First of all, congratulations on researching what it takes to get your CPA license! The requirements to become a CPA in North Carolina can be a bit confusing, so I decided to put together this guide to help you navigate the entire process.
If you’re just now starting to research getting your CPA license in NC then I suggest starting from the top. Otherwise, feel free to skip ahead to any section you’d like to learn a little more about.
Contents
- 1 7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in North Carolina
- 2 Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
- 3 Fulfill the NC 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 NC CPA Work Experience Requirements
- 7 Complete the NC Accountancy Law Course
- 8 Obtain Your CPA License!
- 9 Additional Resources and Information
- 10 Contact Information
- 11 Bottom Line
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in North Carolina
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in North Carolina.
- Minimum age requirement?: 18
- US citizenship required?: Yes, or need to declare intent to become U.S. citizen
- North Carolina 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 NC CPA Education Requirements
In North Carolina you need at least 150 semester hours to obtain 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 at least 120 total semester units (i.e. bachelor’s degree or higher) from an accredited university with a concentration in accounting
The NCCPA defines a concentration in accounting as follows:
- At least 30 semester hours, or the equivalent in quarter hours, of undergraduate accountancy courses which shall include no more than six semester hours of accounting principles and no more than three semester hours of business law; or
- At least 20 semester hours or the equivalent in quarter hours, of graduate accounting courses that are open exclusively to graduate students; or
- A combination of undergraduate and graduate courses which would be equivalent to Subparagraph (1) or (2).
In general, one semester (or quarter) hour of graduate study in accounting is considered the equivalent of one and one-half semester (or quarter) hours of undergraduate study in accounting. Up to four (4) semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter hours) of graduate income tax courses completed in law schools may count toward the semester hour requirements above.
Qualifying accounting courses include courses covering the following topics:
- Principles courses at the elementary, intermediate and advanced levels,
- Managerial accounting,
- Business law,
- Cost accounting,
- Fund accounting,
- Auditing, and
- Taxation.
Courses that do not qualify include: Business finance, Business management, Computer science, Economics, Writing skills, Accounting internships, and CPA exam review courses.
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
- Have at least 150 total semester units (i.e. bachelor’s degree or higher) from an accredited university with a concentration in accounting
AND EITHER
- 24 semester units made up of three (3) semester hours earned from at least eight (8) of the following subjects:
- Communications;
- Computer technology;
- Economics;
- Ethics;
- Finance;
- Humanities/social science;
- International environment;
- Law;
- Management; or
- Statistics
OR
- Master’s (or higher) degree in any of the following subjects:
- Accounting,
- Tax law,
- Economics,
- Finance,
- Business administration, or
- Law (JD)
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.
NC’s CPA Exam application forms can be found here.
The cost to apply and register for all four parts of the CPA Exam in North Carolina are as follows:
[table id=42 /]
*North Carolina’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!
NC CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, you’ll also need a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. Thankfully, the NCCPA Board will accept any of the following paths as meeting the work experience requirement:
- One (1) year of experience in the field of accounting under the direct supervision of an active, U.S. CPA.
- Four (4) years of experience teaching accounting in a four-year accredited college or university.
- Four (4) years of experience in the field of accounting.
- Four (4) years of experience teaching college transfer accounting courses at an accredited community college or technical institute.
- Any combination of the above determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent.
In general, one (1) year of work experience is 52 weeks of Full-time employment, where “Full-time employment” is defined as working at least 30 hours each week for at least one (1) year. Part time experience (less than 30 hours each week) may qualify but a record of actual hours worked must be provided.
Complete the NC Accountancy Law Course
Before applying for your CPA license, you’ll need to complete NC’s eight (8) hour course on the North Carolina Accountancy Statutes and Rules, which includes the Rules of Professional Ethics and Conduct. You’re required to complete the course within one (1) year of applying for your CPA license.
The North Carolina Association of CPAs (NCACPA) currently offers two qualifying courses to meet the requirement:
- A one (1) day, group-study seminar, “Ethics Principles and Professional Responsibilities,” of
- Online self-study course, “North Carolina Law Course: Ethics, Principles, and Professional Responsibility for North Carolina License Applicants.”
Obtain Your CPA License!
Whew! After passing all four sections of the CPA exam and meeting the education and work experience requirements, and passing the accountancy law course, you’ll finally be ready to apply for your CPA license!
North Carolina’s application process is fairly straightforward but there are a few steps involved. To get your CPA license in NC, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your notarized CPA license application form
- Three (3) certificates of good moral character completed by active CPAs
- Proof of work experience
- Proof of completion of the accountancy law course
- 2″ x 2″ photo that meets U.S. passport standards (smiling optional)
- $100 non-refundable fee
Assuming you’ve completed all of the requirements noted above, then you should be well on your way to getting your CPA license!
While I’ve tried to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, be sure to check out the resources I’ve included above and below to help you navigate the latest on what’s required during the application and licensing process.
Additional Resources and Information
More info on the Exam Application Process
More info on the Licensing Application Process
Contact Information
North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners
1101 Oberlin Road, Suite 104
Raleigh, NC 27605
Email: phyllise@nccpaboard.gov
Phone: (919) 733-4224
Fax: (919) 733-4209
Additional Organizations
North Carolina Association of CPAs
Bottom Line
Was this post helpful? If so, please share it with anyone else who you think it might help! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I’ll help you figure things out.
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:
