Pennsylvania CPA Exam Requirements

Education requirements

Residency requirements
150 Semester Hours Required to Sit for the Exam? No U.S. Citizenship Required: No
Minimum Degree Required: Baccalaureate Applicant must be a resident, employee, OR have office in the state? Yes

Other:

  • 150 hours may reduce experience required for license but do not need 150 to sit for exam
  • Baccalaureate with 150 semester hours or Graduate degree

Other:

Residency, employee in PA (under supervision of licensee), or PA college grad

Additional Educational Requirements

  • 150 hour requirement is an option which after Jan 1, 2000 allows candidate to reduce required two years experience for certification to 1 year
  • Baccalaureate degree with at least 24 semester hours in accounting or
  • Baccalaureate degree with 150 semester hours with at least 36 semester hours in accounting or
  • Masters degree with at least 24 semester hours in accounting

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.

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Pennsylvania CPA exam application process

Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania CPA Application Process: Click here >>
Pennsylvania CPA Application Forms: Click here >>
Pennsylvania CPA Statutes: Click here >>
Pennsylvania CPA Exam FAQs: Click here >>

Pennsylvania exam fees

Initial Application Fee: $95
Audit: $209.33
Financial: $197.40
Regulation: $173.55
Business: $161.63
Total: $836.91
Special Fees:
$95 re-examination application fee 		 

All Fees are Non-Refundable

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Pennsylvania state board contacts

Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy
2601 North Third St.
Harrisburg, PA
17110

Web: www.dos.state.pa.us/account >>
Phone: 717-783-1404
Fax: 717-705-5540
Email: ST-ACCOUNTANCY@state.pa.us
Email: cpaes-pa@nasba.org

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
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Pennsylvania CPA exam application process

  1. Review exam requirements

    To sit for the CPA exam as a first-time four-part candidate in Pennsylvania, follow these steps: You must be at least 18 years of age, a resident* of Pennsylvania and you will need:
    1. A Bachelor's degree from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education, to include 24 hours** in accounting, auditing, business law, finance or taxation subjects, or
    2. A Master's, or other post-graduate, degree from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education, to include 24 hours** as required in #1 above, or
    3. A Bachelor's, or higher, degree from a college or university approved at time of graduation by the Department of Education with 150 credit hours, to include 36 hours** as required in #1 and #2 above.
    *May be employed full-time in Pennsylvania under the supervision of a licensed CPA or have graduated from a college or university in Pennsylvania.
    ** Must include 3 hours in accounting and 3 hours in either auditing, business law, finance or taxation subjects.

  2. Submit your exam application, enroll in Becker

    If you meet the educational requirements, submit your application to the CPA Examination Services Pennsylvania Coordinator in Nashville, Tennessee. The application fee will be $95, the exam fees will total $741.91, and the process may take as long as eight weeks. 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 CPA Examination Services 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, CPA Examination Services 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 Allentown, Clarks Summit, Erie, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Lancaster, Monroeville, North Wales, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, York, or any other Prometric location that is convenient to you.

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