The requirements to become a CPA in Indiana 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 IN 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 Indiana
- 2 Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
- 3 Fulfill the IN CPA Education Requirements
- 4 Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and Obtain Your CPA License:
- 5 Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
- 6 Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
- 7 IN CPA Work Experience Requirements
- 8 Pass the Ethics Exam
- 9 Get Your CPA License!
- 10 Additional Resources and Information
- 11 Additional Organizations
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Indiana
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Indiana.
- Minimum age requirement?: No
- US citizenship required?: No
- Indiana residency required?: No
- Minimum level of education required: See next section
- Valid Social Security Number (SSN)* required?: Yes
*An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may also be provided
Fulfill the IN CPA Education Requirements
Unlike some states which let you sit for the CPA Exam while you’re still in college, in Indiana you need to have completed at least 150 semester hours just to sit for the CPA Exam (the same amount needed for licensure). There are a few different paths you may take depending on the type of degree you obtain though, so let’s check out exactly what’s needed:
Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and Obtain Your CPA License:
- Have at least 150 semester hours and a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- At least 24 undergraduate semester hours (or 15 graduate semester hours, or a combination of the two*) in accounting courses covering the following subjects:
- Financial accounting,
- Auditing,
- Taxation,
- Managerial accounting
- At least 24 semester hours in business administration and economics courses, not including accounting courses, at the undergraduate or graduate level, including:
- Up to 6 semester hours of business and tax law courses
- Up to 6 semester hours of computer science courses
*Applicants with a blend of undergraduate and graduate level accounting courses will need to meet the 24-hour requirement, with graduate level courses being converted at a rate of 1.6 semester hours for every 1 graduate hour in accounting.
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 Indiana are as follows:
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*Indiana‘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 $75 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!
IN CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Indiana Board of Accountancy requires that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. The requirements are fairly straightforward but vary depending on the type of work you’ll be performing:
- You must have at least 24 months of full-time employment verified by a licensed CPA.
- Part-time experience is accepted but will be converted to the full-time equivalent for licensing purposes (e.g. 2 years of half-time experience would only equal 1 year of full-time experience).
Qualifying accounting experience is defined as any of the following:
- An employee or intern engaged in an accounting position in a firm
- An employee in a financial or accounting position in industry, government or a non-profit organization
- An employee in an advisory and/or consulting services position related to one (1) or more of the following activities:
- Financial
- Accounting
- Operational
- An instructor teaching accounting in a college or university (4 year institutions or junior colleges)
Pass the Ethics Exam
Good news! Unlike some other states, the Indiana Board doesn’t require you to complete an ethics course prior to obtaining your CPA license! You may have to complete one as part of your annual CPE requirements once you’re licensed though, but you can worry about that later :).
Get Your CPA License!
Almost there! 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!
Indiana’s application process is fairly straightforward compared to other states. In order to get your CPA license, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your CPA license application (State Form 49209)
- Notarized CPA Verification of Experience
- No application fee, however a license fee will apply once you’re accepted. The license fee is tiered based on when your license becomes active:
- July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 – $85
- July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 – $60
- July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 – $35
Once you’ve submitted everything noted above, then 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, and best of luck on your journey to becoming a CPA!
Additional Resources and Information
Indiana Board of Accountancy & Licensing Information
Office Address
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2700
Email: pla14@pla.in.gov
Phone: (317) 234-8800
Fax: None
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:
