General CPA Exam Questions
Q: What are the requirements to sit for the CPA Exam?
A: To be eligible to sit for the CPA Exam, candidates must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have at least 24 semester credits in accounting subjects.These subjects include accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy. Candidates have 18 months to pass all four parts, beginning when the first section is passed.
Candidates can sit for the exam with less than 150 credit hours, however they will be required to complete all 150 before a license is granted.
Q: What are the requirements to get licensed if I graduate after Jan. 1, 2012?
A: To earn a CPA license in Pennsylvania, candidates must have passed all four parts of the CPA Exam and fulfill both the education and experience requirements.
- Education – Candidates must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have at least 36 credits in accounting subjects: 24 credits in accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy, plus an additional 12 credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects. Total credit hours must equal at least 150. Accounting related credits can be completed through undergraduate or graduate courses, or a combination
of both levels of study, and do not need to be part of a degree program.
- Experience – Candidates must complete one year (1,600 hours) of work experience, with 400 of those hours involving attest activity. All experience must be supervised by an individual who is currently licensed to practice public accounting as a CPA in Pennsylvania or another state. Work experience is valid for 5 years (60 months) from the date of application.
Work experience must be in one of the following environments:
• Public Accounting
• Internal Audit – if reporting to an independent body or similar body
• Government Audit – federal, state, or local government audit
For more details on what exactly counts as work experience reference the information at the SBOA.
Back to Top ^
Q: What are the requirements to get licensed if I graduated before Dec. 31, 2011 and passed at least one part of the CPA Exam?
A: To earn a CPA license in Pennsylvania, candidates must have passed all four parts of the CPA Exam and fulfill both the education and experience requirements.
- Education – Candidates must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have at least 24 semester credits in accounting subjects. These subjects include accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy. Total credit hours must equal at least 120.
- Experience – Candidates must complete two years (3,200 hours) of work experience, with 800 of those hours involving attest activity. All experience must be supervised by an individual who is currently licensed to practice public accounting as a CPA in Pennsylvania or another state. Work experience is valid for 10 years (120 months) from the date of application.
Work experience must be in one of the following environments:
• Public Accounting
• Internal Audit – if reporting to an independent body or similar body
• Government Audit – federal, state, or local government audit
For more details on what exactly counts as work experience reference the information at the SBOA.
Options for Licensing
Candidates have two choices if they pass at least one part of the exam prior to Dec. 31, 2011.
- 120 Hours | Two Years – A candidate can become licensed with 120 credit hours, 24 of which in the accounting subjects listed above, and two years (3,200) of work experience, with 800 hours in attest.
- 150 Hours | One Year – A candidate can become licensed with 150 credit hours, 36 of which in accounting subjects, and one year (1,600) of work experience, with 400 hours in attest. The amount of education completed at the time of the application for a license will determine how many years of experience is required.
Back to Top ^
Q: What are the requirements to get licensed if I graduated before Dec. 31, 2011 and did NOT pass any parts of the CPA Exam?
A: You are subject the 150 semester credit education requirement in order to obtain CPA certificate.
To earn a CPA license in Pennsylvania, candidates must have passed all four parts of the CPA Exam and fulfill both the education and experience requirements.
- Education – Candidates must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have at least 36 credits in accounting subjects: 24 credits in accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy, plus an additional 12 credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects. Total credit hours must equal at least 150. Accounting related credits can be completed through undergraduate or graduate courses, or a combination
of both levels of study, and do not need to be part of a degree program.
- Experience – Candidates must complete one year (1,600 hours) of work experience, with 400 of those hours involving attest activity. All experience must be supervised by an individual who is currently licensed to practice public accounting as a CPA in Pennsylvania or another state. Work experience is valid for 5 years (60 months) from the date of application.
Work experience must be in one of the following environments:
• Public Accounting
• Internal Audit – if reporting to an independent body or similar body
• Government Audit – federal, state, or local government audit
For more details on what exactly counts as work experience reference the information at the SBOA.
Back to Top ^
Q: When can I apply for my CPA certificate and license?
A: Once you have passed the Uniform CPA Exam and met the education and experience requirements you may apply to the SBOA for a CPA certificate and license.
Q: Can I take the exam outside of Pennsylvania?
A: Yes, but there are additional charges for taking the exam outside of your jurisdiction.
Q: When can I take the exam?
A: Testing is available the first two months of every quarter: January & February; April & May; July & August; October & November. It is not available in March, June, September, or December.
Back to Top ^
Q: When can I apply to sit for the CPA Exam?
A: You can apply to sit for the CPA Exam once you have graduated with a bachelor's or master's degree with at least 24 semester-credit hours in accounting subjects.
Q: How long do I have to pass all four parts?
A: You have 18 months to pass all four parts once you pass the first section.
Q: What is a passing score?
A: A passing score is 75. The score does not represent percent correct.
Q: Who distributes the exam scores?
A: The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy distributes the scores.
Q: How can a foreign transcript or degree be evaluated?
A: All educational credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by one of the following professional credentials evaluation organizations to show U.S. equivalency:
Back to Top ^
|
|
| Requirements Background |
|
Gov. Edward Rendell signed Senate Bill 838 into law on July 10, 2008, amending the Pennsylvania CPA Law. The hallmark of this legislation, now Act 73 of 2008, is increased CPA mobility to practice across state lines. To achieve this, the law brings Pennsylvania up to the national education standard of 150 credit hours and one year public accounting experience—in addition to the successful completion of the CPA Exam—before granting a CPA license.
|
| Special Notice
|
|
If you passed at least one part of the CPA Exam before Dec. 31, 2011, you may be eligible to become licensed without meeting the 150 hour education requirement. Check out the Special Notice issued by the SBOA  - State Board of Accountancy.
|
|
