The requirements to become a CPA in Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota
- 2 Additional Resources and Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Minnesota
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Minnesota.
- Minimum age requirement?: No
- US citizenship required?: No
- Minnesota residency required?: Yes*
- Minimum level of education required: See next section
- Valid Social Security Number (SSN)** required?: Yes
*The residency requirement may also be met if you’re enrolled in a college or university in Minnesota or are working in Minnesota
**An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may also be provided
Fulfill the MN CPA Education Requirements
In Minnesota 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:
There are four different routes you may take to qualify for the CPA Exam in MN:
Route 1: Earn a graduate degree in accounting from an AACSB– or ACBSP-accredited college or university
Route 2: Earn a graduate degree from a business school accredited by the AASCB or ACBSP AND complete the following required curriculum:
- Either 24 semester hours of accounting at the undergraduate level OR 15 semester hours of accounting at the graduate level, or a combination of the two. Accounting hours must cover the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management accounting
Route 3: Earn a bachelor’s degree from a business school or college of business accredited by the AASCB or ACBSP AND complete the following required curriculum:
- 24 semester hours of accounting at the undergraduate level covering the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management accounting
- An additional 24 semester hours of business-related or other accounting courses at the undergraduate level
Route 4: Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited education institution AND complete the following required curriculum:
- At least 24 semester hours of accounting courses at the intermediate or advanced level, including the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management accounting
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
The education requirements to obtain your license are very similar to those needed to sit for the exam, depending which of the above routes you took:
Routes 1, 2 & 3: Same requirements as above AND complete at least 150 semester (or 225 quarter) hours
Route 4: Same requirements as above AND complete at least 150 semester (or 225 quarter) hours, including the following required curriculum:
- At least 24 semester hours of accounting courses at the intermediate or advanced level, including the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management accounting
- A minimum of 24 semester hours of undergrad or graduate-level courses in business-related or other accounting subjects
- Courses must be at the intermediate, advanced, or graduate levels
- No more than 6 hours of internships or “life experience” may be used towards the education requirements
*For more info on what Minnesota defines as “accounting” and “business-related” courses, the listing below should help you figure out which courses qualify:
- Accounting subjects are defined as anything covering:
- 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 research and analysis
- Tax research and analysis
- Accounting information systems
- Accounting ethics
- Business-related subjects are defined as anything covering:
- Business law
- Economics
- Management
- Finance
- Business communications
- Statistics
- Quantitative methods
- Technical writing
- Information systems or technology
- Business ethics
- Marketing
- Data analytics
- Computer science
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 Minnesota are as follows:
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*Minnesota‘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 $115 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!
MN CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Minnesota 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 1 full year of qualifying accounting experience under a licensed CPA.
- Experience may be earned on a full-time or part-time basis, and by one or more employers, but include no fewer than 2,000 hours
Acceptable experience includes employment in industry, government, academia, or public practice that includes “providing any type of services or advice using accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting 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: When ordering the AICPA exam, be sure to let them know you’re taking the exam for your Minnesota State Board certification. That way when you pass, the AICPA will notify the Minnesota State Board of your passing score.
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!
Minnesota’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)
- One personal reference from a non-relative (as part of application)
- Application fee ($150)
*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 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 the Education Requirements and Application Process
Contact Information
Minnesota Board of Accountancy
Office Address
85 E. 7th Place, Suite 125
St. Paul, MN 55101-2143
Email: doreen.johnson@state.mn.us
Phone: (651) 296-7938
Fax: (651) 282-2644
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:
