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New York CPA Education Requirements
To meet the New York CPA education requirements and become a CPA, candidates need to complete 150 semester hours in any of the following programs:
- NYS Licensure Qualifying Registered Programs. Complete an accounting program registered by the department as licensure-qualifying.
- AACSB Programs. Must complete an accounting program that is accredited by a programmatic accrediting body specialized in accounting that is accepted by the department.
- All other programs. Meet the requirements that are determined by the department to be equivalent to a New York State Licensure Qualifying Registered Program.
- Completed a bachelor’s or higher degree. Includes 33 semester hours in accounting and 36 semester hours in general business electives.
This article will help you to become a CPA in New York and is a requirement for you to take the New York CPA exam.
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…
Summary of New York CPA Requirements
Credit Hours to sit for the CPA Exam | 120 |
Courses To Take For 120 Sit Rule | Financial Accounting and Reporting, Cost or Management Accounting, Taxation and Auditing |
Total Credit Hours to receive CPA License | 150 |
Credit Hours in Accounting courses for CPA License | 33 |
Credit Hours in General Business courses for CPA License | 36 |
Age Requirement to be Licensed | 21 years old |
Certificate of Good Moral Character | Yes |
Work Experience required to receive a CPA License | 1 – 2 years |
New York CPA Education Requirements
Each state has different requirements to sit for the CPA exam and to get your CPA license. In the New York CPA education requirements, it is possible to sit for the CPA exam before having the full 150 semester hours required for licensure. To sit for the CPA exam in New York, you will need 120 semester hours, and at least one class each in:
- Upper-division financial accounting
- Upper-division audit & attestation
- Cost or management accounting
- Taxation
Education Requirements to Sit for the Uniform CPA Examination
Education Requirements for New York CPA License
To actually receive your CPA license after passing your CPA exams, you will need to meet one of the following four requirements below:
- Completed a 150-semester-hour program from an educational institution approved by the NYSED.
- A master’s degree in accounting from an educational institution approved by the AACSB.
- Completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in college education with a minimum of 150 semester hours in college education, including the following required courses listed below.
- The CPA education requirements are 33 semester hours, with at least one course in the first four core areas.
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Cost or Managerial Accounting
- Taxation
- Auditing and Attestation Services
- Fraud Examination
- Internal Controls and Risk Assessment
- Accounting Information Systems
- 36 semester hours of general business electives in any combination of the categories below:
- Business Statistics
- Business Law
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Finance
- Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Organizational Behavior
- Business Strategy
- Quantitative Methods
- Information Technology and Systems
- The study of business or accounting communications, ethics and professional responsibility, and accounting research must also be included in the curriculum, either as stand-alone courses or as part of other courses.
- The CPA education requirements are 33 semester hours, with at least one course in the first four core areas.
- The 15-year experience option. If you have 15 years of experience working in accounting, the New York State Board of Accountancy may accept that experience in lieu of the education requirements.
Accepted Educational Institutions
An individual must have a bachelor’s degree or higher to meet the license criteria for the New York CPA exam requirements, and any coursework taken from non-matriculated schools must be accredited by one of the following accredited institutions.
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJS)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SASCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Transfer Credits/Foreign Education
Applicants who received any of their post-secondary (college) education outside of the United States and did not complete one of the above-mentioned New York State Licensure Qualifying Programs or AACSB programs will have their education thoroughly reviewed to determine if it meets the education requirements for licensure.
There is a fee for submitting the Application for licensure to the NYS Education Department, and the applicant must have their school send a Certification of Professional Education for review.
- Do note that the International Evaluation Services (NIES) of NASBA or any other evaluation services of foreign education are not authorized to approve an applicant’s education for licensure.
Pass the Uniform CPA Examination
The “Uniform CPA Examination”, which is a 4-part exam, is developed by the AICPA – the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and administered by NASBA – the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
The Three Core 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.
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
The Three Disciplines
The three new disciplines in the 2024 CPA Exam, part of the CPA Evolution initiative, are designed to allow candidates to specialize in areas that align with their career interests and the demands of the modern business environment. Here’s a more detailed look at each discipline:
Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
Objective: This discipline focuses on higher-order skills needed in financial statement analysis, business reporting, and the strategic role of the CPA in business decision-making.
Key Topics:
- Financial Statement Analysis: Understanding and interpreting financial statements to assess an entity’s financial health and performance.
- Performance Management: Developing and using key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure, manage, and improve business performance.
