Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure
If you are interested in working towards a CPA licensure, you should first contact the applicable state board to learn it’s particular requirements. A summary of each states’ requirements and links to more detailed information can be found at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) web site. NASBA serves as a forum for the nation's state boards of accountancy that administer the Uniform CPA Examination, license certified public accountants, and regulate the practice of public accountancy in the United States.
For a comprehensive overview of the CPA Exam, see the Uniform CPA Examination web site.
New York State
There are three major requirements for licensure as a certified public accountant in New York state: education, examination and experience.
Educational Requirements (total of 150 credit hours)*
Accounting BS (plus additional coursework to meet CPA requirements)
Accounting BS, Accounting MS
CPA Exam
There are different divisions of the exam, and they may be passed separately, but
there are time constraints that must be adhered to. Information about the exam and
necessary forms can be obtained by calling 1-800-CPA-EXAM.
Additional resources:
- Accounting.com: A free site that will let you search for a job, post your résumé, visit the Professional Development Center or visit one of the discussion groups.
- Accounting Today: An online magazine and resource guide for accountants.
- AccountingWEB: Catch up on daily accounting news stories, take a poll, visit corporate partner pages and investigate a list of links.
- American Accounting Association: The American Accounting Association promotes worldwide excellence in accounting education, research and practice.
- American Institute of CPAs: The AICPA is the premier national professional association for CPAs in the United States. Contains information about CPA licensing requirements.
- CPAnet: The online community and complete resource for the accounting profession. Featuring industry information, a CPA toolbox and a career center.
Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the licensing board in their intended career.
