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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: 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.

New Jersey

To SIT: Hold a bachelor's or master's degree from accredited school, with 150 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: May have other specific requirements such as work experience.

New York

To SIT:  (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 reveiw.)

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

REQUIRED 150 credits will be effective August 1, 2009.

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 econonomics.

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

CPA ExaM Information Links

Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)  [Investigating agency of candidate crendintials for State Boards]

More detailed CPA Exam requirements for Pennsylvania and other states available to students on the Smeal Intranet.

Professional CPA Exm Review Courses

Instructional Classes

Becker Conviser CPA Review

Robert Morris College, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

*Review courses are NOT affiliated with Penn State University.

Home Study Courses

Bisk-Totaltape

Gleim Publication

Kaplan Test Prep

Lambers CPA Review

Logicat CPA Review

MicroMash

The Tutorial Group Inc.

Wiley's CPA Examination Review

ACCOUNTING CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified Management Accountant: (CMA)

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE)