To be eligible to sit for the CPA exam students must first fulfill these qualifications and education requirements:
- At least 21 years old
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- US Citizenship NOT required to take exam
- Residency NOT required
Education Requirements
You must complete ONE of the following options:
Option 1
120 credit hours (to sit for the CPA exam)
Including coursework in the following areas:
- 150 semester units from an accredited university or educational institution
- 24 semester credits of accounting and auditing, business law, finance or tax subjects of a content satisfactory to the board
- additional 12 semester credits in accounting, auditing and tax subjects of a content satisfactory to the board, not necessarily as part of the individual’s undergraduate or graduate work
*Please note that 150 credit hours and additional coursework (Option 2) must be completed before you can get your CPA license.
Option 2
150 credit hour licensure requirement
- Complete a registered 150 program approved by NYSED. Complete and submit this NY Program Form
- Complete a master’s degree with a major in accounting from a school accredited in accounting by AACSB
- Complete a bachelor’s or higher degree and a minimum of 150 semester (225 quarter) hours in college level education to include the following:
33 semester hours in accounting to include each of the following:
- Financial accounting,
- Cost accounting,
- Taxation,
- Audit and attestation,
- Accounting research, and
- 36 semester hours in general business
Note: Communications and Ethics and Responsibilities are required and may come from either accounting or business.
* 1 semester hour = 1 credit hour
Option 3
Fifteen years of public accounting experiences acceptable to the State Board for Public Accountancy may be substituted for education.
Please visit http://www.nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/newyork/ for more details on this.
NY CPA License Requirements
Must complete one year of full-time work experience in accounting verified by an active CPA licensee. Experience may be earned in a public accounting firm, government, private industry or an educational institution.
New York CPA Exam Fees
The cost to take all four sections of the CPA exam in New York is $743 plus the initial $125 application fee. The re-examination application fee is $55 – $100 plus the 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: | $100 |
*Important Note: You should not apply and pay for exam sections that will not be taken within six months because your Notice to Schedule (NTS) in New York expires 6 months after issuance.
Additional CPA License Requirements
- Pass all 4 sections of the CPA exam with a score of 75% or higher
- Complete verified accounting work experience
- Fill out and submit all required CPA license application paperwork
- Pay the $375 application fee
NY Exam Information and Resources
State Education Department
Division of Professional Licensing Services
89 Washington Avenue, 2nd Fl. East Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234-1000
Phone: 518-474-3817 Ext. 270
Fax: 518-402-5354
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
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!
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Andrew
Posted at 28 February, 2019 11:56 AMHi, Can I apply with accountant diploma (master degree) obtained outside of USA?
Nana Kwakye Brobbey
Posted at 9 December, 2018 13:46 PMAm a chartered Accountant from Ghana, please I would like to find out if I qualify to write the CPA exams and addition if I also qualify for any exemptions . Thank you
pr1nyc1
Posted at 19 December, 2016 17:29 PMThank you for writing this page. My question is: once i pass my exams, is there a time limit where i have to get all 150 credits?
BWelk
Posted at 22 December, 2016 23:05 PMYes there is a time limit, I'm not sure what it is for NY as this varies from state to state give your BOA a call and they'll be able to tell you.Cheers,Bryce
Jay
Posted at 22 February, 2016 02:06 AMHello. For the experience requirement, most of my responsibility are as a bookkeeper. Will they reject the experience requirement for lack of other responsibility listed? Your answer is much appreciated. I can't seem to find too much information on this part. Thank You
Shlomo Halberstam
Posted at 12 August, 2016 00:34 AMBookkeeping experience is acceptable as long as you are working under the supervision of a CPA who is willing to sign off for you. You can read more about the acceptable forms of experience here
JC
Posted at 11 February, 2016 19:27 PMHi - I've been out of school for 20 years and never actually got my Bachelor's degree (in Finance) as I was 2 classes short. I worked under a CPA for 13 years and have been working as Bookkeeper/Finance Manager/Finance Director/Controller for the last 15 years. Is it possible for me to sit for my CPA in NY or NJ?
Shlomo Halberstam
Posted at 12 August, 2016 00:36 AMPer the NYSED website"Fifteen years of experience acceptable to the State Board for Public Accountancy may be substituted for education for admission to the examination and licensure. This experience must be earned under the direct supervision of a U.S. certified public accountant (CPA) as outlined above in the Experience Requirements section."