Colorado is less strict than most states and does not require 150 credit hours to earn a CPA license. However, if you do earn 150 credit hours your work experience requirement will be waived.
To be eligible to sit for the CPA exam students must first fulfill these qualifications and requirements:
- Minimum age: None
- U.S. Residency NOT Required
- State Residency NOT required
Education Requirements
- Bachelor degree or above
- Accounting courses: 27 semester hours including 3 hours in auditing 21 hours in specialized courses
- Business courses: 21 semester hours (no more than 6 for each subject)
- Please see Colorado CPA Requirements for more course details
*CPA applicants who received a bachelor’s degree before July 1, 1993 must adhere to the old CPA requirements.
**International candidates: The State Board no longer accepts Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certificates to fulfill the educational requirement.
Please check out the Information and Application for Pre-Evaluation if you have questions regarding this rule.
CO CPA License Requirements
Important Note: Effective July 1, 2015, Colorado will require the completion of 150 credit hours before applying for a CPA license.
Important Note: Effective July 1, 2015, Colorado will require the completion of 150 credit hours before applying for a CPA license.
There are 2 different options to choose from to obtain a Colorado CPA license:
Experience:
- Must include 1 year (1,800 hours) in public or non-public accounting as well as in academia
- Must have been met within 5 years preceding date of application
- Part-time work is acceptable as long as you complete 1,800 hours within 1-3 years
- Must be under the supervision of an active CPA or Chartered Accountant from an IQAB MRA country in good standing. (Australia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico and New Zealand)
- Please refer to chapters 2 and 4 for more details
- Master’s degree, doctoral degree, OR bachelor’s degree with total 150 credit hours
- 45 semester hours in Accounting: 6 hours in Audit covering US GAAS
- 36 semester hours in General Business related subjects with no more than 9 hours in any one subject
- Experience requirement is waived
- Passing of the AICPA ethics exam is mandatory for both pathways above
- Cost of course is $149 or $119 for AICPA members
Colorado Exam Fees
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $195.35 |
| Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) | $176.25 |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $195.35 |
| Regulation (REG) | $176.25 |
| Application Fee: | $150 |
Additional CPA Requirements
- Pass all 4 sections of the CPA exam with a score of 75% or higher
- Complete verified accounting work experience (only if pathway 1 is chosen)
- Pass AICPA Ethics Exam
- Fill out and submit all required CPA license application paperwork
- Pay the CPA license application fee
CO Exam Information and Resources
For more details, please contact:
1560 Broadway-Suite 1340
Denver, CO 80202
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Phone: 303-894-7800
Fax: 303-894-7692
What’s Next?
Now that you have started the CPA exam application process, your next step is to find a CPA review course that fits your budget, learning style and schedule.
It can take several weeks for your application to be processed so don’t waste that valuable time waiting to hear back from your state board. If you start studying now you will get a nice jump start on the material and will be better prepared to pass your first CPA exam!
Mary
Posted at 12 July, 2019 13:08 PMHi, I see on here you explain an Education only (no experience) track for getting a license. Could you please direct me to where that information was obtained?
Bryce Welker, CPA
Posted at 16 July, 2019 18:23 PMHi Mary, see here for CO work experience information: https://www.ais-cpa.com/colorado-cpa-requirements/
Abigail Schuster
Posted at 8 August, 2016 21:34 PMHi! I have passed 3/4 sections of the CPA exam and am looking ahead to applying for a license. The state of Colorado requires one 'GAAS'-based audit course and an additional 'other auditing' course. I took a Forensic Accounting class that focused on both investigative and fraud auditing. Have you ever heard of someone using a Foresnic Accounting class to satisfy this credit?
awad Zawahra
Posted at 17 February, 2016 01:16 AMHello there,I have passed all the CPA exams in 2013 from the State of Colorado, I also have an MBA with finance concentration from Keller Graduate School of Management of Devry University in New York State, I have 180 credits in finance and accounting, but I have no public accounting experience, am I eligible to get Colorado license? and if yes, how do I apply and send the documents, I am now in UAE,advise please.
Ravi Sharma
Posted at 22 April, 2015 18:18 PMHi I have passed FAR under Colorado Jurisdiction and have 136 credits as per NASBA. I am eligible to take exams prior to 30th June 2015 but am I eligible to give exams post 1st July. if not, what happens to my FAR credit. Can I transfer to any other state. Please guide me. Thanks
BWelk
Posted at 22 April, 2015 20:08 PMDoes anyone know the answer to Ravi's question or have experience with this same thing? I am not sure how Colorado handles this.
[email protected]
Posted at 18 March, 2015 16:35 PMHi I have passed all the 4 sections of CPA exams from Colorado in year 2009 and would now like to apply for a license. I have over 3 years of work experience in public accounting. But my education consists of B.Com from India with a CA license and CS exam passed. Is there a way to get a license in Colorado with this qualification. I am OK with applying in any other state by transferring Exam Credits as long as a license is given.. Please advise.
BWelk
Posted at 1 April, 2015 22:32 PMHi,You will need to use a foreign credentials evaluation service to know exactly what you need and don't need in order to qualify. Your state board of accountancy website should have some of these services listed on their website.Cheers,Bryce