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How to Become a CPA in Maryland 2024

How to Become a CPA in Maryland

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If you’re wondering how to become a CPA in Maryland, we’ve organized the Maryland CPA exam requirements below.

1. Educational Requirements

To meet the Maryland requirements to sit for the CPA exam, the Maryland CPA education requirements must be attained first. For Maryland applicants, you must have a bachelor’s degree or higher with a major in accounting. At least 120 semester hours of which 30 semester hours must be in accounting subjects.

The required courses are three semester hours each in auditing, cost accounting or managerial accounting, U.S. federal income tax and ethics. A minimum of nine semester hours in financial accounting, a minimum of nine semester hours in elective accounting courses, and three of the semester hours should be in ethics.

2. Complete an Original Exam Application

Once you have determined that you meet the educational requirements, you must apply for the Uniform CPA Examination Qualification review online.

3. Complete your CPA Exam Online Registration

Once your education requirements have been verified/approved. You can now register for the exams that you want to test here.

4. Pay NASBA Fees

After you have submitted your registration, usually within 4 business days NASBA will send be sending you an email with instructions for the payment coupon.

Next, you will need to create a NASBA Exam Candidate account on the portal at NASBA and pay for the exam fees. The payment coupon will expire ninety 90 days after it is issued.

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

5. Notice To Schedule

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.
The Notice to Schedule (NTS) will expire 180 days from the date of issuance so you will have to apply to sit for your first portion of the CPA exam.

6. Pass the CPA Exam

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.

7. Complete your Education Requirements

After passing the Uniform CPA Examination, you must complete the appropriate education requirements to become a licensed CPA, which totals 150 semester hours with a graduate degree and the required business-related courses. 21 undergraduate semester hours must be completed in at least five of nine subject areas. These subject areas are: statistics, economics, corporation or business finance, management, marketing, U.S. business law, business communication, quantitative methods, and computer science/information systems.

You would need to have your college or university re-send your official transcripts to be re-evaluated through email at DLOPLPublicAccountancy-LABOR@maryland.gov

8. Meet the Experience Requirements

To meet the Maryland CPA experience requirements, experience must be earned in the employment of a licensed public accounting firm with at least two years of experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA using accounting or auditing skills, including the issuance of reports on financial statements, and at least one of the following: the provision of management advisory, financial advisory or consulting services; the preparation of tax returns; the furnishing of advice on tax matters; or equivalent activities defined by the Board.

In Maryland, you must complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of practical work experience (1 full year).  This practical work experience must have been completed within 3 years of the date of the individual’s initial license application.

The supervisor must complete the Report of Practical Work Experience (RPE) form to be sent to the Board since the original signature is needed. The form can be sent along with the AICPA ethics exam course completion.

9. Pass the AICPA Ethics Exam

After passing the CPA exam, the candidate must also meet the Maryland CPA ethics exam requirements by taking one additional test to take: the AICPA’s Ethics exam. The association offers an 11-hour self-study course, after which you can take the open-book test. The Ethics Examination is not expected to be particularly tough, but you must pass with a minimum score of 90 to get your license.

The Professional Ethics course can be found here.

10. Apply for your Maryland CPA License

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 must send a copy of the AICPA ethics exam and course completion and the Report Of Practical Work Experience (RPE) fulfilled by your supervisor to the Board at:

Maryland Board of Public Accountancy
1100 N. Eutaw Street, 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

Make sure that you have also sent in your updated educational requirements.

11. Receiving your Maryland CPA License

Now that you have completed all the necessary steps to be a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland. You will be notified by the Maryland Board of Public 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.

Estimated Cost: 1378.6 USD

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