Oklahoma CPA Exam Requirements 2024: Important Details

Oklahoma CPA Exam Requirements

If you’re wondering what the latest Oklahoma CPA exam requirements are then this article will serve as a resource for candidates for the year 2022. We’re here to help make that application easier by outlining common requirements for applying to become a Certified Public Accountant.

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Summary of Oklahoma CPA Requirements

Credit hours to sit for CPA exams	150
Good moral character	Yes
Oklahoma resident	Yes
Minimum upper-level division course credit	76
Minimum upper-level accounting courses including at least one course in auditing or assurance	30
Minimum semester hours of upper-level division-related course	9
Bachelor’s required to sit for CPA exams?	Yes
Ethics Exam	Yes
Work Experience	1 Year
Required CPE hours each three-year period	120

Eligibility

Every state board has its own set of requirements and as for Oklahoma candidates, they must be of the following to be eligible to take the CPA exam:

• A resident of the State of Oklahoma immediately prior to exam application.
• Of good moral character as the board requires a background check as a means to verify and adhere to the Profession Code of Conduct.

Educational Requirements

To meet the Oklahoma CPA education requirements, candidates will need to have a bachelor’s degree with 150 semester hours including 76 hours of upper-level division course credit, 30 hours of upper-level accounting courses including at least one course in auditing or assurance and 9 semester hours of upper-level business courses.

Candidates must complete 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours in various course subjects, including:

1. A minimum upper-level division course credit of 76 hours.
2. A minimum upper-level accounting course of 30 hours with at least one course in auditing or assurance which has a concentration on external auditing standards including but not limited to statements on auditing standards (SAS). Internal auditing however does not meet this requirement.
3. A minimum upper-level division related course credit of 9 semester hours in any or all of the subjects of:
   • Business Communication
   • Business Law
   • Business Management
   • Computer Science
   • Economics
   • Finance
   • Financial Information Systems
   • Insurance
   • Marketing
   • Risk Management
   • Statistics

Oklahoma CPA Exam Requirements

Once educational requirements have been completed, candidates can now start applying for the CPA exam. During the application, be sure that the following documents are available for submission:

1. Official transcripts from all schools attended.
2. A 2×2 current passport photo.
3. An affidavit of Lawful Presence in the U.S.

Note that additional documents may be requested or required by the board. The application process takes about 5 to 7 business days and could be longer if some documents are incomplete or more information is needed.

Uniform CPA Exam Application Process

Oklahoma accountancy board offers both online and paper applications for the exam. See the steps below for the application process:

1. Start by completing the Application for Qualification form. Registering through the Oklahoma Accountancy Board’s (OAB) website. Full details on the registration will be seen here. Candidates who wish to apply through paper will mail the form to:

2. Included in the application is the submission of college transcripts that bear the official signature of the registrar and if applicable, the college seal. The application fee is $50.
3. Once you are an approved candidate, apply and pay for the exam sections through OAB’s online account or download the Candidate for Examination Application form. Payment for all sections applied must be paid with one NASBA payment coupon.
4. When the examination application is approved, OAB will send an approval letter and after which NASBA will send the payment coupon.
5. After all the fees are paid, NASBA will send a Notice to Schedule (NTS) for the CPA exam. The NTS will expire 180 days from its issuance date.
6. Schedule the CPA exam through Prometric. You may schedule to take the exam in any state or accountancy board jurisdiction.
7. Take the CPA exam at your chosen testing site bringing with you two forms of ID.
8. NASBA will submit your scores to OAB and you can view them in your OAB online account. However, scores are only official if they have been certified by OAB and once certified, NASBA will mail you an Official Notification of your scores.

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. The components of the CPA test are as follows:

• Auditing and Attestation. This exam section covers the basics of financial and attest services, such as audits, reviews, compilations, and preparing agreements.
• Financial Accounting and Reporting. This exam section covers financial accounting topics for all business entities, including the government and nonprofits.
• Regulation. This exam section covers federal taxation, tax services, professional ethics, and business law for individuals and business entities.
• Disciplines
  • Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR): Focused on financial reporting, data analytics, and performance management. This area is suitable for those who are interested in financial analysis and reporting. An extension of FAR core.
  • Information Systems and Controls (ISC): Concentrates on IT governance, data security, and system controls. Ideal for individuals who wish to specialize in IT audits and information security. An extension of AUD core.
  • Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP): Centers on personal financial planning and tax compliance for individuals, businesses, and other entities. Suitable for those with a strong interest in taxation and financial planning. An extension of REG core.

