There is no published per-year minimum (the requirement is stated as a per-cycle total). Illinois does not require a separate state-specific ethics exam. Registered (inactive) CPAs are exempt from CPE.

Full CPA renewal guide for Illinois (deadlines, fees & CE) →

Illinois CPA CE course providers

Heads-up: These are independent, third-party CE providers — we are not affiliated with them and don't guarantee approval. Always confirm a course is accepted by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act) before purchasing.

Illinois CPA CE courses: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do I need to renew my CPA license in Illinois?

Illinois requires about 120 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. 120 CPE hours are required per three-year renewal cycle. Of these, at least 4 hours must be in professional ethics and at least 1 hour must be in sexual harassment prevention training. CPE must be completed in the three years preceding license expiration. There is no published per-year minimum (the requirement is stated as a per-cycle total). Illinois does not require a separate state-specific ethics exam. Registered (inactive) CPAs are exempt from CPE.

Do online CPA CE courses count in Illinois?

Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act) and the completion is reported through Self-reported CPE; licensee retains records and may submit a Public Accounting CPE Reporting Form / produce records on audit (no CE Broker). Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.

Where do I report my Illinois CPA CE?

Illinois uses Self-reported CPE; licensee retains records and may submit a Public Accounting CPE Reporting Form / produce records on audit (no CE Broker) to track CPA continuing education. Make sure your completions post there before you renew.

Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.

Official Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Board of Examiners (Illinois Public Accounting Act) site →

CPA CE courses in another state

Other CE course guides in Illinois