How to become a CPA in Kentucky 2024

To be able to sit for the CPA exam in Kentucky, aspiring CPAs must check if they are eligible and also meet the Kentucky CPA education requirements. Candidates must be of good moral charter and possess a social security number. He or she must also have a bachelor’s or master’s degree with 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours in various course subjects. These course subjects include 27 semester hours in accounting and 39 semester hours in business-related courses.

To apply for the CPA exam in Kentucky, complete the application form and submit it to the board at Kentucky State Board of Accountancy, 332 W. Broadway, #310, Louisville, KY 40202. Included in the submission is your official college transcript with the institution’s seal and/or the registrar’s signature.

Once your application is approved, the board sends an Authorization to Test to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). A payment coupon will be sent by NASBA for the fees charged for the exam. The coupon is only valid for 90 days. Upon payment, a Notice to Schedule will be sent to you. Candidates will have to submit a check or money order payable to the board which totals the application fee and exam fees.

Click here to see a breakdown of the Kentucky CPA exam costs.

After receiving the NTS, schedule your exam online through Prometric. You are able to apply for one or more sections of the examination at a time. The NTS is valid for one testing event or six months from its issuance and must be presented for entry at the testing center.

The CPA exam consists of the three core sections and candidates would need to select one of the three discipline to demonstrate deeper skills and knowledge, allowing candidates to choose a specialization. There is no set order in which the exam portions must be completed. You must pass each section with a score of 75 or higher within 18 months.

Soon after passing the CPA exam, the next step is to fulfill Kentucky’s CPA experience requirement. The Kentucky board requires all candidates to complete 2,000 hours of accounting or attestation experience in a period of not less than 12 months while employed in an accounting or auditing position in public practice, industry or government. Applicants should have their experience verified by a certified public accountant.

The candidate must also meet the Kentucky CPA ethics exam requirements by passing the Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course For Licensure.

After completion of work experience, candidates can then apply for the CPA license. To apply, send an Application for License Form, a check or money order for $100 and the Certificate of Experience to the board.

All Kentucky CPAs must renew their license every two years. A CPA with an odd-numbered license will renew their license in odd-numbered years. Likewise, those with even-numbered licenses will have to renew their license in even-numbered years.

To be able to renew a license, a licensee will have to complete Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours in the two calendar years prior to the year a license is to be renewed. The number of CPE hours required will depend on which category you fit into.

An 80 CPE hour is required for a licensee who worked 3,000 hours or more in a public accounting firm licensed with the board. All other licensees who worked less than 3,000 hours shall complete 60 CPE hours. It is required that CPE documents must be retained for 5 years. For more CPE information, visit the board’s website.

Kentucky CPA license renewal is done via the online renewal system from July 1 to August 1. An online renewal notice is mailed in late June to the mailing address on the board’s file. However, failure to renew the license due to not receiving the notice is deemed an insufficient reason. Contact the board for questions and concerns on licensing renewals at cpa@ky.gov.