You may take the required test sections in any order, but you must pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination within an 18-month period beginning on the date the first examination section completed was taken. All components must be passed within the 18-month term. Any exam taken outside of the 18-month timeframe will result in a loss of credit.

CPA Exam Application Fee and Sections

All test fees will be paid directly to NASBA via payment coupon. The coupon is only valid for 90 days following its issuance.

The Oklahoma CPA exam cost consists of five main fees: the application fee of $75, $238.15 per CPA exam section totaling $952.60 for all four sections, the CPA license registration fee of $75, a permit fee of $125, and the renewal fee of $75.

Application Fee	$75.00
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)	$238.15
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)	$238.15
Regulation (REG)	$238.15
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR)	$238.15
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections	$952.60
Registration Fee	$75.00
Permit Fee	$125.00
Renewal Fee	$75.00
Late Fee (Per Month)	$75.00

Oklahoma CPA Ethics Exam Requirements

To meet the Oklahoma CPA ethics exam requirements and become a CPA, candidates will need to complete the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) course called “Professional Ethics: AICPA’s Comprehensive Course” (For Licensure) or its equivalent as determined by the board and must be earned within the previous calendar year or within 365 days immediately preceding the date of the permit application. The course and exam may be found on AICPA’s website and must be passed with a score of 90% or higher.

Along with the ethics requirement, a candidate must report a minimum of 40 hours of CPE where passing the AICPA exam can be counted toward the 40 hours of CPE required for the permit.

Oklahoma CPA Experience Requirements

To meet the Oklahoma CPA experience requirements and become a CPA, candidates will have to comply with the one year of accounting experience requirement which consists of full-time employment that is no less than one year and no fewer than 2,000 hours. Experience must be satisfied through work in government, industry, academia or public practice, all of which must be verified by a certificate or license holder or an individual approved by the board.

The experience is defined by the board by rule and must include providing a type of service or advice involving accounting, attestation, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, and consulting skills.

Oklahoma CPA License Requirements

In order to obtain a certified public accountant license in Oklahoma, applicants must meet and submit the necessary CPA license requirements upon receipt of official score notification.

After the candidate’s experience is approved by the board, an application for certification will be sent. Fill out the application and submit and pay the appropriate fee ($75).

The board will then schedule the candidate’s name on the next board meeting agenda for approval. Successful candidates will be sent a notification of approval by the board.

Permit to Practice

The state of Oklahoma is one of few two-tier states. This means that you must have a CPA certificate and a permit to practice in order to legally practice public accounting.

Requirements to acquire the permit are generally the same as the license. However, you may only apply and register for this after completing the following:

• CPE Certificates of Completion – report a minimum of 40 hours.
• AICPA Ethics Course Certificate of Completion – Earned within the previous calendar year or 365 days immediately preceding the date of application.
• $125 fee payable to Oklahoma Accountancy Board.

License Renewal

All Oklahoma Certified Public Accountants will renew their license every year by the last day of their birth month. The renewal process will be open for three months. To renew your license, you will have to accomplish the following:

1. Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
   • All CPA licensees must earn at least 120 hours of CPE within a three-year rolling period including 4 hours of ethics. No less than 20 hours of continuing professional education shall be attended every year.
   • Eligible CPE Activities:
     • College Coursework
     • Industry Specific Learning Activities
     • Instruction of College Courses
     • Presentation of Learning Activities
     • Publications
   • Licensees are responsible for documenting and logging in their CPEs. Keep said records for 5 years from the end of the year in which the CPE was earned. The proof of completion must contain the following:
     • CPE Program Sponsor’s Name and Contact Information
     • Content Title and Description
     • Program Dates
     • Number of CPE Credits
   • CPEs may be met through self-study as long as the self-study courses are sponsored by a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy registered CPE provider.
2. Ethics CPE
   • An annual requirement for Ethics CPE is another requirement for renewal. Licensees must earn 4 hours of professional ethics in each three-year rolling period.
   • The board has mandated that only the Professional Ethics for Certified Public Accountants, 24th Edition (Rev. August 2008) by the California CPA Education Foundation may substitute for the AICPA Comprehensive Ethics Exam in Oklahoma. For other ethics exams, these might be considered for the board’s approval.

Summary

If all the requirements seem attainable to you then it’s best to get started on your career track to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Start making personal plans and never forget to always check with the Oklahoma board’s website and NASBA’s website for possible newly implemented rules and procedures.

Oklahoma CPA Exam F.A.Q.s

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding Oklahoma’s CPA exam and CPA licensure requirements.