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CPA examination & licensure requirements
 
Please see the CPA Checklist for more detailed information, including required course work affecting eligibility to work at Public Accounting Firms.
Timeline Requirements
Education required to sit for the CPA Exam: Coursework completed throughout college Bachelor's degree
36 quarter units of accounting
36 quarter units in business-related
Education Coursework Required for:

CPA Licensing and Eligibility to be hired at a Public Accounting Firm**
All of this coursework must be completed before your first day of work for most accounting firms.

You will need all of this coursework when you are applying for your CPA License.
Including the above 36 units, totaling:
Completion of 45 quarter units of accounting
Completion of 45 quarter units of business-related subjects
Completion of 12 quarter units in additional relevant work
Completion of 15 quarter units in ethics
Evidence of a total of 225 quarter units
CPA Exams: Take the 4 CPA Exams Pass all Four Exams
Licensure Requirement: After passing all four CPA exams One year general experience supervised by a licensed CPA, (including at least 500 attested work hours)

Passing of Ethics Course



For Complete information on the CPA Examination & Licensure Requirements, please visit The CPA Board Webpage and for first time exam takers please check out the CPA Exam Overview Webpage.
If you have further questions, please contact Exam Unit General Information at examinfo.cba@ca.gov or Phone: (916) 561-1703.