The requirements to become a CPA in Wyoming can be a bit confusing so I put this guide together to help you navigate the process! If you’re just starting to research getting your CPA license in WY then I suggest starting from the top. Otherwise, feel free to skip ahead to any section you’d like to know a little more about!
Contents
- 1 7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Wyoming
- 2 Additional Resources and Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Wyoming
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Wyoming.
- Minimum age requirement?: 18
- US citizenship required?: No
- Wyoming residency required*?: Yes
- Minimum level of education required: See next section
- Valid Social Security Number (SSN)* required?: Yes
*Wyoming’s residency test can be met as long as you satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Hold a Wyoming driver’s license, or
- Have a current, valid Wyoming street address (not a P. O. Box); or
- Be currently employed in Wyoming or have a valid, documented and accepted offer of employment with a Wyoming CPA firm or other Wyoming employer that will begin within six (6) months of the application date; or
- Be a current student at a Wyoming community college or the University of Wyoming (UW)
**An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may also be provided
Fulfill the WY CPA Education Requirements
In Wyoming you need at least 150 semester hours to get your CPA license but only 120 semester hours to sit for the CPA Exam, which means you can sit for the exam while you’re still in college!
Here’s a detailed breakdown of exactly what’s needed to sit for the CPA Exam and for licensure:
Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam
- Have completed at least 120 semester (or 180 quarter) hours AND obtain a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in accounting from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- Have at least 24 semester hours of various accounting courses in some or all of the following subjects:
- Financial accounting and reporting for business organizations
- Financial accounting and reporting for government and not-for profit entities
- Auditing and attestation services
- Managerial or cost accounting
- Taxation
- Fraud examination
- Internal controls and risk assessment
- Financial statement analysis
- Accounting or tax research and analysis
- Accounting information systems
- Ethics, or
- Other areas included in the Uniform CPA Examination Content Specification Outline or as may be determined by the board.
- Have at least 24 semester hours of business courses (other than accounting) at the undergraduate or graduate level covering some or all of the following subjects:
- Business law
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing
- Finance
- Business communications
- Statistics
- Quantitative methods
- Technical writing
- Information systems or technology
- Ethics; or
- Data analytics if applying the data analytics tools is the primary objective of the course.
- Note: A maximum of six (6) semester hours for internships may count toward the accounting or business subject matter requirements.
Requirements to obtain your CPA license
- Have completed at least 150 semester (or 180 quarter) hours AND obtain a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in accounting from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- Have at least 24 semester hours of upper division or graduate level accounting courses in some or all of the following subjects:
- Financial accounting and reporting for business organizations
- Financial accounting and reporting for government and not-for profit entities
- Auditing and attestation services
- Managerial or cost accounting
- Taxation
- Fraud examination
- Internal controls and risk assessment
- Financial statement analysis
- Accounting or tax research and analysis
- Accounting information systems
- Ethics, or
- Other areas included in the Uniform CPA Examination Content Specification Outline or as may be determined by the board.
- Have at least 24 semester hours of business courses (other than accounting) at the undergraduate or graduate level covering some or all of the following subjects:
- Business law
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing
- Finance
- Business communications
- Statistics
- Quantitative methods
- Technical writing
- Information systems or technology
- Ethics; or
- Data analytics if applying the data analytics tools is the primary objective of the course.
- Note: A maximum of six (6) semester hours for internships may count toward the accounting or business subject matter requirements.
Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
Be sure to check out this post where I break down the entire CPA Exam application process for you, step-by-step.
The cost to apply and register for all four parts of the CPA Exam in Wyoming are as follows:
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*Wyoming‘s Notice to Schedule (NTS) window is 6 months, so you should only register and pay for the exam section(s) you intend to take within that time. If you need to schedule or re-take any sections beyond your initial NTS window, a $50 re-examination fee plus the associated exam section fees above will apply.
Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
Studying for the CPA Exam is definitely the most challenging and time consuming part of the whole process, so you might as well get a jump start on studying as soon as your fees are submitted.
