Key Requirements at a Glance
Education Hours
120 (to sit), 150 (to license)
Accounting Coursework
24 accounting + 12 additional accounting/audit/tax
Work Experience
1 year (1,600 hrs within 60 months of passing exam)
Ethics Exam
AICPA Ethics Exam
Pennsylvania-Specific Notes
Can sit at 120 credits. 150 required for licensure. Experience must be completed within 60 months of passing the exam.
Official State Board
The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy is the authoritative source for licensure requirements, application forms, and status updates.
Visit Pennsylvania State Board →Opens dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Accountancy in a new window.
Becoming a CPA in Pennsylvania: The Three E's
Every U.S. jurisdiction, including Pennsylvania, requires candidates to satisfy three core requirements — Education, Examination, and Experience — plus an ethics component in most states.
Education
Pennsylvania requires 120 (to sit), 150 (to license) of education, including 24 accounting + 12 additional accounting/audit/tax. Many candidates complete this with a bachelor's degree plus additional accounting coursework or a master's program.
Examination
All candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination: three Core sections (FAR, REG, AUD) plus one Discipline (BAR, ISC, or TCP). The exam is identical in all 55 U.S. jurisdictions. Prepare with PassTheCPANow for $79 →
Experience
Pennsylvania requires 1 year (1,600 hrs within 60 months of passing exam) of qualifying work experience. Most jurisdictions accept experience in public accounting, industry, government, or academia.
Ethics
Ethics requirement: AICPA Ethics Exam. Most states use the AICPA Professional Ethics course, but several (New York, Texas, California, Washington, Louisiana) require state-specific ethics education.
Now That You Know the Requirements...
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