To meet the Alabama CPA experience requirements and become a CPA, you’ll need to either have one‐year full‐time employment by a public accounting firm as a staff accountant and supervised by a practicing CPA or PA holding a valid permit to practice, or two years of full‐time employment properly supervised and has sufficient quality and depth in the accounting field in industry, business, government, or college teaching; or any combination of both.
This article will help you to become a CPA in Alabama and is a requirement after you have passed the Alabama CPA exam.
How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…
Table of Contents
Types of Alabama CPA Experience Requirements
Industry or Business Experience: Employed by a person or entity in the performance of duties that primarily involve the use of financial accounting and auditing skills; the installation of internal control systems; the use of management advisory, financial advisory, or consulting skills; or compliance with accounting aspects of tax or regulatory laws.
Government Experience: Employed by a government agency that is Board recognized and has the responsibility and organizational structure for performing auditing and accounting functions.
Teaching Experience: Must have taught courses primarily in the accounting discipline for academic credit at an accredited college or university.
Summary of Alabama CPA Requirements
Credit Hours to sit for the CPA Exam | 120 |
Undergraduate Degree required to sit for the CPA Exam | Yes |
Certificate of Good Moral Character | Yes |
Credit Hours in Accounting courses to sit for the CPA Exam | 24 |
Credit Hours in Business courses to sit for the CPA Exam | 24 |
Total Credit Hours to receive CPA License | 150 |
Credit Hours in Accounting courses for CPA License | 33 |
Credit Hours in Business courses for CPA License | 27 |
Ethics Exam required to get a CPA License | Yes |
Work Experience required to receive a CPA License | 1 – 2 years |
Education Requirements
To meet the Alabama CPA education requirements, you must first finish 150 semester hours of college-level education, including at least a bachelor’s degree focusing on accounting. The Board needs 33 semester hours of upper-division undergraduate or graduate accounting coursework (introductory courses are not counted).
General Requirements
Alabama is one of the few states that requires CPAs to be citizens. A valid Social Security number is also required. The state also has a 19-year-old minimum age restriction. If you want to practice accounting in Alabama, you must be a citizen or confirm that you legally reside in the United States. You must also submit transcripts.
Credit Requirements for Alabama CPA License
With a regular bachelor’s degree in accounting requiring 120 semester hours, pursuing a master’s degree in accounting or post-baccalaureate certificate is the most tried and true option to obtain the 30 more credits needed to become a CPA in Alabama. Many of these programs are entirely online.
There are also specialized five-year CPA track programs that offer a hybrid bachelor’s and master’s curriculum tailored exclusively to provide you with the 150 semester hours required to meet Alabama CPA requirements.
Accepted Educational Institutions
The Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy recognizes all relevant degrees and credits obtained at colleges and universities that have essential institution-level accreditation from any of the six regional accreditors that operate in the United States:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission
- Northwestern Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Required Courses
You may have a bachelor’s degree that meets specific curriculum requirements, or you may qualify through one of two routes if you have a master’s degree. Comply with Alabama’s CPA degree and coursework requirements. Your 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) must include a precise blend of business and accounting courses from your bachelor’s degree, any additional undergraduate credits you acquire, and a master’s or post-baccalaureate certificate:
- 33 upper-division semester hours in accounting (no introductory courses) and must include:
- Nine semester hours in financial accounting
- Six semester hours in auditing
- Six semester hours in taxation
- Three semester hours in managerial accounting
- Three semester hours in government/not-for-profit
- Six semester hours in accounting electives
- During three semester hours of business law, we primarily concentrate on the Uniform Commercial Code.
- 27 semester hours in business courses other than accounting and must include: economics; legal and social environment of business; business law (in addition to above); marketing; finance; organization, group, and individual behavior; quantitative applications in the industry; communication skills; and, business ethics; or
You will automatically be considered eligible for the CPA exam and meet state CPA education requirements for licensure if you hold a graduate degree from a school of business or accounting accredited by the AACSB.
Foreign Education
If you received your degree in another nation, your credits would be evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
Pass the Uniform CPA Examination
The “Uniform CPA Examination”, which is a 4-part exam, is developed by the AICPA – the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and administered by NASBA – the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
The Three Core Exam Sections
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
The Auditing and Attestation (AUD) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the essential knowledge and skills a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing audit engagements, attestation engagements or accounting and review service engagements.
Newly licensed CPAs are required to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills related to professional responsibilities, including ethics, independence, and professional skepticism. Professional skepticism reflects an iterative process that includes a questioning mind and a critical assessment of audit evidence.