Not sure which exam section to take first? Check out my post where I break down the pros and cons of each route you can go so you can make the best possible decision: Which section of the CPA Exam should I take first?
By far the most important factor to success on the CPA Exam is sticking to a consistent study schedule and not letting too much time lapse between study sessions.
The CPA Exam is not a test you can just cram for so you’ll want to make sure you space out the material into manageable chunks in a way that fits your schedule.
As long as you schedule things out properly, you won’t have to sacrifice your entire social life for the CPA Exam like some folks say!
You’ll also need to purchase a CPA review course that’s best suited for your study style and budget. I’ve personally tested and examined all of the top review courses out there so you can find the best one for you.
If you still can’t decide which course is best, send me an email and I’ll personally help you!
WY CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Wyoming Board of Public Accountancy requires that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. The requirements are fairly straightforward:
- You must have at least 1 year of qualifying accounting experience supervised by a licensed CPA.
- A “year” of experience means a minimum of two thousand (2,000) working hours.
- Experience can be earned in public accounting, industry, government, or academia and can be on a full- or part-time basis.
- All work hours must have been performed over the course of a 1-4 year period and shall include no less than 1,800 hours
Note: If for some reason a CPA in unable to verify your work experience, the Wyoming Board may consider “equivalent” experience if you’re able to demonstrate (by providing work samples) that you’ve performed work for someone other than a CPA that includes (but is not limited to) the following activities:
- Financial statement preparation;
- Financial statement consolidation;
- Trial balance/general ledger/fixed asset;
- Audit support;
- Software conversion/installation of financial systems;
- Account reconciliation;
- Expense account analysis;
- Tax payments and returns;
- Payroll management;
- Budget preparation, operating, and capital;
- Product costing;
- Developing or testing internal controls;
- Capital budgeting support;
- Analysis of financial statements or budgets;
- Analysis of information flows and accounting processes;
- Research of accounting literature or tax codes;
- Conducting internal audits;
- Preparation of journal entries;
- Income tax preparation, projections, or advice;
- Financial consulting; or
- Educational instruction in any discipline covered by the examination (academia)
Pass the AICPA Ethics Exam
The AICPA Ethics Exam is a self-study course that may be completed any time before, during, or after you sit for the CPA exam so long as it’s completed within 2 years of submitting your CPA license application. The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be answered with a score of 90% or higher. To prepare for it, you’ll receive a 100-page textbook from the AICPA upon registration.
You can take the exam online or via a paper form that you’ll submit through the mail. You’ll have three attempts to pass the exam if you take the online version. After that, you’ll need to complete the exam via the paper / snail-mail route.
The exam and related materials can cost anywhere from $209 – $270, depending on whether you register as an AICPA member or not.
Pro-tip: When ordering the AICPA exam, be sure to let them know you’re taking the exam for your Wyoming State Board certification. That way when you pass, the AICPA will notify the Wyoming State Board of your passing score.
Get Your CPA License!
Finally! After passing the CPA exam and meeting all of the education and work experience requirements above, you’ll finally be able to apply for your CPA license!
Wyoming’s application process is fairly straightforward. In order to receive your CPA license, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your CPA license application
- Education transcripts (if necessary*)
- Verification of Experience (as part of application)
- Verification of Lawful Presence form
- Application fee ($225)
*Your college transcripts provided as part of your CPA exam application will already be on file. You’ll only need to provide additional transcripts if you did not meet the educational requirements for licensure when applying to sit for the CPA Exam (e.g. did not meet the 150-hour rule).
Once you’ve submitted everything noted above, then congratulations! You should be well on your way to getting your CPA license! In case you need any more info about the exam or licensing process, be sure to check out the additional resources I’ve included down below.
Additional Resources and Information
More info on Exam Application Process
Board Statutes, Rules and Regulations
Wyoming Board of Certified Public Accountants
Contact Information
Office Address
325 W 18th St, Suite 4
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Email: wycpaboard@wyo.gov
Phone: (307) 777-7551
Additional Organizations
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To learn more about some of the things you’ll need to prepare for the CPA Exam, be sure to check out my detailed reviews of each of the top courses on the market:
