The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is the gold standard credential for accountants in the US. CPAs can perform audits, sign tax returns, and provide attestation services — functions restricted by law to licensed CPAs.
9 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Research your state's requirements — Visit NASBA (nasba.org) and your state Board of Accountancy for specific education, experience, and ethics requirements. Requirements vary by state.
- Meet education requirements — All states require 150 semester hours of college education (30 hours beyond a typical bachelor's degree). Most require 24-30 hours in accounting courses and 24 hours i...
- Apply to take the CPA Exam — Apply through your state board or NASBA's CPA Examination Services (cpaexam.org). Requirements to sit for the exam may differ from requirements for licensure (some stat...
- Pass the CPA Exam — The Uniform CPA Examination has four sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), Regulation (REG), and a fourth discipline section of you...
- Complete work experience — Most states require 1-2 years (approximately 2,000 hours) of accounting experience supervised and verified by a licensed CPA. Experience types accepted vary by state (pub...
- Pass the ethics exam — Most states require passing an AICPA ethics exam or state-specific ethics course. The AICPA ethics exam is open-book and costs $189.
- Apply for your license — Submit your completed application to your state Board of Accountancy with official transcripts, CPA exam scores, experience verification signed by a supervising CPA, ethics...
- Receive your CPA license — Processing varies by state. Once issued, you may use the CPA designation after your name.
- Maintain your license — Complete 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) annually. Most states require a minimum of 20 hours in accounting/auditing and 4 hours in ethics per renewal per...
Common Mistakes
- Not reaching 150 hours before applying for licensure
- Letting exam sections expire
- Underestimating study time
- Not tracking experience requirements
- Ignoring CPE requirements
Pro Tips
- Start studying for the CPA exam while still in school
- CPA review courses (Becker, Roger CPA, Surgent, Gleim) are considered essenti...
- Many firms offer CPA exam bonuses ($5,000-$15,000) upon passing all four sect...
- Consider which state to apply in carefully
- The CPA license provides interstate practice privileges through the Uniform A...