How to check a CPA license in Illinois
Step by step: verify an Illinois CPA or CPA firm with IDFPR data, tell licensed from registered CPAs, read the status and expiration date, and find discipline.
Checked against sources on Oct 21, 2026
1. Search the state record
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) licenses CPAs and public accounting firms. Search by name or license number in IDFPR’s license lookup (choose profession PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT), or use our Check a CPA tool, which searches all 69,994 public accountant records with an Illinois address in IDFPR’s open data, including ones that are no longer current.
2. Licensed or registered?
Illinois has two kinds of individual CPA. A licensed CPA (numbers starting 065) may perform all accountancy activities. A registered CPA (numbers starting 239) holds the CPA certificate and may use the title, but under 225 ILCS 450/8.05 only licensed CPAs may sign reports expressing assurance on financial statements, such as audit reports. Firms hold a separate public accounting firm license (066). See licensed vs registered CPA.
3. Read the status and expiration
A current record has status Active and an expiration date in the future. Licenses and registrations renew every three years; the current cycle ends September 30, 2027. Firm licenses in the data expire November 30, 2027. Records marked Not Renewed, Inactive, Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked are not current. See statuses explained.
4. Look for discipline
IDFPR’s data flags records that have been disciplined and lists each action: case number, action (for example reprimand, fine, suspension, probation or revocation), start and end dates and the reason IDFPR records. Every listing on Licensed Illinois shows these. IDFPR also publishes monthly discipline reports.
5. Match the record to the person
Compare the name, license number and city on the record with the engagement letter, invoice or website. For a firm, check that the firm itself holds a public accounting firm license as well as the individual CPA.
Questions
Where can I verify an Illinois CPA license?
On IDFPR's license lookup at online-dfpr.micropact.com (profession PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT), linked from idfpr.illinois.gov/checklicense.html. IDFPR says single license lookup is updated daily.
What do Illinois CPA license numbers start with?
In the IDFPR data, licensed CPAs start with 065, registered CPAs with 239 and public accounting firms with 066.
Can a registered CPA do my audit?
No. Under 225 ILCS 450/8.05, only licensed CPAs may sign reports expressing assurance on financial statements, such as audit reports.