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South Dakota CPA Experience Requirements 2024

South Dakota CPA Experience Requirements

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To meet the South Dakota CPA experience requirements and become a CPA, candidates have to acquire one year of experience that consists of full or part-time employment that extends over a period of no less than a year and no more than three years and includes no fewer than 2,000 hours of performance of services. This experience should include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attestation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills. Acceptable experience may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice where it must be verified by a licensee.

This article will help you to become a CPA in South Dakota and is a requirement for you to take the South Dakota 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 South Dakota CPA Requirements

Credit Hours to sit for the CPA Exam150
Credit Hours in Accounting including Elementary Principles of Accounting to sit for the CPA Exam24
Credit Hours in Business other than Accounting to sit for the CPA Exam24
Bachelor’s Required to sit for the CPA Exam?Yes
Ethics Exam Required?Yes
Work Experience Required1 – 3 Years
Required CPE Hours Every Three Years120

General Requirements

The state does not require in-state residency for licensure nor requires you to be a U.S. citizen; the Social Security number is optional. You must also declare any criminal convictions or license revocations from your past.

Education Requirement

To meet the South Dakota CPA education requirements, candidates need to acquire a bachelor’s or graduate degree in accounting or a course of study that is the equivalent of an accounting degree with 150-semester credits that includes 24 semester hours in accounting including elementary principles of accounting and at least one course each in intermediate or advanced accounting, auditing, taxation and cost accounting; and 24 semester hours in business courses other than accounting.

Credit Requirements for South Dakota CPA License

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.

Many of these programs are entirely online. You can also locate 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 South Dakota CPA requirements.

All candidates must finish at least 24 semester hours of accounting courses, including a system on basic accounting principles.

Accepted Educational Institutions

The first step is to check that your college or university is accredited by a South Dakota Board of Accountancy-recognized agency. If it is not, your credits will not transfer to a license, and you will have to retake classes. In this case, seek clarification from your academic advisor. The Board is looking for the following accreditation agencies:

Coursework taken at a two-year college is admissible if it is regionally certified, as are courses taken at an online college if it is regionally approved.

If you attended a non-accredited college or university, your credits would be accepted if and only if the following conditions are met:

  • You were accepted into a graduate-level business program at a recognized college.
  • Your institution wasn’t accredited at the time of your education but was certified at the time of application, given that their graduation requirements were substantially similar before receiving accreditation.
  • You complete 15 semester/22 quarter hours, including nine semester/13 quarter hours in accounting through an accredited institution after earning your bachelor’s degree

Required Courses

Meet the CPA degree and program requirements in South Dakota. The 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) of college education must contain the following courses through a combination of your bachelor’s program and graduate courses or credits acquired as part of a certificate achieved concurrently or separately from your degree:

24 semester hours in accounting, including these courses:

  • Intermediate/advanced accounting
  • Auditing
  • Taxation
  • Cost Accounting

24 semester hours in business-related courses that may include:

  • Business Law
  • Economics
  • Business Communications
  • Corporate Finance
  • Marketing
  • Management

Foreign Education

If you studied abroad in the United States, contact one of the foreign transcript review firms listed below:

The evaluation agency will subsequently submit initial evaluations for final approval to the South Dakota Board of Accountancy.

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…

South Dakota CPA Exam Cost Breakdown

The South Dakota CPA exam cost consists of three main fees: the $284.80 per CPA exam section totaling $1,139.20 for all four sections, the CPA certificate application fee which depends on the day that you’ll apply, and lastly the renewal fee of $50.

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)$284.80
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)$284.80
Regulation (REG)$284.80
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR)$284.80
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections$1,139.20
CPA Certificate Application (August 1 – January 31)$50.00
CPA Certificate Application (February 1 – July 31)$25.00
Renewal Fee$50.00
Late Renewal Fee$100.00

South Dakota CPA Ethics Exam Requirements

To meet the South Dakota CPA ethics exam requirements, candidates will need to take and pass the course administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) titled Professional Ethics: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Comprehensive Course (For Licensure). A candidate must pass the ethics exam with a minimum score of 90%.

Apply for Your South Dakota CPA License

Submit Your Application for Issuance

Once all licensing requirements have been satisfied, the Application for the CPA Certificate can be filed to apply for a license. Unless otherwise requested, candidates are not required to resubmit transcripts. Candidates must submit proof of completion of the AICPA ethics course and exam and a Certificate of Experience, along with their application.

Receiving Your South Dakota CPA License

Applicants will get a CPA Certificate within 90 days of receiving their Uniform CPA Exam results after the application material has been reviewed and accepted by the Board.

You can apply for your CPA certificate if you have completed the exam, education, and experience criteria.

Here’s a rundown of everything you’ve done thus far:

a. Checklist

  • Satisfied the education requirements: A bachelor’s degree at minimum with 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) of credit, including 24 semesters (36 quarter) hours in accounting subjects, 24 semesters (36 quarter) hours in business courses
  • Passed all sections of the Uniform CPA Exam
  • Passed the AICPA comprehensive professional ethics course
  • Gained the mandatory 2,000 hours of experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA

b. Download and fill out the Application for Initial CPA Certificate. Submit the application and Certificate of Experience form with the $50 fee to:

South Dakota Board of Accountancy
301 East 14th Street, Suite 200
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

c. Wait to receive the CPA certificate from the South Dakota Board of Accountancy

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…

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