Pennsylvania CPA requirements
If you’re ready to take the next step in your accounting career and obtain your CPA license, we’ve outlined the Pennsylvania CPA requirements below. Knowing the education and experience you need prior to moving forward will help you create a more efficient, achievable plan for obtaining your license. However, we also recommend checking with the Pennsylvania Board of Accountancy for any changes or updates they may release.
All CPA candidates must pass the CPA Exam – a four section exam consisting of three Core exams and a Discipline of your choosing. To sit for the exam, you do not need to have your degree, but you must have completed 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Of the 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours), 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) must be in accounting, auditing, business law, finance, technology, or tax subjects approved by the Board.
All CPA candidates must pass the CPA Exam – a four section exam consisting of three Core exams and a Discipline of your choosing. To sit for the exam, you do not need to have your degree, but you must have completed 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Of the 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours), 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) must be in accounting, auditing, business law, finance, technology, or tax subjects approved by the Board.
All CPA candidates must pass the CPA Exam – a four section exam consisting of three Core exams and a Discipline of your choosing. To sit for the exam, you do not need to have your degree, but you must have completed 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Of the 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours), 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) must be in accounting, auditing, business law, finance, technology, or tax subjects approved by the Board.
Pennsylvania CPA license requirements
All CPA candidates must pass the CPA Exam – a four section exam consisting of three Core exams and a Discipline of your choosing. To sit for the exam, you do not need to have your degree, but you must have completed 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Of the 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours), 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) must be in accounting, auditing, business law, finance, technology, or tax subjects approved by the Board.
CPA requirements in Pennsylvania
In addition to passing the CPA Exam, CPA candidates will need to meet additional educational and experience requirements.
Education requirements
While you only need 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) to sit for the exam, to obtain your license you will need to complete your bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or university that’s been accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education. You will also need 150 total semester hours (225 quarter hours) that include:
- 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in accounting and auditing, business law, technology, finance, tax, or economics.
- 12 additional semester hours (18 quarter hours) in accounting and auditing or tax subjects approved by the board.
Candidates who took post-secondary courses or education outside of the United States will need to have their education evaluated by one of the following organizations:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services
- Education Credential Evaluators, Inc.
- Foreign Education Credentials Service, Inc.
The 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) you earned toward your bachelor’s degree will be applied toward the 150-hour requirement.
Experience requirements
CPA candidates must also complete 12 full months and at least 1,600 hours of qualifying experience over 60 months immediately before the date you apply for your CPA license. Your experience can come from employment in government, industry, public practice or academia and must be in providing any type of service or advice where you use accounting, attest, compilation, management or financial advisory, tax or consulting.
Ethics requirements
CPA candidates in Pennsylvania are not required to take an ethics exam to obtain a CPA license.
Residency requirements
Pennsylvania does not require state residency nor U.S. citizenship, but you must have a Social Security number or complete a form to waive the Social Security Number requirement.
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Over 1 million candidates have prepared with Becker and 98% of customers say that Becker meets their CPA Exam preparation needs.
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Pennsylvania CPA license renewals
Pennsylvania CPAs must renew their license every two years. The cycle runs from January 1 to December 31 biennially.
To maintain your CPA license, you must complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) within each two-year renewal period, though new licensees are not required to complete CPE during the biennium in which you passed the CPA Exam.
Pennsylvania CPA CPE requirements also state that you must earn at least 20 CPE credits in each year of the renewal period in subjects relevant to professional competence.
To maintain your CPA license, you must complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) within each two-year renewal period, though new licensees are not required to complete CPE during the biennium in which you passed the CPA Exam.
Pennsylvania CPA CPE requirements also state that you must earn at least 20 CPE credits in each year of the renewal period in subjects relevant to professional competence.
To maintain your CPA license, you must complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) within each two-year renewal period, though new licensees are not required to complete CPE during the biennium in which you passed the CPA Exam.
Pennsylvania CPA CPE requirements also state that you must earn at least 20 CPE credits in each year of the renewal period in subjects relevant to professional competence.
