PICPA

CPA Exam & Licensing Requirements

Your Guide to the CPA Exam and CPA Licensure in Pennsylvania


Presented by:
Pennsylvania CPA Foundation

To comply with CDC guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 disease, all Prometric sites are closed and are expected to reopen April 16.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy has adopted the following recommendations from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy:
  • Any CPA candidate that has expiring credits for exam sections between now and June 30 will receive an extension until Sept. 30, 2020.
  • All Notices to Schedule (NTS) expiring between April 1 and June 30 will be extended to Sept. 30, 2020.
Affected candidates will receive communication from Prometric and the State Board.

NASBA, AICPA, and Prometric have made the decision to invoke an emergency testing period to provide additional testing opportunities. As part of this procedure, the 2020 Q2 testing window will be extended from June 10, 2020, to June 30, 2020.

Please use the following resources below for more information:

How do you become a CPA in Pennsylvania? Whether you're an accounting student, educator, or professional, the PICPA can help. Follow the steps here to get the information you need to take the CPA Exam in Pennsylvania and to secure your CPA license.

CPA Exam

  1. Graduate

    2. Upon graduation, candidates must meet certain requirements to sit for the CPA Exam.

  2. Prepare

    3. Learn about the fees to take the CPA Exam and develop a plan. 

  3. Apply

    4. Candidates can apply for one, two, three, or all four parts at one time. All parts must be taken within six months of the application date.

  4. Study

    5. CPA Exam sections cover a number of subjects that candidates are expected to understand prior to the test. The four parts consist of auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, regulation, and business environment and concepts.

  5. Schedule and Sit

    6. After receiving a Notice to Schedule (NTS), it is advised to schedule a testing appointment as soon as possible.

Licensing

  1. Pass Exam

    2. To be eligible to apply for a CPA license in Pennsylvania, a candidate must pass all parts of the CPA Exam and fulfill a certain amount of hours of education, work experience, and CPE.

  2. Work Experience

    3. Candidates are required to complete specific hours of work experience through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice.

  3. Take CPE

    4. CPA applicants must complete CPE within 24 months of application for an initial license. In some cases, passing the CPA Exam can fulfill the CPE requirements to apply for a license.

  4. Apply

    5. Applications for a Pennsylvania CPA license can be found on the State Board of Accountancy's website. Any questions about a CPA license application status should be directed to the State Board.

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Free Accounting Lectures & CPA Exam Prep

Looking for additional help in your accounting classes or as you prepare for the exam? Be sure to check out Professor Farhat's Youtube channel filled with free accounting lectures and lessons!
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