The requirements to become a CPA in Kansas 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 KS 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 Kansas
- 2 Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
- 3 Fulfill the KS CPA Education Requirements
- 4 Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
- 5 Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
- 6 KS CPA Work Experience Requirements
- 7 Pass the AICPA Ethics Exam
- 8 Get Your CPA License!
- 9
- 10 Additional Resources and Information
- 11
- 12 Contact Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Kansas
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Kansas.
- Minimum age requirement?: No
- US citizenship required?: No
- Kansas residency required?: Yes
- 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 KS CPA Education Requirements
Kansas; requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and get your license are the same. Here’s a breakdown of exactly what’s needed to become a CPA in Kansas:
- Have at least 150 semester (or 225 quarter) hours AND a bachelor’s degree in accounting (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- At least 42 semester (63 quarter) hours in n business and general education courses including the following:
- A macroeconomics course, a microeconomics course, and one upper-division economics course
- At least two courses in legal aspects of business or business law
- College algebra or higher-level math course
- Statistics and probability theory
- Computer systems and applications
- Finance
- Management and administration
- Marketing
- Production, operations research, or applications of quantitative techniques to business problems
- At least 11 semester (16.5 quarter) hours in written and oral communications
- This includes courses such as English Composition, Speech, Business Communications, it does not include Foreign Language, Poetry, Literature, Theatre, etc.
- At least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in courses in accounting theory and practice, including the following:
- Financial accounting and reporting for business organizations, which may include:
- Intermediate accounting
- Advanced accounting, or
- Accounting theory
- Managerial accounting beyond an introductory course
- Auditing course concentrationg on auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. as issued by the AICPA auditing
standards board or the PCAOB or both - U.S. Income Taxation
- Accounting systems beyond an introductory computer course
- Financial accounting and reporting for business organizations, which may include:
Note: You can obtain a waiver for up to three (3) semester hours in each of the categories above, not to exceed a total of six hours, but only if you’ve met the 150 hour education requirement and can provide satisfactory verification that you otherwise met the course requirement. Please see the Board’s position paper on waivers for additional information.
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
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 Kansas are as follows:
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*Kansas‘ 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, an $85 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!
KS CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Kansas 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 a minimum of 1 year of accounting accounting experience verified by a licensed CPA.
- Experience can be obtained through government, industry, academia or public practice, providing any type of service or advice involving the use of attest or non-attest skills.
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: After completing the exam, be sure to download your certificate of completion. You’ll need to submit it to the Kansas State Board as part of your license application.
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!
NOTE: KANSAS IS A TWO-TIERED STATE. YOU MUST OBTAIN A CPA CERTIFICATE BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO PRACTICE. THE CERTIFICATE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO PRACTICE OR HOLD OUT AS A CPA. In order to receive your CPA license, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your CPA Certificate application
- Your CPA Permit application
- Education transcripts (if necessary*)
- Verification of Experience form
- Application fees
*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 Application Process
FAQ on Application and Licensing
Contact Information
Office Address
Landon State Office Building, 900 SW Jackson, Suite 556
Topeka, KS 66612
Email: ksboa@ks.gov
Phone: (785) 296-2162
Fax: (785) 291-3501
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:
