The requirements to become a CPA in Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania
- 2 Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
- 3 Fulfill the PA 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 PA CPA Work Experience Requirements
- 7 Pass the Ethics Exam
- 8 Get Your CPA License!
- 9 Additional Resources and Information
- 10 Contact Information
- 11 Bottom Line
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Pennsylvania
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Pennsylvania.
- Minimum age requirement?: 18
- US citizenship required?: No
- Pennsylvania 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 PA CPA Education Requirements
In Pennsylvania 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 at least a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- At least 24 semester credits in the following subjects
- Accounting and auditing
- Business law
- Finance
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Tax
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- Have at least 150 total semester credits
- At least 24 semester credits in the following subjects
- Accounting and auditing
- Business law
- Finance
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Tax
- An additional 12 semester credits in
- Accounting
- Auditing
- Tax
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 Pennsylvania are as follows:
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*Pennsylvania‘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 $105 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!
PA CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Pennsylvania State 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 1,600 hours of qualifying accounting experience under a licensed CPA.
- Experience must be over the course of 1-5 years preceding application.
Qualifying accounting experience is defined as “any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills in government, industry, academia or public practice.” The following types of work meet PA’s definition of qualifying experience:
- Attest activity (i.e. auditing)
- Business valuations
- Preparation of income and nonprofit tax returns
- Tax research that is properly documented
- Representation before a government agency on a tax matter
- Financial forecasts, analyses and projections
- Management advisory services that meet AICPA standards
- Management and supervision of accounting functions and preparing financial statements for profit or not-for-profit entities
- Professional accounting-related work in a public accounting firm
- Teaching accounting, auditing, taxation and related courses for academic credit at an accredited college or university (must include at least two different courses above the intro level)
Pass the Ethics Exam
Good news! Unlike some other states, the Pennsylvania 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!
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!
Pennsylvania’s application process is fairly straightforward and is handled directly through their Department of State website. In order to receive your CPA license, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your CPA license application
- Education transcripts (if you pass the CPA exam in another state)
- Verification of Experience Form
- Criminal History Records Check within 90 days of license application (different requirements may apply if you passed the exam in another state, check their website for more details)
- Application fee ($65)
Once you’ve submitted everything noted above, then you should be well on your way to getting your CPA license!
Be sure to check out the resources I’ve included below to help you during the application and licensing process.
Additional Resources and Information
More info on the Application Process
Contact Information
Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy
Office Address
One Penn Center, 2601 N. 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Email: St-Accountancy@pa.gov
Phone: (717) 783-1404
Fax: (717) 783-5540
Additional Organizations
Pennsylvania Institute 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:
