To meet the Kentucky CPA experience requirements and become a CPA, candidates require candidates are expected to complete 1 year or 2,000 hours of experience in an accounting or auditing position in public practice, industry or government. Experience must be within 5 years (before or after) of the date the candidate passed their last exam. The hours shall not include any leave or holiday time.
The certificate of experience may be submitted for more than one place of employment in order to meet the 1 year or 2,000 hours of the experience requirement.
This article will help you to become a CPA in Kentucky and is a requirement for you to take the Kentucky CPA exam.
Table of Contents
Summary of Kentucky CPA Requirements
| Credit hours to sit for the CPA exam | 150 |
| Bachelor’s required to sit for the CPA exam | Yes |
| Credit hours in accounting subjects to sit for the CPA exam | 27 |
| Credit hours in business subjects to sit for the CPA exam | 12 |
| Total credit hours to receive a CPA license | 150 |
| Work experience required to receive a CPA license | 1 year |
| Ethics exam required to get a CPA license | No |
| Must have Social Security Number | Yes |
Kentucky Education Requirements
The Kentucky CPA education requirements are fairly straightforward. Candidates are required to complete 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours in various course subjects, including:
- Accounting Courses (27 semester hours):
- Financial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Managerial accounting
- Business-related courses (12 semester hours):
- Business
- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
- Economics
- Computers
- Statistics
With the standard bachelor’s degree in accounting consisting of just 120 semester hours, continuing on to earn a post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s in accounting is the most recommended way to get the 30 additional credits.
Each candidate must provide the board, upon application for the CPA exam, a final official transcript that clearly indicates the candidate has earned a baccalaureate or master’s degree with a concentration in accounting and the date the degree was awarded.
Accredited Universities or Colleges
The Kentucky Board of Accountancy accepts all accounting degrees and additional business and accounting credits earned through colleges and universities recognized by one of the six regional accreditation agencies that operate in the U.S.:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Pass the Uniform CPA Exam
Candidates who have obtained a Notice to Schedule are qualified to schedule and take the Uniform CPA Exam.
To qualify for a license, all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam must be taken and passed with a score of 75 or better within 18 months. Candidates who need to retake any unit (s) of the exam must apply to the Board for re-examination.
Candidates may take more than one section at a time, it is advisable not to sign for all four parts once because this might cost you more if the NTS expires before completing the parts. You might be required to re-register by paying $50.
The Four CPA Exam Sections
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
The Auditing and Attestation (AUD) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the essential knowledge and skills a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing audit engagements, attestation engagements, or accounting and review service engagements.
Newly licensed CPAs are required to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills related to professional responsibilities, including ethics, independence, and professional skepticism. Professional skepticism reflects an iterative process that includes a questioning mind and a critical assessment of audit evidence.
- understand the entity including its operations, information systems (including the use of third-party systems), and its underlying business processes, risks, and related internal controls.
- understand the flow of transactions and underlying data through a business process and its related information systems.
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
The Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing:
- Audit, attest, accounting, and review services
- Financial reporting
- Tax preparation
- Other professional services
The content areas tested under the BEC section of the Exam encompass five diverse subject areas. These content areas are enterprise risk management, internal controls and business processes, economics, financial management, information technology, and operations management.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
The Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) assesses the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate in the financial accounting and reporting frameworks used by business entities (public and nonpublic), not-for-profit entities and state and local government entities.
The financial accounting and reporting frameworks that are eligible for assessment within the FAR section of the Exam include the standards and regulations issued by the:
- Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. SEC)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
Regulation (REG)
The Regulation (REG) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate with respect to:
- U.S. federal taxation
- U.S. ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice
- U.S. business law
Tips for Passing the CPA Exam
The CPA exam covers so many topics that you will need to study specifically for each section, usually for 6-8 weeks per section. Even a master’s degree in accounting doesn’t adequately prepare you to just walk in and pass the 4 CPA exams.
You will need a full review course such as Becker, Wiley CPAexcel, Gleim, Roger, etc, and you will need to dedicate several hours a day over the course of months to even have a chance at getting passing scores.
How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…
Kentucky CPA Exam Cost Breakdown
The Kentucky CPA exam cost consists of five main fees: an initial application fee of $30, another $30 for per section fee which will total depending on the number of exams taken, the $238.15 fee for each CPA exam section, a $100 fee on the CPA license and the renewal fee of $100.
| Initial Application | $30.00 |
| Per Section Fee | $30.00 |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $238.15 |
| Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) | $238.15 |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $238.15 |
| Regulation (REG) | $238.15 |
| Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections | $952.60 |
| CPA License Application Fee | $100.00 |
| CPA License Renewal Fee | $100.00 |
| Late CPA License Renewal Fee | $200.00 |
Kentucky CPA Ethics Exam Requirements
While most states require an ethics exam before licensing, Kentucky candidates can become a CPA without it as there are no Kentucky CPA ethics exam requirements. However, part of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement is to attend 4 hours of board-approved ethics every two years.
CPA License Application
To apply for an initial license, send the documents listed below to the board. Documents must be received no later than one week prior to the board meeting date.
- Application for License
- A check or money order for $100
- Certificate of Experience (no copies—mail original or have verifying CPA email directly to cpa@ky.gov from their email address)
How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…
