CPA Exam Information

Information about the CPA Exam and additional accounting exams

The CPA Exam and Additional Accounting Certifications

Eligibility to Sit for the CPA Exam

All states require a baccalaureate degree (any major) from an accredited school. Academic requirements per state differ. Most states require 150 hours. Additional accounting credits or specific topics may be required beyond what is earned with a bachelor's degree.

Academic requirements for PA and surrounding states

Pennsylvania

To SIT and be CERTIFIED

Prior to January 1, 2012:

Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school with twenty-four credits in accounting, auditing and tax, plus credits in business law and finance; successfully pass exam; and two years work experience with a CPA firm.
OPTIONAL 150 Credit Requirement: thirty-six credits in accounting, auditing and tax , plus credits in business law and finance; successfully pass exam; and one year work experience with a CPA firm.

Starting January 1, 2012:

150 Credit Requirement: thirty-six credits in accounting, auditing and tax , plus credits in business law and finance; successfully pass exam; and one year work experience with a CPA firm.

New Jersey

To SIT: Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school, with 120 credits: sixty credits in business, including twenty-four accounting credits (financial, auditing, tax, and managerial), plus six business law, six finance, and six economics credits.

To be CERTIFIED: 150 credits. May have other specific requirements such as work experience.

New York

To SIT:

Prior to August 1, 2009 (May sit as a conditional candidate.) Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school, completing 120 credits prescribed for the accounting major. (No course-by-course review.)
Starting August 1, 2009: Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school, completing 150 credits with 33 semester hours in accounting (financial accounting theory and principles; advanced financial accounting, managerial accounting, U.S. federal tax accounting, external auditing and computer auditing); and 36 semester hours in general business (business statistics,commercial law, computer science, economics, finance).

To be CERTIFIED: May have other specific requirements such as work experience

Maryland

To SIT: Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school completing 150 credits; twenty-seven credits in accounting: including nine financial accounting, three each auditing, cost, tax; thirty business related: including three credits each finance, management, marketing, oral communication, statistics, business law, business ethics [PSU’s Mgmt 451 or Phil 106], and six economics.

To be CERTIFIED: May have other specific requirements such as work experience.