Anaya Nolan
The requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam vary by state. Some states require candidates to have a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration, while others accept a baccalaureate or higher degree in any major. In addition to the degree, candidates must complete a certain number of credit hours in accounting, auditing, tax, finance, technology, and business law courses. The number of required credit hours varies by state, ranging from 24 to 36 semester credit hours. Candidates must also have one year of qualifying work experience, which may be from employment in public practice, private industry, non-profit, or government. This work experience must be verified by a licensed CPA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of credit hours | 120-150 |
| Number of work experience hours | 1,500-2,000 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Maryland | 21 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Florida | 30 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Colorado | 27 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Texas | 21 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Delaware | 24 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Arizona | 24 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Indiana | 120 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Iowa | N/A |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Vermont | 120 |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Virginia | N/A |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Alaska | N/A |
| Number of semester credit hours to take the exam in Wyoming | 150 |
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What You'll Learn
Bachelor's degree and 150 credit hours
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the US, you must meet the requirements of one of the 55 US jurisdictions that grant the title. Each state has its own board of accounting responsible for the rules and regulations of the accounting industry within its territory. As such, the requirements to qualify for the CPA exam vary from state to state.
In general, to meet the 150 credit hour requirement, students must pursue additional coursework beyond their bachelor's degree. This can be done by taking non-degree courses, obtaining a master's degree, or completing a certain number of years of work experience in accounting or a related field, depending on the state.
For example, in Louisiana, candidates must have a baccalaureate or higher degree in any major conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board and must have earned a specified number of hours in accounting and business courses. In Pennsylvania, candidates need a bachelor's or master's degree with a minimum of 120 credit hours in any discipline from an accredited college or university, plus an additional 12 credit hours in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects.
It is important to note that the 150 credit hour requirement is just one step in the journey to becoming a CPA. Candidates must also meet the education, exam, and experience requirements of their specific state board.
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One year of work experience
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you must meet the requirements of your state. Each state has its own specific educational, examination, and experience requirements. For example, in California, you need to have either a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to receive your license. On top of that, you must meet the state's education requirements, pass the CPA exam, and fulfill its experience criteria.
California demands a minimum of 150 semester hours of undergraduate work, culminating in a bachelor's degree. As part of these 150 hours, you need 24 hours of accounting subjects, 24 hours of business subjects, 20 hours of accounting study subjects, and 10 units of ethics.
As for the experience requirements, California demands one or two years of work experience in accounting. If you want to be able to sign attest reports, you will need 12 months of general accounting experience and 500 hours of attest experience, subject to the California Board of Accountancy's approval.
Other states, like Utah, require you to pass an AICPA ethics exam, a Utah laws and rules test, and complete 2,000 hours of accounting-related experience under the supervision of a CPA. Similarly, Ohio has recently introduced a new law that allows licensure through three pathways, one of which includes acquiring one year of relevant work experience and passing the CPA exam.
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Business law and accounting courses
For instance, in Louisiana, candidates must possess a baccalaureate or higher degree in any major from an accredited institution and complete specified hours in accounting and business courses. Similarly, the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy requires 24 semester credit hours in accounting and auditing, business law, technology, and finance. However, it is important to note that the number of credit hours allowed for finance and business law may vary, and candidates should refer to the specific state board requirements.
Advanced Business Law courses, such as the ACCT 511 offered by Liberty University Online, aim to expose students to legal issues faced by accounting professionals. This course helps students identify legal pitfalls and gain the knowledge necessary to seek appropriate legal counsel. The curriculum includes interactive components, such as discussion threads and interviews with accounting professionals, to enhance the learning experience.
Additionally, candidates should be aware that work experience requirements are typically necessary for CPA licensure. This experience must be completed under the supervision of a licensed CPA and can be gained through employment in public practice, private industry, non-profit, or government sectors. The duration requirement is usually one year of full-time or 2,000 hours of part-time experience, providing sufficient complexity and diversity in the application of accounting skills.
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State-specific requirements
In addition to educational requirements, most states also mandate a specific number of hours in upper-level accounting and business coursework. For example, Arizona requires 36 hours of accounting and 30 hours of business, while Virginia mandates 24 hours in both upper-level accounting and business courses. Texas has a similar requirement to Virginia, but candidates must also complete two hours of accounting or business communication. Colorado and Delaware have similar requirements, with the former requiring 27 hours of accounting coursework and 20 hours of business administration, and the latter mandating 24 hours of accounting coursework.
Some states require candidates to have a certain number of hours of work experience. For instance, Indiana requires two years of accounting experience verified by an active CPA, while Arkansas requires one year. Minnesota candidates must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of verified work experience in no less than one year and no more than three years. Utah also requires 2,000 hours of accounting-related experience under the supervision of a CPA, as well as passing an AICPA ethics exam and a Utah laws and rules test.
While most states require candidates to have a bachelor's degree, some states require additional hours of study. The "150-Hour Rule" has been adopted by almost all state boards of accountancy, with some states allowing candidates to sit for the exam before completing the entire 150 hours. Additionally, some states require candidates to take an ethics exam, either state-specific or comprehensive, while others do not.
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Ethics course and certificate
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), candidates must meet specific educational and experiential requirements. While the details of these requirements vary by state, a common theme is the completion of an ethics course and the attainment of a certificate.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) offers an online ethics course for licensure, titled "Professional Ethics: The AICPA's Comprehensive Course." This course is designed to instill ethical principles and independence requirements in accounting and finance professionals, emphasizing honesty, objectivity, and professional conduct. Case studies and realistic examples are used to enhance comprehension and facilitate practical application. It is important to note that not all states accept this course to meet the ethics requirement, so candidates should consult their state board for specific information.
The ethics course is a prerequisite for licensure and requires a passing score of 90% or higher. After successful completion, candidates must mail a copy of their ethics completion certificate, along with a Record of Practice Experience (RPE) demonstrating one year of qualifying work experience, signed by an actively licensed endorser. This work experience must be completed under the supervision of a licensed CPA and can be gained through employment in public practice, private industry, non-profit, or government sectors.
To maintain their CPA license, professionals may need to complete continuing professional education (CPE) hours, including additional ethics courses. These CPE requirements vary by state and are necessary to retain certification. Online platforms like CPA Ethics Online offer approved ethics CPE courses for various states, providing a flexible and efficient way for CPAs to fulfill their mandatory ethics requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but you will need to complete a certain number of hours in business law as part of your CPA exam requirements.
The number of hours required varies by state. For example, in Florida, you need 3-4 quarter hours of business law, while in Vermont, you need 3 semester hours of U.S. business law.
Yes. You must complete 120 semester credit hours or 150 credit hours, depending on the state, to be eligible to take the exam.
Yes, you need at least one year of full-time work experience or 2,000 hours of part-time experience. This experience must be verified by a licensed CPA.
