The requirements to become a CPA in Wisconsin 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 WI 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 Wisconsin
- 2 Additional Resources and Information
- 3 Contact Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Wisconsin
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Wisconsin.
- Minimum age requirement?: 18
- US citizenship required?: No
- Wisconsin 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 WI CPA Education Requirements
Wisconsin requires 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!
Let’s have a look at exactly what’s needed to sit for the CPA Exam and for licensure:
Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam:
There are three different routes you may take to qualify for the CPA Exam in WI. Note that each route requires the completion of at least 120 semester hours (or quarter equivalent):
Route 1: Earn a graduate degree in Accounting from an AACSB-accredited college or university
Route 2: Earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from a business school accredited by the AACSB, IACBE or ACBSP AND complete the following required curriculum:
- At least 24 undergraduate semester hours (or 15 graduate semester hours) of Accounting courses, including at least one course above the intro level in each of the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Cost or managerial accounting
- Taxation
- Auditing
- Accounting information systems
Route 3: Earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited educational institution AND complete the following required curriculum:
- At least 24 undergraduate semester hours (or 15 graduate semester hours) of Accounting courses, including at least one course above the intro level in each of the following topics:
- Financial accounting
- Cost or managerial accounting
- Taxation
- Auditing
- Accounting information systems
- At least 24 undergraduate semester hours (or 15 graduate semester hours) of Business and Economics courses (other than accounting courses), including at least one course in each of the following topics:
- Economics
- Finance
- Statistics or data analytics
- Business Law
- Information Technology
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
To obtain your Wisconsin CPA license you’ll need to have completed at least 150 semester hours (or quarter equivalent). Other than that, everything else is exactly the same.
Routes 1, 2 & 3: Same requirements as above AND complete at least 150 semester hours
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 Wisconsin are as follows:
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*The application fee is tiered based on the number of sections you register for, so this is what it would cost to sign up for all four sections. Otherwise, the application fee is $204 for one section, $227 for two sections, or $250 for three sections.
Also, Wisconsin‘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 scaled re-examination fee ($121, $144, $167 or $190 for 1, 2, 3, 0r 4 sections, respectively) 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!
WI CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board 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 at least 1 year of public accounting experience (or its equivalent) supervised a licensed CPA.
- Experience requires providing any type of services or advice using accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or related consulting skills.
- Experience must be acquired after meeting the education requirements outlined above, but within 5 years of your CPA license application.
- Experience may be earned on a full-time or part-time basis, and by one or more employers. Part-time work is weighted proportionately.
According to the Wisconsin Board, qualifying public accounting experience or equivalent forms of experience includes any of the following:
- “Experience in accounting in industry and government may be considered equivalent to public accounting when it requires high levels of knowledge, competence and judgment.
- Experience in teaching accounting may be considered equivalent to public accounting when it is at an advanced and specialized level of accounting. Courses taught in areas other than accounting do not qualify as public accounting experience.
- Experience in law may be considered equivalent to public accounting when it is at a level with responsibility for independent accounting decisions and requires high levels of accounting knowledge, competence and judgment.”
Pass the Wisconsin Ethics Exam
Wisconsin’s ethics exam consists of an open-book, 50 question exam that must be answered with a score of 80% or higher. The exam focuses on Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code governing the accounting profession and must be completed after. To prepare for it, you’ll receive an email with your authorized password and instructions on how to take the exam after you submit your completed CPA license application.
The exam and related materials cost $75.
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!
Wisconsin‘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 (Form #130)
- Required Course Work in Accounting and Business Subjects (Form #3178)
- Education transcripts (if necessary*)
- Experience Record (Form #128)
- Verification of Employment and Experience Evaluation (Form #127)
- Application fee (first-time applicants: $150, which includes the $75 ethics exam fee noted above)
*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 Application Process and Fees
Contact Information
Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board
Mailing Address
PO Box 8366
Madison, WI 53708-8366
Email: dsps@wi.gov
Phone: (608) 266-2112
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:
