North Carolina CPA Exam Requirements

Education requirements

Residency requirements
150 Semester Hours Required to Sit for the Exam? No U.S. Citizenship Required: Yes
Minimum Degree Required: Baccalaureate Applicant must be a resident, employee, OR have office in the state? Not Required

Other:

Need 150 hours to be granted license but do not need 150 to sit for exam

Additional Educational Requirements

  • minimum of 30 semester hours in accounting; may count 1 bus. Law class (3 hrs.) towards the 30 hrs.
  • May sit 120 days prior to meeting educational requirements

Age requirements

Age Minimum: 18

Note: The requirements shown relate specifically to "applying for" and "taking" the exam. Additional requirements may be in effect relating to "certification" and "licensing", Please contact the appropriate state board for "certification" and "licensing" requirements.

Watch "Exam Planning"

North Carolina CPA exam application process

North Carolina Application Process

  1. Review exam requirements
  2. Submit your exam application, enroll in Becker
  3. Request and forward your transcripts
  4. Pay your exam fees
  5. Schedule your exam

View all steps >>

International Candidates >>

Exam process links

North Carolina CPA Application Process: Click here >>
North Carolina CPA Application Forms: Click here >>
North Carolina CPA Statutes: Click here >>
North Carolina CPA Exam FAQs: Click here >>

North Carolina exam fees

Initial Application Fee: $230
Audit: $209.33
Financial: $197.40
Regulation: $173.55
Business: $161.63
Total: $971.91
Special Fees:
$75.00 re-exam/administrative fee 		 

All Fees are Non-Refundable

Watch "Preparing to Pass"

North Carolina state board contacts

North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners
1101 Oberlin Road, Suite 104
PO Box 12827
Raleigh, NC
27605-2827

Web: www.cpaboard.state.nc.us >>
Phone: 919-733-4224
Fax: 919-733-4209
Email: phyllise@nccpaboard.gov

Additional information about the exam/process

Exam Links: AICPA >>
NASBA >>
CPA-Exam.org >>
Become a CPA: http://www.beckercpa.com/become-a-cpa/Become-a-CPA.pdf >>
Exam FAQ's: http://pdfs/NewExamFAQs.pdf >>
“Test Drive” Prometric: http://www.prometric.com/TestDrive/default.htm >>
Familiarize yourself with the testing environment
“Licensing Resources (subscription required) http://all.nasbatools.com/jurisdiction/list_jurisdiction
Watch "CPAs Today"

print this window   |   close this window

North Carolina CPA exam application process

  1. Review exam requirements

    To sit for the CPA exam as a first-time four-part candidate in North Carolina, follow these steps: You must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, or have the intention to be, and you will need:
    1. A Bachelor's* degree from a regionally-accredited institution that either includes, or is supplemented by, 30 hours in undergraduate accounting (no more than 6 hours allowed for principles of accounting and 3 hours in business law) or 20 hours in accounting at the graduate level, or
    2. Have scored in the 50th percentile, or higher, on each part of the Graduate Record Examination or Graduate Management Admissions Test and has enrolled for an advanced degree at a regionally-accredited institution, having completed 10 hours of graduate courses including 6 hours of graduate accounting
    *Educational requirements must be completed no later than 120 calendar days after the actual date the candidate took the first exam section.

  2. Submit your exam application, enroll in Becker

    If you meet the educational requirements, submit an original application for review of educational requirements to the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners using the link provided in the Becker website. The application fee will be $230 and the exam fees total $741.91. Your name on the application should exactly match your name on your primary form of identification, which is usually your driver’s license. At this time you should also begin planning your study approach by making inquiries into CPA reviews available in your area. The Becker CPA Review offers classes live, online or self-study to accommodate the needs of all candidates.

  3. Request and forward your transcripts

    Contact any educational institutions attended and request that transcripts be forwarded to the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners for their evaluation. If you do not expect any problems in processing your application it is best to make plans to start your review at this time. The Becker CPA Review will significantly increase your chances of passing the exam.

  4. Pay your exam fees

    After receiving the required information, the State Board will issue your Authorization to Test (ATT) to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). You will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) which is good for six months; however, since every third is non-testing, the NTS covers four testing months.

  5. Schedule your exam

    Your NTS allows you to start scheduling your exams. You can sit for the exam parts in any sequence so you can plan your reviews to coincide with your exam scheduling. The most efficient approach is to sit for two parts in each exam window; however, exam fees paid for parts not taken are not refundable. Exam times are scheduled with Prometric and can be set up online at www.prometric.com/cpa . You can take the exam at a site in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington, or any other Prometric location that is convenient to you.

Disclaimer:

The information on this Web site does not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither Becker Professional Review nor it’s parent company, DeVry Inc., nor any officer or employee of Becker Professional Review or DeVry Inc, provides assurance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information in this Web site. Neither Becker Professional Review nor DeVry Inc., nor any officer or employee of Becker Professional Review or DeVry Inc, shall be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Additionally, as a convenience to the internet users, this Web site has links to other Web sites, however the listing of such link does not constitute an endorsement of any Web site.