You have received your certification letter, which contains your certificate number. Soon you can go to the IDFPR to apply for a license.
We report our certified candidates to the IDFPR on the 1 st and 15 th of every month. Please allow the IDFPR 2 weeks from that date to update their records. After that second week, feel free to apply for licensure.
With a license from the IDFPR, you can now legally hold yourself to the public as a CPA. If you do not get a license, you can only describe yourself as “Successfully completed the CPA exam.”
Illinois is a two-tier state. Once you have completed your journey by obtaining your certificate, you will no longer conduct business with us. Any questions about licensing should be asked of the IDFPR.
The ILBOE has had the responsibility of certifying completion of all educational and examination requirements for CPA candidates since 1903 and maintains its responsibility through an affiliation with Northern Illinois University.
Sara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She is the current Director of Risk Advisory and Forensic Services for Wipfli, LLP’s financial institutions practice. Previously, she has served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of The Leaders Bank, CFO and Treasurer of Pinnacle Banc Group, Inc. and Pinnacle Bank and as Senior Vice President and Controller at the Oak Brook Bank located in Oak Brook, IL.
Sara is also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and is Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).
Sara has 35 plus years of internal audit, accounting and reporting issues, enterprise risk management, asset/liability consulting and operational reviews experience with a concentration on financial institutions.