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How to Become a CPA in Massachusetts 2024

How to Become a CPA in Massachusetts

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

1. Meet the Education Requirements to Sit for the CPA Exam

To meet the Massachusetts CPA education requirements to sit for the CPA exam, you must be at least 18 years old, obtain a bachelor’s degree, and complete 120 semester hours. 21 semester hours of accounting courses which include financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management/cost accounting. 9 semester hours of business courses which include business law that covers the U.S. Uniform Commercial Code, finance, and information systems.

2. Setup your NASBA Account

The first step to determining your eligibility is to register an account at CPA Central.

3. Apply for a NASBA Advisory Evaluation

Then submit the necessary educational requirements to NASBA Advisory Evaluation at CPA Central and pay the $180 initial application fee.

4. Submit Transcripts

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

CPA Examination Services – MA
PO Box 198469
Nashville, TN 37219

Or email it at etranscript@nasba.org

5. Pay NASBA Fees

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 Massachusetts CPA exam costs.

6. 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.
You will have six months to apply and sit for your first portion of the CPA exam.

7. 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. Test scores will be available through the candidate portal on release dates.

8. 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 in accounting

OR a graduate degree in accounting, business administration, or law including 30 semester hours of accounting at the undergraduate level, or 18 semester hours of accounting at the graduate level. The accounting credits shall include coverage in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. 24 semester hours of business courses at the undergraduate level or 18 semester hours at the graduate level

OR a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours of accounting courses. The accounting credits shall include coverage in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. 24 semester hours of business courses that cover business law (must include coverage of the UCC), information systems, finance, and coverage in at least one (1) of the areas of economics, business organizations, professional ethics, and/or business communication.

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

CPA Examination Services – MA
PO Box 198469
Nashville, TN 37219

Or email it at etranscript@nasba.org

9. Complete the Experience Requirement

To meet the Massachusetts CPA experience requirements, you must have experience providing any type of services or advice using accounting attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, and consulting skills are required. One to three years in public accounting with more than 2000 hours, part-time or full-time OR Three to nine years in non-public accounting with more than 2000 hours, part-time or full-time.

The experience letter must be on CPA firm, business, or agency letterhead, be addressed to the Board, be dated within
the past year, state whether the experience is full- or part-time, include exact employment dates and be attested to under the pains and penalties of perjury.

10. Complete the CORI Acknowledgement Form

You must complete and scan a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information Acknowledgement Form as one of the requirements for filing your initial CPA license.

11. Create an ePlace Portal Account

To start with the initial CPA application process, you must first create an account on ePlace portal.

12. Prepare Character Reference Letters

When applying for your Massachusetts CPA license, it will require you to upload three letters from individuals not related
to you attesting to your good character. Each letter must be signed by the reference, dated within the past year, and addressed to the Board. You’ll also need to prepare a 2×2 head to shoulders photograph for your application.

13. Apply for your Massachusetts 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’ll need to complete the Massachusetts CPA Application form and the $175 initial application fee.

While most states require ethics before licensing, Massachusetts candidates can become a CPA without it as there are no Massachusetts CPA ethics exam requirements.

14. Receiving your Massachusetts CPA License

Now that you have completed all the necessary steps to be a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. You will be notified by Massachusetts’s 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.

Estimated Cost: 1587.20 USD

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