Puerto Rico CPA Exam Requirements 2023: Detailed Breakdown

Puerto Rico CPA Exam Requirements

If you want to become a CPA in Puerto Rico, we’ve summarized the Puerto Rico CPA exam requirements. Read below to know the exact steps and needs to be a licensed CPA in the Island of Enchantment.

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

General Requirements

• Hold a Puerto Rico residency or have a place of business in Puerto Rico.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must submit statements of intention to become a citizen of the U. S with your application.
• At least 21 years old at the time of certification.
• An applicant is required to provide a Certificate of Compliance with ASUME.
• An applicant must present a certificate of membership with the local Puerto Rico CPA Society.
• Applicant must present a Certificate of Good Conduct from the Police Department indicating that he/she has not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that implies moral turpitude.

Like any other state, Puerto Rico has its CPA exam requirements to be met for someone to sit in the CPA exam. You may check these requirements from the National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA) or visit the Puerto Rico Board of Accountancy:

Puerto Rico State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: Box 9023271
Old San Juan Station
San Juan, PR 00902-3271
Phone: (615) 564-2128
Fax: (615) 564-2128
Email: ecolon@nasba.org
Web: www.estado.pr.gov

Education requirements to Sit for the Puerto CPA exam

To meet the Puerto Rico CPA education requirements, applicants will need to complete 150 semester hours of credit along with a bachelor’s degree that includes 32 semester hours in accounting, 32 semester hours in accounting and general business including information systems, finance, business law, and economics; and at least a 2.0 GPA.

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.

If your education was completed on or before December 31, 1999, you might qualify by one following education requirements:

1. Earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting from a college or university recognized by the Puerto Rico board; OR
2. Earned a bachelor’s degree from college or university recognized by the Puerto Rico board and completed at least 58 semester (87 quarter) hours in general business courses, of which 32 semester (48 quarter) hours must be in accounting subjects; OR
3. Have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized by the Puerto Rico board. In the absence of having completed the required number of credit hours in general business courses.

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.

Experience Requirements

You need to directly submit your official baccalaureate degree transcripts to CPA Examination Services if you are applying based on experience. This must be submitted at the time of application.

In addition, you must submit a written request with experience information directly to the Puerto Rico State Board of Accountancy for review and approval. You may submit the request to:

Junta de Contabilidad
P.O. Box 9023271
San Juan, PR 00902-3271

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 maybe accepted if they are taken at a regionally accredited institution and these courses should appear on the transcript.

Puerto Rico CPA Exam Cost Breakdown

The Puerto Rico CPA exam cost consists of five main fees: the examination application fee of $210, a registration fee of $130, the $238.15 per CPA exam section totaling $952.60 for all four sections, the initial license fee of $207, and a renewal fee of $225.

Examination Application	$210.00
Registration	$130.00
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
Initial CPA License	$207.00
Renewal	$225.00

First-time applicants are required to pay both an application fee and an examination fee upon submission of the first time-application. Re-examination candidates are required to pay both a registration fee and an examination fee at the time of registration.

Puerto Rico CPA Exam Application Process

Complete and submit all the transcripts from each school listed on your application. If applicable, submit the Testing Accommodations Request Form (for applicants with disabilities) to CPAES.

Pay the necessary exam fees and provide all the needed requirements. Allow two to four weeks from your file completion date for your application to be processed.

If you have any questions, contact the Puerto Rico Coordinator at cpaes-pr@nasba.org.

Puerto Rico’s Uniform CPA Exam

The Uniform CPA exam is composed of four different sections and you must pass all sections with a score of 75% or higher. Candidates must pass all four sections within 18 months.

• Auditing and Attestation (AUD).
  • This exam section covers the basics of financial and attest services, such as audits, reviews, compilations, and preparing agreements. This portion covers financial reporting frameworks from industry experts. Candidates are asked to compare statements that reflect different reporting standards.
• Business Environment and Concepts (BEC).
  • This exam section covers general business concepts, such as economics, business communications, and related business courses. This portion covers general business concepts, including international business. You’ll need to use excellent writing skills to complete this part of the exam.
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR).
  • This exam section covers financial accounting topics for all business entities, including the government and nonprofits. Candidates are asked to compare statements that reflect different reporting standards.
• Regulation (REG).
  • This exam section covers federal taxation, tax services, professional ethics, and business law for individuals and business entities. This ethics portion of the CPA exam explores your professional and legal responsibilities.

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:

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

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Fees

The list of CPE fees below is both for individual and firm licenses:

• Initial $207
• Transfer of Grades $250
• Reciprocal $250
• Firm $290
• Individual Renewal $225
• Firm Renewal $225

Effective July 1, 2013, this is the Experience Requirement to get your license:

• One year of full-time experience in the areas of public accounting, industry or private practice, or academia
• Should be a minimum of 1,820 qualifying hours.
• Must be verified by a CPA in good standing.
• Part-time experience is acceptable with a minimum of three years.

Puerto Rico CPA Exam F.A.Qs

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding Puerto Rico’s CPA Exam and CPA License requirements.