- Understand the entity including its operations, information systems (including the use of third-party systems), and its underlying business processes, risks, and related internal controls.
- Understand the flow of transactions and underlying data through a business process and its related information systems.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
The Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) assesses the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate in the financial accounting and reporting frameworks used by business entities (public and nonpublic), not-for-profit entities and state and local government entities.
The financial accounting and reporting frameworks that are eligible for assessment within the FAR section of the Exam include the standards and regulations issued by the:
- Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. SEC)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
Regulation (REG)
The Regulation (REG) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate with respect to:
- U.S. federal taxation
- U.S. ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice
- U.S. business law
The Three Disciplines
The three new disciplines in the 2024 CPA Exam, part of the CPA Evolution initiative, are designed to allow candidates to specialize in areas that align with their career interests and the demands of the modern business environment. Here’s a more detailed look at each discipline:
Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
Objective: This discipline focuses on higher-order skills needed in financial statement analysis, business reporting, and the strategic role of the CPA in business decision-making.
Key Topics:
- Financial Statement Analysis: Understanding and interpreting financial statements to assess an entity’s financial health and performance.
- Performance Management: Developing and using key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure, manage, and improve business performance.
- Data Analytics and Visualization: Utilizing data analytics tools to analyze business data, and effectively presenting data to support business decisions.
- Strategic Planning and Risk Management: Involvement in the strategic planning process and identifying, assessing, and managing business risks.
- Business Processes and Controls: Understanding and evaluating business processes and internal controls to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
Objective: This discipline is tailored for those interested in information technology, data security, and controls. It addresses the increasing role of technology in accounting and auditing.
Key Topics:
- IT Governance and Risk: Understanding the frameworks for managing and governing enterprise IT; identifying and managing IT-related risks.
- Information Security and Cybersecurity: Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, data protection laws, and the steps necessary to protect information assets.
- System and Organization Controls (SOC) Reporting: Understanding the requirements for SOC reports and the role of CPAs in assessing controls at a service organization.
- Data Management and Privacy: Managing data effectively and understanding privacy regulations.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Planning and strategies to ensure business operations can continue and recover from disruptive events.
Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
Objective: This discipline focuses on tax compliance, tax planning, and tax strategy, suitable for those who aim to specialize in taxation.
Key Topics:
- Individual Tax Planning and Compliance: Understanding tax laws affecting individual taxpayers, including income, deductions, credits, and tax planning strategies.
- Business Tax Planning and Compliance: Knowledge of tax considerations for different business entities, including corporations, partnerships, and S-corporations.
- Estate, Gift, and Trust Taxation: Understanding the tax implications and planning strategies for estates, gifts, and trusts.
- International Taxation: Knowledge of taxation issues related to cross-border transactions and multinational enterprises.
- State and Local Taxation (SALT): Understanding the complexities of state and local tax laws and their impact on business and individual tax planning.
Tips for Passing the CPA Exam
The CPA exam covers so many topics that you will need to study specifically for each section, usually for 6-8 weeks per section. Even a master’s degree in accounting doesn’t adequately prepare you to just walk in and pass the 4 CPA exams.
You will need a full review course such as Becker, Wiley CPA, Gleim, Roger, etc, and you will need to dedicate several hours a day over the course of months to even have a chance at getting passing scores.
How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…
AICPA Ethics Course
After passing the Uniform CPA Exam, candidates must complete the AICPA’s Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course, available online on the AICPA’s website as part of the Alabama CPA ethics exam requirement. The course and exam must be completed with a grade of 90 percent or above to qualify.
Alabama CPA Exam Cost Breakdown
The Alabama CPA exam cost consists of two main fees: $254.80 per CPA exam section, for a total of $1,019.20 for all four sections, and then the $100 annual registration fee for your actual CPA license.
Alabama does not require an initial application fee or a re-examination fee. However, if you fail a section and need to retake it, you will still need to pay the $254.80 examination fee again.
Initial Application or Transfer of Credit | None |
Re-examination Application | None |
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $254.80 |
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $254.80 |
Regulation (REG) | $254.80 |
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR) | $254.80 |
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections | $1,019.20 |
Annual CPA License Registration Fee | $100.00 |
Receiving Your Alabama CPA License
Alabama has a two-tiered CPA licensing structure. The state will first issue a CPA degree to candidates who have completed the schooling requirements and passed the CPA exam. Individuals with a CPA certificate are not permitted to practice or represent themselves as CPAs unless the experience criteria are satisfied.
How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…