New Jersey

Education:
First time candidates must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age;
  • Be of good moral character;

Candidates who graduated prior to July 1, 2000: must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, or its equivalent, based upon a curriculum that includes a minimum of 60 semester hours selected from courses in English, history, foreign languages, mathematics, general psychology, science, geography, fine arts and music; and a minimum of 60 semester hours in professional courses including at least 24 semester hours in accounting; at least 6 semester hours in business law; at least 6 semester hours in finance; at least 6 semester hours in economics; and at least 18 semester hours in related business subjects.

Note: Candidates applying under this rule must have completed ALL of these requirements before July 1, 2000.

Candidates who graduated prior to July 1, 2000 can be licensed under these educational requirements.

Candidates who graduated after July 1, 2000: may sit for the exam with a Bachelors degree earned at a regionally accredited University or AARTS (Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools) accredited University and 120 semester hours. However, these candidates are required to meet 150 semester hours, and meet one of the following four conditions before they can be licensed.

  1. Earned a graduate degree with a concentration in accounting from an accounting program or department which has been granted level three accreditation by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) or any other national accreditation agency recognized by the Board;

  2. Earned a graduate degree from a business school or college of business which has been granted level two accreditation by the AACSB, ACBSP or other national accreditation agency recognized by the Board: A. At least 24 semester hours in accounting at the undergraduate level OR B. At least 15 semester hours in accounting at the graduate level which included course work in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting. Or an equivalent combination of graduate and undergraduate hours

  3. Earned a baccalaureate degree from a business school or college of business which has been granted level two accreditation by AACSB, ACBSP, or any other national accreditation agency recognized by the Board, and completed the following: A. At least 24 semester hours in accounting at the undergraduate level or the graduate level, which included course work in financial accounting, auditing taxation and management accounting; AND B. At least 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses) at the undergraduate level.

  4. Earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from an educational institution which has been granted level one accreditation from the Middle States Association, Commission on Higher Education, AARTS (Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools or any other regional accrediting agency recognized by the Board. The applicant shall complete the following: A. At least 30 semester hours in accounting, which included course work in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting; AND B. At least 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses) at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Note: Candidates with foreign degrees earned after July 1, 2000 and candidates who have graduated from institutions that are NOT accredited by AACSB or ACBSP will qualify under this rule.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy is in the process of changing rules and regulations regarding the transition to computer-based testing.

Applicants may qualify under one of the three following requirements:

  1. A Baccalaureate degree from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education, to include 24 semester hours in accounting, and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects.
    NOTE: The 24 semester hours must include a minimum of 3 semester hours in accounting AND 3 semester hours in either auditing, business law, finance, or tax subject. OR
  2. A Master degree or other post-graduate degree, from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education, to include 24 semester hours in accounting, and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects.
    NOTE: The 24 semester hours must include a minimum of 3 semester hours in accounting AND 3 semester hours in either auditing, business law, finance, or tax subject. OR
  3. A Baccalaureate or higher degree, from a college or university approved at the time of graduation by the Department of Education, and have completed a total of 150 semester credits of post-secondary education to include 24 semester hours in accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects. An additional twelve semester credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects are required.

NOTE: The 24 semester hours must include a minimum of 3 semester hours in accounting AND 3 semester hoursin either auditing, business law, finance, or tax subject. (See state board web site information.)
All education must be met at the time of application. This will be strictly enforced.

Applicants with educational credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by one of the following professional credentials evaluation organizations to show U.S. equivalency:

For more information you may view the website for the State Board of Accountancy at www.dos.state.pa.us/account

First time candidates must be:

  1. A resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; or
  2. Employed full-time in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the supervision of a licensed CPA; or
  3. Have graduated from a college or university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Applicants must also:

  1. Have attained the age of eighteen years
  2. Be of good moral character

First time candidates
All applicants are required to pay both an application fee and an examination fee. An application fee of $75 is required regardless of the number of sections for which the application is made. This fee is not refundable.

AND EXAMINATION SECTIONS EXAMINATION FEE
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) $ 134.50
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) $ 100.50
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) $ 126.00
Regulation (REG) $ 109.00
Applicants will be able to apply for one or more section(s) of the examination at a time.

All fees must be paid at the time of application and must be in U.S. dollars. Certified checks or money orders must be drawn on a US bank and made payable to CPA Examination Services.

Re-exam candidates
All candidates are required to pay both an application fee and an examination fee. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Candidates who choose to pay by certified check or money order must be invoiced by CPA Examination Services.

An application fee is required regardless of the number of sections scheduled. This fee is not refundable.

EXAMINATION SECTIONS APPLICATION FEE
4 Sections $ 75.00
3 Sections $ 75.00
2 Sections $ 75.00
1 Section $ 75.00

EXAMINATION SECTIONS EXAMINATION FEE
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) $ 134.50
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) $ 100.50
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) $ 126.00
Regulation (REG) $ 109.00

Candidates will be able to apply for one or more section(s) of the examination at a time.

All fees must be paid at the time of application and must be in U.S. dollars. Certified checks or money orders must be drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to CPA Examination Services.

Email: [email protected]
Pennsylvania Coordinator
CPA Examination Services
P.O. Box 198469
Nashville, Tennessee 37219-8469