How to Become a CPA and Get CPA License in 4 Steps

You may benefit from an in-person study buddy or a virtual study buddy. Some CPA online review courses have live-chats, live classes and social platforms that give you networking opportunities. Getting a study buddy can help you with accountability, and you may be more inclined to stick to your study schedule if you have someone to partner with. An internship can be a powerful way to familiarize yourself with the accounting industry. Auditing and tax internships may be available year-round, but many happen during summer or start in January.

Fulfill your work experience requirement

Remember, the CPA exam requires thorough preparation, concentration, and time management. Stay confident, trust in your preparation, and remain determined throughout the exam process. With a well-executed plan, dedication, and perseverance, you will maximize your chances of success.

Minimum score to pass

A map tool helps you find the nearest location, and you can create a new appointment or change an existing one. You can also use this website to schedule an exam internationally. As of July 2020, the exam is available continuously throughout the year. Apart from short blackout periods to perform maintenance or updates to the test, you can take the CPA exam anytime you’d like. The CPA exam used to only be available during specific testing windows each quarter.

Top Online Accounting Bachelor’s Programs

Additionally, several states have certain mandatory courses that each CPA candidate must take to fulfill the upper-level requirements. Moreover, a jurisdiction also has the prerogative to disallow lower-level credits earned through non-traditional methods. South Carolina, on the other hand, requires CPA candidates to have 24 semester hours in accounting courses. So, the range of CPA class requirements among jurisdictions is fairly broad. You can use this list to learn more about your state’s specific CPA requirements and to see if your state offers any CPA requirement exemptions.

1. As of July 1, 2020, testing windows will be replaced by continuous, year-round testing, allowing candidates to move through the exams as quickly as their preparation allows.
2. Congratulations again on reaching this significant milestone in your journey to becoming a CPA!
3. If you have never worked in public accounting and don’t plan to work in public accounting, you still have several state boards from which to choose.
4. The 3 Es are the most generalized summary of the CPA requirements.
5. More than one person has compared preparing for the CPA Exam to running a marathon.

Therefore, you must acquire additional education to meet the CPA education requirement of 150 credit hours. Many states require candidates to have more upper-level accounting and business courses than a typical bachelor’s degree involves. Others maintain that an accounting degree covers the coursework they’d like to see in a CPA candidate. You will also need to meet depreciation journal entry the 150 general higher education credit requirement in order to demonstrate that you have enough experience. Most four-year degrees will leave you with 120 hours, which is why many students turn to a master’s program to help them reach the 150 mark. If you’re a non-accounting major, this can be an opportunity for you to take accounting classes to boost your credits.

After you’ve passed the CPA exam, your state board of accountancy will uphold a work experience requirement. This could be anywhere from a few months to two years of accounting or auditing https://www.kelleysbookkeeping.com/sale-of-a-business/ work. Becoming a CPA can be accelerated by taking the right steps from the start. First, you should be familiar with all of the regulations your state has for requirements.

Ultimately, each state board decides who is eligible to sit for the exam in their state. I try my best to keep up with each state’s requirements in the pages on my site, but https://www.kelleysbookkeeping.com/ these requirements change sporadically and without much warning. Yes, some states let you sit for the exam with less than 120 credit hours if you’re close to graduating.