CPA Work Experience Requirements

150 Credits and One Year

CPA candidates who graduated college with at least 150 credits must complete one year (1,600 hours) of work experience through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice within five years of the date you apply for your license.

For those who passed at least one part of the CPA Exam before Dec. 31, 2011, other guidelines may apply. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy if you think you may qualify as a conditional candidate.

Work Experience

Qualifying work experience includes providing any type of service or advice involving the use of:

• Accounting
• Attest
• Compilation
• Consulting
• Financial advisory
• Management advisory
• Tax

The caliber of the experience must be satisfactory to the State Board of Accountancy and verified by an individual who is currently licensed to practice as a CPA in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction.

Education Requirements

Qualifying education requirements to obtain a CPA license:

• Graduate with a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited school
• At least 24 credits in accounting and auditing, business law, micro or macroeconomics, financial, or tax subjects sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy
• An additional 12 credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects
• Total credit hours must equal 150 hours
• Accounting credits can be obtained as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree, or a combination of both levels of study, and do not need to be part of a degree program