If you’re wondering how to become a CPA in New Jersey, we’ve organized the New Jersey CPA exam requirements below.
1. Meet the Education Requirements to Sit for the CPA Exam
To meet the New Jersey requirements to sit for the CPA exam, the New Jersey CPA education requirements must be attained first. For New Jersey applicants, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field of study. Completing a minimum of 120 semester hours with 24 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours in business.
New Jersey now has two CPA licensure pathways. One pathway requires 150 semester hours, including a bachelor’s degree, 24 accounting hours, 24 business hours, and one year of qualifying experience. The newer pathway allows applicants with a bachelor’s degree, 120 semester hours, 24 accounting hours, and 24 business hours to qualify with two years of qualifying experience.
2. Apply for the Uniform CPA Exam
After completion of education requirements, register an account in NASBA for the exam application. Have all your official transcripts sent directly from your college or university to CPA Examination Services (CPAES) at CPA Examination Services – NJ, PO Box 198469, Nashville, TN 37219. If your school offers official electronic transcripts, they may be emailed to etranscript@nasba.org.
3. Pay for the Uniform CPA Exam
Pay all fees at the time of application to NASBA. First-time applicants are required to pay both an education evaluation application fee and the examination fee.
Click here to see a breakdown of the New Jersey CPA exam costs.
4. Notice to Schedule (NTS)
Wait for your application to be approved and once accepted, NASBA will email or mail you the Notice to Schedule (NTS). Upon 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.
5. Pass the Uniform 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 all four CPA Exam sections with a score of 75 or higher within 30 months.
6. Gain Necessary Experience
In order to apply for a CPA license and become a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey, after passing the exam, you must accomplish the New Jersey CPA experience requirement. The requirement is one year of experience in the practice of public accounting or its equivalent and must be documented by the applicant and supervised by an active CPA licensee. The supervisor must accomplish the State of Experience Form and email it to the board.
7. Apply for a CPA License
After fulfilling the experience requirement, you may now apply for a CPA license. Along with the State of Experience Form, accomplish the Application for Licensure as a Certified Public Accountant and a Criminal History Information. Have all documents emailed to the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy at accountancy@dca.njoag.gov.
Contact the board’s office at (973) 504-6380 for further application details.
8. Ethics Requirement
New Jersey new licensees must complete a four-credit New Jersey Law & Ethics course as part of the New Jersey CPA ethics exam requirement within six months before or after the date of initial licensure and submit the completion certificate to the Board within 30 days of attending the course.
9. CPA License Renewal
CPAs licensed in the state of New Jersey are required to renew their license every three years. Licensees are required to accomplish a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) prior to the renewal application.
10. Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
To maintain your CPA license, public-practice CPAs need 120 credits for the triennial period, at least 20 credits per year, at least 60 credits in technical subjects, and 24 of those technical credits in accounting and auditing.
Triennial renewal applicants must complete a four-credit New Jersey Law and Ethics course from a Board-approved sponsor, and this requirement cannot be fulfilled by self-study.
11. CPA License Renewal Application
New Jersey CPA licenses renew every three years. For the current 1/1/24–12/31/26 triennial period, active licensees must complete 120 CPE credits, with at least 20 credits each year. The Law and Ethics course must be taken from a Board-approved sponsor and cannot be completed by self-study.
