Puerto Rico CPA Education Requirements 2025

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Puerto Rico CPA Education Requirements

To meet the Puerto Rico requirements to sit for the CPA exam and become a CPA, the Puerto Rico CPA education requirements must be attained first. For Puerto Rico applicants, you must have a bachelor’s degree, and earn a total of 120 semester hours. The 120 hours need to include 24 semester (or equivalent) credits in accounting subjects with a grade of “C” or higher in all accounting courses. And 24 semester (or equivalent) credits in general business with an average grade of “C” or higher.

This article will help you to become a CPA in Puerto Rico and is a requirement for you to take the Puerto Rico CPA exam.

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Summary of Puerto Rico 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	32
Credit hours in business subjects to sit for the CPA exam	32
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	Yes
Has a minimum of 2.0 GPA	Yes
Puerto Rico resident	Yes
Must be a U.S citizen	Yes
Present a certificate of membership with the local Puerto Rico CPA Society	Yes
Present a Certificate of Good Conduct from the Police Department	Yes
Provide a Certificate of Compliance with ASUME	Yes

Puerto Rico Education Requirements

If your education was completed on or before January 1, 2000, you must meet the following:

Earned a bachelor’s degree or higher
Completed 150 semester hours (225 quarters) of general college-level education
Completed 32 semesters (48 quarter) hours in accounting courses
Completed 32 semesters (48 quarter) hours in accounting and general business courses such as business law, information systems, economics, and finance
Has a minimum of 2.0 GPA

Suppose you are in your final semester of completing your bachelor’s degree and 150 semester hours of general education. In that case, you can qualify for the CPA exam provided that you have completed 32 semesters (48 quarter) hours in accounting with a minimum of 3.0 GPA prior to submitting your application.

Unless you have completed the entire education requirement, you will not be eligible to get your CPA license in Puerto Rico.

If your education is still in progress when you submit your CPA exam application, you are required to submit an official transcript and the Certificate of Enrollment. Upon completing your education, you must submit an additional transcript showing all courses and degree/s as complete.

All educational requirements must be completed at the time of application. All educational transcripts and international evaluations are required to be submitted to CPA Examination Services directly from the academic institutions.

Transcripts

There are two different types of transcripts that need to be submitted if you will apply to sit for the Puerto Rico CPA exam based on education or experience.

If you are applying based on experience:

Submit to CPA Examination Services the official baccalaureate degree transcripts. The transcript must be received directly from the academic institution to CPA Exam Services.
Submit a written request with experience details directly to the Puerto Rico State Board of Accountancy for review and approval: Junta de Contabilidad P.O. Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271.
Photocopies will be accepted.
You may only apply for this option if you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to December 31, 1999.

If you have completed your education requirements at the time of application:

Submit an official transcript from each of the schools that you attended. Transfer credits are not acceptable, thus you must submit transcripts from each institution.
Transcripts are considered official if they have been issued by the institutions’ Registrar’s Office and have Registrar’s official seal.
The degree that you earned must be present on the official transcript.
Photocopies of transcripts are considered not official and are not acceptable.
Transcripts of the courses completed outside the U.S. campus must be issued by the registrar from the U. S. campus. Transcripts issued by the registrar for the campus located outside the U. S. will not be accepted.

If you have International education credentials:

Your credentials should be evaluated by NASBA International Evaluation Services.
You may obtain the form to request this service from the evaluation agency.
Submit a translated copy of each international transcript used for the evaluation.
You should require the agency to evaluate the following:
- An equivalent summary that indicates the academic degrees in the U. S. you hold. The credential analysis should specify: the name of the country, the degree awarded, the year that the degree was awarded, and the entity that awarded the degree.
- A course-by-course listing and a course credit analysis that includes: total credits earned toward the degree as stated on the transcripts that were submitted, total earned accounting and business courses credits.
Coursework completed as part of a Chartered Accountant or similar program is considered professional training and is, therefore, not accepted toward the education requirements for the U.S. Uniform CPA Exam.
Commercial review courses and professional training are not acceptable as part of the requirements.
CPA review courses and online courses may be accepted if they are taken at a regionally accredited institution and these courses should appear on the transcript.

Pass the Uniform CPA Exam

Candidates who have obtained a Notice to Schedule are qualified to schedule and take the Uniform CPA Exam.

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 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.

Puerto Rico CPA Exam Cost Breakdown

The Puerto Rico CPA exam cost consists of four main fees: the education evaluation application fee of $93, the $405.64 per CPA exam section totaling $1,622.56 for all four sections, the initial license fee of $207, and a renewal fee of $225.

Education Evaluation Application Fee	$93.00
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)	$405.64
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)	$405.64
Regulation (REG)	$405.64
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR)	$405.64
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections	$1,622.56
Initial CPA License	$207.00
Renewal	$225.00

Puerto Rico CPA Ethics Exam Requirements

While most states require ethics before licensing, Puerto Rico candidates can become a CPA without it as there are no Puerto Rico CPA ethics exam requirements. However, part of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement is to attend 3 hours of acceptable professional ethics completed every three years.

Puerto Rico CPA Experience Requirements

To meet the Puerto Rico CPA experience requirements , candidates require one year of full-time or three years of part-time work experience. This includes at least 1,820 qualifying hours in public accounting, industry or private practice, or academia.

Puerto Rico CPA License Requirements

To apply for the CPA license you must complete the following:

Pass all four sections in the CPA exam with a score of 75% or higher.
Fill out and submit all required license application documents.
Pay the CPA license application fee.
You need to have one year of accounting work experience with the supervision of a licensed Certified Public Accountant.