Georgia CPA requirements
Earning your CPA license can open the door to improved career opportunities and prestige in your profession, but it can be a challenging process. Knowing the Georgia CPA requirements can help you get started on the right track. While we strive to keep this page up to date, it’s a good idea to check the Georgia State Board of Accountancy for any update and changes.
Prior to earning your license, you need to pass the CPA Exam, which requires a minimum score of 75 in three Core Exams and one Discipline Exam. To sit for the exam in Georgia, you need to be of “good moral character” and hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) with a minimum of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university
Of your 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours):
- 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in upper-level accounting courses
- 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in general business subjects
Prior to earning your license, you need to pass the CPA Exam, which requires a minimum score of 75 in three Core Exams and one Discipline Exam. To sit for the exam in Georgia, you need to be of “good moral character” and hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) with a minimum of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university
Of your 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours):
- 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in upper-level accounting courses
- 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in general business subjects
Prior to earning your license, you need to pass the CPA Exam, which requires a minimum score of 75 in three Core Exams and one Discipline Exam. To sit for the exam in Georgia, you need to be of “good moral character” and hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) with a minimum of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university
Of your 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours):
- 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in upper-level accounting courses
- 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in general business subjects
Georgia CPA requirements
Once you have passed all four sections of the CPA Exam, you’ll also need to meet additional education and experience requirements before you can apply for licensure.
Education requirements
Starting January 1, 2026, Georgia will no longer require 150 credit hours of higher education to apply for CPA licensure. Instead, candidates must complete one of two education options, which then determines the amount of professional experience required:
- Master's degree in accounting or taxation
- Bachelor's degree in accounting
Experience requirements
According to Georgia’s newest regulations that will take effect on January 1, 2026, candidates must complete one to two years of professional experience performing one or more accounting services within a public accounting firm, government agency, business, or academia. All experience must be verified by an active licensed CPA.
- Candidates with a bachelor's degree in accounting must complete two years of experience.
- Candidates with a master's degree in accounting or taxation must complete one year of experience.
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Georgia CPA license renewals
Georgia CPA requirements outline that CPAs must renew their license biennially (every two years). All individual licenses expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year. For example, all individual CPA licenses expire on December 31, 2023 and again on December 31, 2025. All firm licenses expire on June 30 of even-numbered year (2024, 2026).
Georgia requires all CPAs to earn 80 hours of CPE credits every two years, prior to the license expiration date. Georgia CPE requirements include:
- 50% of CPE credits must be in technical fields of study (accounting, audit, and taxation
- Four hours of ethics CPE credits, including one credit related to Georgia Board laws, rules, and policies
- 20 hours must be earned each year
- If you are licensed for one year, but less than two years prior to your first renewal date, you must complete 40 hours of CPE with 20 hours in technical fields
Georgia requires all CPAs to earn 80 hours of CPE credits every two years, prior to the license expiration date. Georgia CPE requirements include:
- 50% of CPE credits must be in technical fields of study (accounting, audit, and taxation
- Four hours of ethics CPE credits, including one credit related to Georgia Board laws, rules, and policies
- 20 hours must be earned each year
- If you are licensed for one year, but less than two years prior to your first renewal date, you must complete 40 hours of CPE with 20 hours in technical fields
Georgia requires all CPAs to earn 80 hours of CPE credits every two years, prior to the license expiration date. Georgia CPE requirements include:
- 50% of CPE credits must be in technical fields of study (accounting, audit, and taxation
- Four hours of ethics CPE credits, including one credit related to Georgia Board laws, rules, and policies
- 20 hours must be earned each year
- If you are licensed for one year, but less than two years prior to your first renewal date, you must complete 40 hours of CPE with 20 hours in technical fields