- Data Analytics and Visualization: Utilizing data analytics tools to analyze business data, and effectively presenting data to support business decisions.
- Strategic Planning and Risk Management: Involvement in the strategic planning process and identifying, assessing, and managing business risks.
- Business Processes and Controls: Understanding and evaluating business processes and internal controls to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
Objective: This discipline is tailored for those interested in information technology, data security, and controls. It addresses the increasing role of technology in accounting and auditing.
Key Topics:
- IT Governance and Risk: Understanding the frameworks for managing and governing enterprise IT; identifying and managing IT-related risks.
- Information Security and Cybersecurity: Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, data protection laws, and the steps necessary to protect information assets.
- System and Organization Controls (SOC) Reporting: Understanding the requirements for SOC reports and the role of CPAs in assessing controls at a service organization.
- Data Management and Privacy: Managing data effectively and understanding privacy regulations.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Planning and strategies to ensure business operations can continue and recover from disruptive events.
Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
Objective: This discipline focuses on tax compliance, tax planning, and tax strategy, suitable for those who aim to specialize in taxation.
Key Topics:
- Individual Tax Planning and Compliance: Understanding tax laws affecting individual taxpayers, including income, deductions, credits, and tax planning strategies.
- Business Tax Planning and Compliance: Knowledge of tax considerations for different business entities, including corporations, partnerships, and S-corporations.
- Estate, Gift, and Trust Taxation: Understanding the tax implications and planning strategies for estates, gifts, and trusts.
- International Taxation: Knowledge of taxation issues related to cross-border transactions and multinational enterprises.
- State and Local Taxation (SALT): Understanding the complexities of state and local tax laws and their impact on business and individual tax planning.
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 CPA, 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…
New York CPA Exam Cost Breakdown
The New York CPA exam cost consists of four main fees: the education evaluation application fee of $90, the $344.80 per CPA exam section totaling $1,379.20 for all four sections, a licensure and first registration fee that costs $427 and the renewal fee of $292.
Education Evaluation Application Fee | $90.00 |
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $344.80 |
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $344.80 |
Regulation (REG) | $344.80 |
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR) | $344.80 |
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections | $1,379.20 |
Licensure and First Registration | $427.00 |
Renewal Fee | $292.00 |
Take note that the fees are not refundable. If there are extreme circumstances, you can file an NTS extension or request a partial refund of the examination fees for specific circumstances, and the applicant must fill out an Exception to Policy Form, which can be found over at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website for the New York Uniform CPA Examination.
New York CPA Ethics Exam Requirement
While most states require ethics before licensing, New York candidates can become a CPA without it as there are no New York CPA ethics exam requirements. However, part of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement is to attend 4 hours of acceptable professional ethics completed every three calendar years.
New York CPA Experience Requirements
The last requirement to become a licensed New York CPA is to meet the New York CPA experience requirements. Work experience must be under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA in a U.S. jurisdiction or a public accountant in New York State providing accounting services or advice involving skills in accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting services.
There are two ways for your experience to be acceptable for the CPA License.
- Must have at least a year of acceptable full-time work experience (for the 150-hour education pathway),
- Or at least two years of acceptable full-time work experience (for the 120-hour education pathway).
The work experience can be earned through a public accounting firm, private industry, or an educational institution.
Getting your CPA License
Once you have completed all the requirements and passed the CPA exam, you can now apply for a license. Four different forms will need to be submitted to review your license application.
- Form 1: Application for Licensure
- This form is to be used for first-time applicants and has a fee of $427 for licensure and first registration fee.
- Please take note that this form is not to be used for existing license holders as your license is valid for life unless it is revoked, annulled, or suspended by the Board of Regents.
- Form 2: Certification of Professional Education
- This form represents the official transcripts of the applicant and should be sent to the NYSED or the CPA Examination Services for evaluation by the educational institution you attended.
- Form 3: Certification of Out-Of-State Licensure and Examination grades
- This form is only to be submitted if you took the CPA Exam or are licensed in a different state or jurisdiction.
- Form 4B: Verification of Experience by Supervisor
- This form is to be completed only by the supervisor and will not be accepted if submitted by the applicant.
The New York State Board would then have to review your application and all required supporting material. Once you meet the license requirements you will be issued a license number and you are entitled to practice in New York State as of the effective date of licensure.
Within two working days of the licensure date, you will get written confirmation of licensure, including your license parchment and registration certificate.
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…