Education Requirements
Before applying for the Uniform CPA Examination, candidates must have graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university approved by the State Board of Accountancy (SBOA), and completed at least 24 semester credit hours in accounting subjects. These subjects include accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned by the SBOA.
Candidates may sit for the exam after they have completed 120 hours of education. However, after Dec. 31, 2011, candidates will be required to obtain 150 credit hours of education, which includes an additional 12 semester credit hours of accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects – a total of 36 credit hours – prior to obtaining their certificate and license.
150-Hour Requirement
As of Jan. 1, 2012 candidates seeking the CPA designation will have to complete 150 hours of college education. This can be accomplished through a combination of undergraduate and/or graduate study. Candidates do not need to accumulate the additional hours prior to taking the Uniform CPA Exam, only prior to certification.
Once you have passed the Uniform CPA Exam, acquired the necessary 150 hours of college education, and met the work experience requirements (see below), you may apply to the SBOA for a CPA certificate and license.
The 150-hour requirement will not apply to any individual who has successfully completed one or more parts of the CPA Exam prior to Jan. 1, 2012. Successful candidates who received their license prior to Jan. 1, 2012, having completed only 120 credit hours, will still be recognized as CPAs and will not need to acquire additional credit hours of education for certification. Continuing professional education requirements will still apply to all CPAs, regardless of credit hours earned.
Work Experience Requirements
In addition to passing the CPA Exam, CPA candidates need to satisfy work experience requirements to become licensed.
Work experience must be:
- In public accounting, or as an internal auditor, or an auditor with a unit of federal, state, or local government.
- Supervised by an individual who is currently licensed to practice public accounting as a CPA in Pennsylvania or another state.
Currently, an individual with 120 hours of education – or, a bachelor’s degree – must complete two years (3,200 hours) of experience, including 800 hours of attest activity; an individual with 150 hours of education needs only one year (1,600 hours) of experience, including 400 hours of attest activity to qualify for the CPA certificate.
The amount of education completed at the time of application for the certificate is directly related to the amount of work experience necessary to obtain licensure. The number of credit hours must be submitted with your first examination application.
Individuals taking the CPA Exam for the first time after Jan. 1, 2000, must complete their work experience within 10 years (120 months) of application for the CPA certificate. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all CPA candidates must complete their one year of work experience requirement within five years (60 months) of the date of application.