How to Become a CPA in Maine 2026

To meet the Maine requirements to sit for the CPA exam, the Maine CPA education requirements must be attained first. For Maine applicants, candidates should verify the current NASBA/Maine Board exam-eligibility rules, as Maine now allows CPA Exam applicants to apply with 120 credit hours.

For licensure, Maine requires at least 150 semester hours, including a minimum four-year baccalaureate or higher degree.

The first step to determining your eligibility is to access NASBA’s CPA Portal to submit your Maine CPA exam application, payments, exam-section applications, notice to schedule documents, and score notices.

Then submit an education evaluation application through NASBA. Maine’s fees include a $96.00 education evaluation application fee, a $96.00 exam application fee, and a $262.64 exam section fee.

You would need to have your college or university send your official transcripts through mail at:

Maine Coordinator
CPA Examination Services
PO Box 198469
Nashville, Tennessee 37219-8469.

Or email it at etranscript@nasba.org

Once your educational requirements have been approved by NASBA advisory evaluation, NASBA will then send you an email notifying you that your payment coupon is ready for payment. You have 90 days to pay the fee.

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

Upon payment for the examination fees, you will receive a receipt of your NTS. Make sure that everything is correct as it will be used at the testing centers. If the names do not match, immediately contact the Board to request a correction. You will not be allowed to test if the name on the identification documents does not exactly match the name on the NTS.

With the NTS, then you can schedule your actual exam on the Prometric website at www.prometric.com.

Candidates should apply for an exam section only if they are ready to take it, because the Notice to Schedule is valid for a limited time and fees are lost if the candidate does not take the section within that window.

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 all four CPA Exam sections within a rolling 30-month period beginning on the score-release date of the first passed section.

To meet the Maine CPA experience requirements, Maine requires at least two years of qualifying experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA in Maine, or an equivalent license in another U.S. state or territory, while employed at a licensed firm or equivalent. The experience must involve accounting or auditing skills.

After you have completed your professional education, passed the exams, and retain the necessary work experience, you have fulfilled a majority of the CPA exam requirements. You can apply either online here or you can download the license application.

If you’ll be mailing your license application, you need to send it to 35 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0035 along with the total application fee of $56, which includes the criminal background check fee of $21. DO NOT SEND CASH. Either you pay by check (payable to Maine State Treasurer) or your credit card information (plus signature).

While most states require ethics before licensing, Maine candidates can become a CPA without it as there are no Maine CPA ethics exam requirements. However, licensed CPAs must complete at least 4 hours of ethics CPE every 3 years.

Now that you have completed all the necessary steps to be a Certified Public Accountant in Maine. You will be notified by the Maine State Board of Accountancy of any missing documents in your application. If the application is complete, you’ll be issued a license allowing you to practice. Your certificate will be sent to you through the mail.

Maine CPA licenses renew annually on September 30. The annual renewal fee is $35, and a $50 late fee applies after the license expiration date. Maine CPAs must complete 40 hours of CPE annually, due at renewal, and at least 4 hours of ethics CPE every 3 years.