What are the Requirements to Become a CPA?

To become a CPA, candidates need to meet the requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which they wish to practice. These requirements, which vary from state to state, are established by law and administered by the state boards of accountancy. To qualify for licensure in Missouri*, CPAs must: • Complete a program of study in accounting at a college/university (Missouri requires at least 150 semester hours of college study to obtain the common body of knowledge for becoming a CPA.) • Pass the Uniform CPA Examination, which is developed and graded by the AICPA • Have a certain amount of professional work experience in public accounting (Missouri requires one year). • Maintain continuing education. Once a person becomes a CPA, Missouri requires 120 hours of continuing professional education over a three-year period including two hours of ethics-qualified education annually to retain the professional license to practice. *For more information on licensure requirements, visit the ...

Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs, are respected professionals who must meet strict state and licensing requirements in order to be acknowledged as the highest of all accounting professionals. When someone wishes to become a CPA, he can ultimately enjoy a vast array of job responsibilities. Certified public accountants perform a variety of tasks, including accounting, tax preparation and planning, auditing, and financial planning. They work in accounting firms, corporations, government organizations, and small businesses. Some even work as independent consultants. No matter where a CPA works, she is expected to follow an uncompromising code of ethics. Although requirements to become a CPA differ among states in the U.S., they share some requirements in common. To become a CPA, a person must earn a bachelor's degree in accounting, with about 150 semester hours in subjects approved by the State Board of Accountancy. Required courses include classes in Accounting, Business Law, ...  more

The requirements for becoming a CPA vary by state and students should check with the State Board of Accountancy in the state they intend to become certified to determine the applicable requirements. For the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, click here. The NASBA (The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) web site includes contact information for most other State Boards of Accountancy (click on “links” once the NASBA web page loads).

To become a CPA, you need to meet the requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which you wish to practice. These requirements, which vary from state to state, are established by law and administered by the state boards of accountancy. To qualify for certification, you must: • Education Requirements: Candidates must have at least 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours of college education including a baccalaureate degree awarded by an accredited college or university. At least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours obtained must be in accounting subjects beyond the elementary level at a four-year accredited college or university. • CPA Exam: applicants must have the above requirements to be eligible to sit for the Computer Based Uniform CPA Exam. In order to become a CPA, candidates must past all four sections of the exam (Business Environment and Concepts, Auditing and Attestation, Regulation, and Financial Accounting and Reporting). • Work Experience: An applicant who meets the ...  more

Detailed information is available at the California State Board of Accountancy web site. While every attempt is made to provide accurate information on this web site, students are advised to check with the State Board of Accountancy to make sure that the minimum hour requirements will be met before undertaking any series of courses.

To become a CPA, you need to meet the requirements of the State in which you will obtain the license. These requirements vary from one State to another. In general to qualify for certification you must: Complete a program of study in accounting with at least 120 credit hours. Have official transcripts and foreign evaluation. Submit the examination application to the State Board of Accountancy. Pass the uniform CPA exam.  more

What does it take to be a successful CPA? There are many different CPA associations that can help answer career questions. For instance, Washington State has the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountant (WSCPA), which publishes the Washington CPA Magazine to keep its members current on being a CPA in Washington. The WSCPA also has a student site, DiscoverCPA.org, that is a great resource to help people along the way to a career as a Certified Public Accountant.  more