CPA License Requirements
A CPA is a certified Public Accountant. CPA’s are licensed by the state and have proven their competency by passing the computer-based Uniform CPA exam. The CPA exam is a four part exam. Each section must be passed with a score of 75 or higher and must be passed in a rolling 18 month window. The CPA exam is only one of many requirements that are necessary to meet to apply for a CPA license.
The CPA exam is one of the most difficult of the CPA license requirements. It is a rigorous test. Only 3% of applicants actually pass all four sections of the CPA exam on their first attempts.
Education is one of the other major CPA license requirements. CPA licensure is state mandated, therefore, each state has their own specific requirements. For specific requirements, visit your state’s Board of Accountancy to get the very most accurate information as it pertains to your situation. For the most part, the requirements are similar and therefore, we will give you a broad overview of the basic CPA license requirements.
Education
CPA candidates are required to have 150 semester hours and a Bachelor’s degree in order to apply for CPA licensure. Each state determines how many of those credit hours must be in accounting or other business related fields.
CPA Exam
The CPA Exam is the most difficult of the CPA license requirements. As mentioned before, it is a four part exam. The four parts are as follows:
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
Regulation (REG)
Each section must be taken and passed with a 75 or higher, in a rolling 18 month period.
Work Experience
Work experience is required, much like an apprenticeship, to apply for your CPA license. This is heavily regulated by your state, and varies more drastically than any other requirement. Your work experience must be (either) one year or two years, depending on the state you reside in. Your work experience must qualify, and is approved by your state Board of Accountancy. The work experience must be under a currently licensed CPA.
Ethics Exam
An ethics exam is the final one of the major CPA license requirements.
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