The Oregon CPA exam cost consists of five main fees: the education evaluation application fee of $90, $344.80 per CPA exam section totaling $1,379.20 for all four sections, the CPA license application fee of $225, the initial CPA permit fee of $255, and the renewal fee of $255.
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…
Table of Contents
Oregon CPA Exam Cost Breakdown
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 |
Initial CPA Application Fee | $225.00 |
Initial CPA Permit Fee | $255.00 |
Renewal Fee | $255.00 |
Summary of Oregon CPA Requirements
Credit Hours to sit for CPA Exams | 150 |
Credit Hours in Upper-division Accounting specific courses | 24 |
Credit Hours in Accounting or related (lower-division accounting, business, finance, economics, and written/oral communication) | 24 |
Bachelor’s Required to Sit for CPA Exams? | Yes |
Ethics Exam | Yes |
Work Experience | 1 Year |
Required CPE Hours Every Two Years | 40 |
Education Requirement for the CPA Exam in Oregon
Credit Requirements for Oregon CPA License
To meet the Oregon CPA education requirements, the Board follows the 150-hour rule, which states that candidates must finish 150 semester hours of college-level study, including a recognized bachelor’s degree, to qualify for a license. The 150 semester hours in Oregon must contain 24 semester hours of upper-level accounting and 24 semester hours of accounting or accounting-related business disciplines.
With a conventional bachelor’s degree in accounting consisting of only 120 semester hours, pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s degree in accounting is the most tried and established approach to obtain those 30 more credits. There are also specialized five-year CPA track programs that offer a hybrid bachelor’s and master’s curriculum tailored to provide you with the 150 semester hours required to achieve Oregon CPA education requirements standards.
Accepted Educational Institutions
When selecting a school, make sure it is accredited by one of the six regional accreditation organizations listed below. The Oregon Board of Public Accountancy has accredited six organizations, including:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools–Commission on Colleges
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges–Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges–Commission for Senior Colleges
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Required Courses
Meet Oregon’s CPA degree and curriculum requirements. The Oregon Board of Accountancy requires 150 semester college credit hours to be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level or a combination of the two.
Upper-division accounting requires 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of study, which includes, but is not limited to:
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Cost Accounting
- Financial Statements
- Theories of Accounting
24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of business or accounting courses such as:
- Business Law
- Business Communications
- Economics
- Corporate Finance
- Business Ethics
You may take classes from online or community colleges as long as the credits transfer to a four-year university and graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, you will still need to request official transcripts from each college you attend, so keep track of all institutions and how to contact their registrar’s offices. Credit from the community or two-year college courses is acceptable if those credits were successfully transferred to the four-year college where you received your bachelor’s degree.
Foreign Education
Suppose you graduated from a foreign university, or even if you took a few courses from a non-U.S. You will need to have those courses reviewed if you attend an accredited university. Contact the NASBA International Evaluation Services to have your international transcripts examined for them to be accepted for your Oregon licensure application. To schedule an evaluation, contact the agency directly.
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…
Oregon CPA Ethics Exam Requirements
To meet the Oregon CPA ethics exam requirements, candidates will need to take an ethics exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) after completing the course titled Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course (For Licensure). The course and exam are found on AICPA’s website which is self-study and should be passed with a score of 90% or higher.
Oregon CPA Experience Requirements
To meet the Oregon CPA experience requirements, a minimum of 12 months full-time employment or a total of 2,000 hours of equivalent part-time experience is required to be obtained over a period of 12 or more months. All experience must be directly supervised by a qualified supervisor licensee who holds an active CPA license issued by any state or a PA license (excluding experience in attest services) during the period of supervision and for at least five of the past seven years immediately prior to such supervision.
Apply for Your Oregon CPA License
Submit Your Application for Issuance
Candidates who have passed the CPA exam, have satisfied the education and accounting experience criteria, and have proven the essential abilities are ready to submit the CPA Initial License Application and the Oregon Board of Accountancy Employment form. Use the Social Security Number form and a written narrative outlining each competency that the supervising accountant has validated.
Receiving Your Oregon CPA Certificate
The Board typically takes two to three weeks to process the request after receiving the appropriate documentation. Once authorized, the Board will notify you through email and give you an invoice for the initial license fee. After paying the money and registering with the Board, the applicant’s name will show in the Board’s licensee search, and they will be able to practice. The Board will send new licensees a wall certificate, a wallet license card, a letter of congratulations, their CPA license number, CPE information, and license renewal due dates.
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…